N.C. Wyeth work leads sales of ‘Summer’s Bounty I’
This charcoal drawing by N.C. Wyeth, “First Farmer of the Land,” brought $105,300 in the Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ summer auction. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
An important 15th Century Sino-Tibetan carved and painted figure of Guanyin “1000 Arms,” brought $84,000. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
Severin Roesen’s fruit and champagne table top still life reached $46,800. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
Abstract gouache and ink study by Wassily Kandinsky went for $38,025. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
Oil sketch “Oxen Ploughing in Nevers” by Rosa Bonheur, that was estimated at $1,500-2,000, finished at $27,000. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
This cased fully-rigged Napoleonic prisoner-of-war ship model sold for $17,550. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
This charcoal drawing by N.C. Wyeth, “First Farmer of the Land,” brought $105,300 in the Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ summer auction. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
An important 15th Century Sino-Tibetan carved and painted figure of Guanyin “1000 Arms,” brought $84,000. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
Severin Roesen’s fruit and champagne table top still life reached $46,800. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
Abstract gouache and ink study by Wassily Kandinsky went for $38,025. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
Oil sketch “Oxen Ploughing in Nevers” by Rosa Bonheur, that was estimated at $1,500-2,000, finished at $27,000. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
This cased fully-rigged Napoleonic prisoner-of-war ship model sold for $17,550. Courtesy of Carol Achterhof
Aggressive bidding at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries Summer’s Bounty II sale on Aug. 29 & 30 yielded many surprises and strong results. Grossing over $2.2 million, the auction attracted 797 phone and absentee bids, and online participants in 22 countries.
The sale’s top lot was a charcoal drawing by N.C. Wyeth (PA/ME/MA, 1882-1945) titled “First Farmer of the Land” that brought $105,300. With an image depicting George Washington overseeing workers on his plantation, this was a study for Wyeth’s last painting which was unfinished at the time of his death by train accident in October 1945. The incomplete work was used on the cover of the February 1946 issue of “Country Gentleman” magazine, and it is currently displayed at the N.C. Wyeth Studio, Brandywine River Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, PA.
Many other works attracted strong bidder interest, including: “Listen Lord,” an oil on canvas painting by Aaron Douglas (NY/KS, 1899-1979) that sold for $60,000; a Dutch Old Master still life that brought $58,500; a sumptuous fruit and champagne table top still life by Severin Roesen (PA/Germany, 1815-1872) that reached $46,800; Ivan Aivazovsky’s (Russia, 1817-1900) painting depicting Cairo as seen from the Nile River that achieved $39,600; and an abstract gouache and ink study by Wassily Kandinsky (Russia/Germany/France, 1866-1944) that brought $38,025.
Frenzied bidding on several paintings led results that greatly exceeded pre-sale estimates. These included: an oil sketch “Oxen Ploughing in Nevers” by Rosa Bonheur (NY/France, 1822-1899) that was estimated at $1,500-2,000 and finished at $27,000; a Renaissance era Old Master painting depicting a pope’s presentation of a model for a cathedral to a king (estimated at $10,000-15,000) that sold for $25,740; and “The Arrival of the Empress,” a 1936 work by Wong Siu Ling/Wang Shaoling (China/CA/NY, 1909-1989) depicting the ocean liner “Empress” arriving at Queen’s Pier in Hong Kong (estimated at $10,000-15,000) that raised $25,740.
From the large group of Asian antiquities, an important 15th Century Sino-Tibetan carved and painted figure of Guanyin of “1000 Arms”, with extensive international museum exhibition history, brought $84,000. A three-part Chinese Ming Dynasty sancai glazed earthenware pagoda form stupa, with Walker and Astor Foundation provenance and Metropolitan Museum display history, sold for $27,000. And, a Chinese Zhou Dynasty bronze ding reached $12,000 after aggressive bidding.
Several sculptures also attracted strong bidder interest: a contemporary stainless steel work titled “Jazz in the Gardens” by Kevin Robb (CO, 1955- ) sold for $15,210; “Ballet Group,” a bronze sculpture with carved ivory faces by Bruno Zack (Austria/Germany/US/Ukraine, 1891-1945) fetched $14,400; a pair of 18th Century French Neoclassical bronze musician sculptures that reached $11,700; and a framed cloisonné enamel on copper panel titled “Iris – Panel II” by Margaret Seeler (Germany/CT, 1909-1996) rocketed past its $1,000-2,000 estimate and brought $9,600.
Other hotly contested items, such as a cased, fully-rigged Napoleonic prisoner-of-war ship model that reached $17,550; an art glass necklace by Rene Jules Lalique (France, 1860-1945) that fetched $15,210; and a William and Mary period japanned chest on stand that sold for $9,000. Noteworthy was the strong bidder interest in furniture offered in this sale – virtually every furniture lot sold, with many pieces at or above pre-sale estimate.
Metropolitan Museum display history, sold for $27,000. And, a Chinese Zhou Dynasty bronze ding reached $12,000 after aggressive bidding.
Several sculptures also attracted strong bidder interest: a contemporary stainless steel work titled “Jazz in the Gardens” by Kevin Robb (CO, 1955- ) that sold for $15,210; “Ballet Group,” a bronze sculpture with carved ivory faces by Bruno Zack (Austria/Germany/US/Ukraine, 1891-1945) fetched $14,400; a pair of 18th Century French Neoclassical bronze musician sculptures that reached $11,700; and a framed cloisonné enamel on copper panel titled “Iris – Panel II” by Margaret Seeler (Germany/CT, 1909-1996) rocketed past its $1,000-2,000 estimate and brought $9,600.
A complete list of auction results can be found at www.thomastonauction.com
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