John Moran's June 2007 California and American paintings sale poised to topple world records again
June 7, 2007
( Pasadena, Calif.) – On February 20, John Moran Auctioneers drew the attention the art world by setting 14 new world records at their California and American paintings sale, the highest grossing sale in the company’s 37 year history. The spectacular success of the February event, which realized over $3.5 million on just 198 lots, will be difficult to top, but indications are strong that their upcoming June 19 sale will do just that. John Moran Auctioneers, renowned for their tri-annual sales of pre-1950 California and American Impressionist oil paintings and watercolors, is the leader in this category of art, drawing bidders from around the globe. The June 19 sale will feature 216 lots, many never before offered. Bidding, along with the fully-illustrated catalog, is available via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Works to be offered represent the highest caliber of California artists, including Guy Rose, Granville Redmond, Hanson Puthuff, and Phil Dike. If the success of the February 20 auction repeats itself, an early indication will be the progress of Lot #20, “ Small Fry-Newport Harbor” by Joe Duncan Gleason (California 1881-1959). Gleason’s “Avalon ( Catalina Harbor)” electrified the saleroom in February when it sold for a record setting $161,000 against its pre-sale estimate of $25,000 to $35,000. The charming “Small-Fry- Newport Harbor” will come to the block in June with the same estimate of $25,000 to $35,000, and will be watched with great interest.
Lot #61 is a beautiful oil on canvas by Granville Redmond (California 1871 - 1935), entitled “Eucalyptus at Eventide” and estimated to bring $150,000 to $200,000. Offered immediately following is an oil depicting peonies and butterflies by Paul De Longpre (California 1855-1911), which could likely set a new record. It is estimated to bring $20,000 to $30,000. A similar work by De Longpre holds the record of $31,000, realized in April 2006. Moran currently holds the third highest price realized for the artist, achieved when they sold “Roses with Bumblebees” for $28,800 at their October 2005 art sale.
Guy Rose is represented by a work entitled “Rising Mists” estimated at $250,000 to $350,000. John Moran Auctioneers holds the second highest auction price for this artist, realized when they sold “Early Morning Summertime” for $1.2 million in June 2001.
The sale boasts three works by Phil Dike (California 1906 - 1990), including two important oils. Lot #75 is an oil on canvas entitled “Low Tide (entrance to harbor).” Moran set a world record for this artist with a similar work when “Entrance to Harbor,” estimated pre-sale at $30,000 to $50,000, realized $104,000. “Low Tide” comes to the block with an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. The second work by this artist will follow a bit later in the sale. The stunning “Drying chili peppers, North County, San Diego,” is estimated to bring $25,000 to $35,000.
A new world record for New Mexico artist Gene Kloss (1903 – 1996) may be set by her watercolor on paper depicting an Indian dance procession in an adobe plaza. Estimated to bring $10,000 to $15,000, the highest price for this artist was realized just last November at Santa Fe Art Auction when “ Rio Grande” sold for $14,400.
John Moran Auctioneers established the second highest price for California artist Rex Brandt (1914-2000) when they sold “Skiing About Yosemite” in October 2004 for $12,400 (the record for this artist is $13,100). On June 20, his watercolor “La Jolla 3” will be offered with an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000.
Moran hopes to break their own world record for Hernando G. Villa (1881-1952) with “Spanish Dancer,” an oil on canvas estimated to bring $12,000 to $18,000. It was Villa’s “Bolero” that served as the grand finale at their February sale, when it came to the block with an estimate of $3,000 to $5,000 but generated a bidding war with prices escalating to a record breaking $26,000.
Among the other exciting offerings is “Colossal Erosions” by California artist Hanson D. Puthuff (1875 – 1972). It is estimated to sell for $80,000 to $100,000. Moran holds the record for the artist, set at its October 2006 auction when it sold “Grand Canyon Scene #5” for $345,000.
“ Los Angeles City Hall from Bunker Hill” by Emil Kosa, Jr. (California 1903-1968) will also be interesting to watch. This is an excellent example of the California Style watercolorist’s work, clearly displaying his passion for this medium. Kosa, who worked as an artist for 20th Century Fox Studios for 25 years, was awarded an Oscar for his special effects work on the motion picture “Cleopatra.” “Los Angeles City Hall from Bunker Hill is estimated to bring $20,000 to $30,000.
