The top lot overall was an oil on panel by Jan Bruegel titled “Allegory of Water and Air,” which sold for $37,500 ($1/4,000).

Review by Andrea Valluzzo

FREEHOLD, N.Y. — Carlsen Gallery’s March Madness auction on March 15 felt like old times. In this era where online auctions are the norm, the sale saw competitive bidding online but also strong in-house attendance with 90-some buyers in the room. Given that there were several key examples of European art on offer, global participation was expected to be high and did not disappoint. The sale drew more than 1,000 bidders online and on the phones.

Noting he was quite pleased with the auction that totaled $635,000, auctioneer Russ Carlsen said the sale was very well attended and performed well. “We had phone and online bidders from Italy, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and we had a nice group in the room, which recently has not been the case since Covid and the invention of the internet,” he added with a laugh.

The top lot was an oil on panel by Jan Bruegel titled “Allegory of Water and Air,” which sold for $37,500. The landscape with figures went to an overseas buyer far beyond its $1/4,000 estimate and was one of several European artworks to come from the Georgi family collection. Carlsen explained that Christie’s sold a number of works from this collection over the years, and he also had previously sold several pieces for the Georgi family museum in Shushan, N.Y. “This was an important collection and we did the necessary promotion, letting people know we had this collection,” he said.

This Fifteenth Century Italian Gothic oil on panel depicting Madonna and Child flanked by minstrels took $31,200 ($3/6,000).

Besides the Bruegel, the Georgi family collection yielded a Fifteenth Century Italian Gothic oil on panel depicting the Madonna and Child, flanked by minstrels, which performed well over its $3/6,000 estimate, selling in the room at $31,200. Also from a Georgi descendant was a Lombard School oil on panel of the Archangel Gabriel presenting a lily to the Virgin Mary that also handily outperformed its $2/4,000 estimate to bring $20,000. Another standout was a Fifteenth Century Spanish School Gothic retablo panel of St Ann after the birth of Mary, that made $12,500.

Coming from a different estate and attracting much area interest, as well as that from militaria and colonial Americana collectors, was a 1759 powder horn. It was intricately carved, inscribed with the name “Ebenezer Pike” and was made at Fort Carillon, now known as Fort Ticonderoga, in Upstate New York. With ten phone bidders chasing this lot, the 13-inch-long powder horn, carved with a mermaid, spotted cat, deer, the fort and more, blasted past its $3/5,000 estimate to fetch $28,800.

Rounding out the auction were a massive 161-piece sterling silver flatware service by Reed & Barton in the Francis I pattern, weighing approximately 255 troy ounces, which went to an online buyer for $17,500, and a labeled faux bamboo bedroom set from Horner, comprising a full size bed, bureau, table, chair and rocker, at $10,200.

Crossing the block at $17,500 was this massive 161-piece sterling silver flatware set by Reed & Barton in the Francis I pattern, 255 troy ounces ($6/9,000).

Doubling its high estimate was a vintage 18K gold ladies’ mesh band bracelet with Girard-Perregaux watch and a ruby clasp that earned $9,600.

Carlsen reported that he only passed seven lots. “You know, if they don’t want it, they don’t want it, but if they want it, they’ll bleed for it,” he said.

Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For information, www.carlsengallery.com or 518-634-2466.