Rembrandt Peale’s portrait of George Washington topped prices realized at $293,000. Dallas Auction Gallery image.
DALLAS – Dallas Auction Gallery’s (DAG) May 20 Fine Art Auction featuring a selection of pieces from the collection of Dallas entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist Sam Wyly was a huge success resulting in record-setting auction results. The sale totaled $2,581,000, with buyers from across the globe. Internet live bidding was provided by LiveAuctioneers.
Leading the sale were Rembrandt Peale’s, “George Washington” (shown above and below right), selling for $293,000 to a phone bidder against an estimate of $125,000-$175,000; and Norman Rockwell’s, “Barbershop Quartet” (shown below, left) which sold to another phone bidder for $209,000 against an estimate of $100,000-$150,000. Both paintings were from the collection of Sam Wyly.
DAG also set two artist auction records starting with the sale of a trial proof of “Apple (from Ads)” by Andy Warhol, $161,000 to a floor bidder; and “Old Pedro the Goat Herder” (below) by Fred Darge, $59,375. Again, both were ex Wyly collection.
“Last night proved what the art world already knows — buyers in Dallas aren’t afraid to bid frequently and aggressively, as was evidenced by the floor bidding in last night’s sale,” said Scott Shuford, President of Dallas Auction Gallery. “Texas buyers have wide-reaching taste and exceeded the conservative estimates, particularly in the case of the Sam Wyly collection.”
Western works demanded attention in last night’s sale. Martin Grelle’s “Gifts for the Little People” sold for $161,000. Joe Jones, “Raking Hay” (below left) sold for $56,250 and Frank Tenney Johnson’s, “The Pioneers” (below right) sold for $112,500, resulting in combined sales of over $329,000.
Another crowd favorite was, Norman Rockwell’s “Portrait of Richard M. Nixon,” selling for $93,750 against a pre-sale estimate of $30,000-$50,000.
In addition to Warhol’s “Apple,” Modern and Contemporary works on paper sold well. Three gouache and ink works by Alexander Calder sold for $123,125; and three Andy Warhol, “Skull” screenprints sold for $96,875. Heavy international bidding on the John Chamberlain sculpture, “Fistfull of Funn” resulted in a price realized of $233,000.
“Given the wide variety of artists and styles offered in the auction, we were very pleased to see strong bidding from both international and local clients. A range of property from prints and multiples to unique works fresh to the market gave ample opportunities to both the novice bidder and experienced buyer alike, with the pace of the sale never losing its momentum,” said newly appointed Director of Fine Art and Design, Brandon Kennedy.
Dallas Auction Gallery welcomed Kennedy as Director of Fine Arts & Design at the beginning of 2015. Mr. Kennedy was most recently associated with an international auction house as consignment director overseeing the development of both consignor and bidder relations in multiple departments including Modern & Contemporary Art, 20th and 21st Century Design, and Rare Books. Kennedy’s formidable experience in the fine arts arena includes positions as an educator, curator, author, exhibit designer and bookseller. He received his BFA from the University of North Texas and his MFA from the Yale University School of Art.
“I am first and foremost about relationships. I truly enjoy meeting people, hearing their stories and ascertaining their goals and desires. My forte is assisting both sides, consignors and bidders, with defining and curating their collections,” said Kennedy, “I have always been attracted to Dallas Auction Gallery’s casual and convivial culture as well as the gallery’s appeal to a broad cross-section of collectors.”
“Dallas Auction Gallery is thrilled to welcome Brandon Kennedy aboard. It was important to us to choose a Fine Arts director who would embrace our culture as well as shepherd our growth,” said Shuford. “Brandon is knowledgeable, approachable and gracious, which I believe are the key traits for this important position.”
View the fully illustrated catalog for Dallas Auction Gallery’s May 20, 2015 sale, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.
