CRANSTON, R.I. – A screenprint of screen legend Greta Garbo as Mata Hari by Andy Warhol sold for $52,000 at a two-session Spring Antiques and Fine Arts Auction held March 25 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.
The screenprint titled The Star was signed in pencil by Warhol and numbered “4 of 200” on the verso. It also came with the original certificate of authenticity from Gallery 121 in New York City and sold for nearly twice its estimate to take top lot honors.
“With interest worldwide, the Warhol print had a strong result for today’s market,” said Kevin Bruneau, company president and auctioneer.
In addition to original artworks and prints, the auction also featured fine antiques, decorative arts, vintage toys and old comic books.
“It was a very strong sale with great results all around,” said Travis Landry, Bruneau & Co. specialist and auctioneer. “I was especially impressed with the Martinez painting which, according to records, is a new record price for a work by the artist.”
He was referring to the Mexican painter Miguel Martinez (b. 1951) and the fine pastel and oil on paper titled Woman from Velarde, New Mexico that brought $8,125. The 30-by-40-inch work (sight, less frame) depicted the divine and winsome face of a young Hispanic woman over a background of rolling farmland. It was signed and dated “95” in the lower right corner.
Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
The first portion of the catalog featured 100 works of art, many from an outstanding Westport, Mass., collection. The Warhol and Martinez pieces both came out of that collection.
Noteworthy artworks from the cataloged sale at noon included a limited lithograph by Pablo Picasso, pencil signed and numbered “91/200” in the margin and dated “21.4.60” in the plate ($4,065); an oil on canvas marine rendering by Walter Franklin Lansil (Mass./Maine, 1846-1925), titled Boston Harbor, signed and dated “1879” ($3,437); and a well-executed oil painting by Wesley Webber (Mass./Calif., 1841-1914), showing a milkmaid and cows in a field ($2,250).
Overall, the second portion of the cataloged session consisted of over 225 diverse lots. These included a Pairpoint Puffy reverse-painted Hummingbird and Rose table lamp (below), made around 1920. The lamp sold for $2,812. Also, a 1920s Czechoslovakian Art Deco carved alabaster and patinated metal figural table lamp with a globe shade, went for $750.
A mid-20th century George Nelson for Herman Miller modular sofa set – one section having a laminated table attached to the base and acting as a corner side table, the other placed next to the side table to firm an “L”-shaped sofa – brought $2,375. Also, an 18th century sturdy American Chippendale mahogany tall chest with the overall original finish, 60 inches tall, reached $1,625.
An English 20th century Royal Crown Derby dinner service for eight in the Red Aves pattern, in very good condition and appearing never to have been used, changed hands for $2,125. Tops in the Asian category was a fine pair of early 20th century Chinese Export porcelain famille jaune (ground yellow in color) palace vases, 36 1/2 inches tall, showing warriors on horseback ($3,250).
Also from Asia, a large Chinese pictorial rug, made circa 1930 and depicting a temple in the lower right and colorfully decorated, 139 inches by 108 inches, coasted to $1,500; and a large Japanese Meiji period (19th century) embroidered and woven tapestry, decorated with a bevy of dragons and other mythical creatures against the clouds, 81 inches by 55 inches, reached $812.
For details contact Bruneau & Co. by email: info@bruneauandco.com.
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