Art from estates and collections headline at Bruneau, Feb. 21
Two untitled watercolors by Maqbool Fida Husain flank ‘Tulipes Rouge,’ a colorful floral still life by Roger Muhl; each work is estimated at $8,000-$12,000
CRANSTON, R.I. – Fine art by masters from America and the world at large will grace Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ Estate Fine Art & Antique Auction, scheduled for Monday, February 21 and beginning at 6 pm Eastern time. More than 350 lots, drawn from prominent estates and collections across New England, will be offered. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
Works by Roger Muhl (France, 1929-2008) and Maqbool Fida Husain (India, 1913-2011) are expected top achievers, all with estimates of $8,000-$12,000.
Roger Muhl still life, est. $8,000-$12,000
The Muhl work depicts pale pink and red tulips in a celadon-colored vase over polychromatic patches of color. Roger Muhl was best known for his light-drenched landscape renderings of the south of France. His paintings often featured built-up impasto surfaces and used complimentary colors and neutral tones to create atmosphere and physicality in his subtle compositions.
Maqbool Fida Husain watercolor of a dancing Ganesha, est. $8,000-$12,000
Two paintings by Maqbool Fida Husain appear in the auction, both of them watercolors. One is a polychromatic rendering of a dancing Ganesha, and the other depicts a galloping, monochromatic horse in moonlight, lined with sepia and blue. The two watercolors are from the same Ohio collector and come with individual certificates of authenticity from Husain’s son, Shafat.
Still life painting by Robert Spear Dunning, est. $6,000-$9,000
A still life painting of fruit by Robert Spear Dunning (American, 1829-1905), depicting peaches, a pear and bundles of red and green grapes carries an estimate of $6,000-$9,000. Dunning was a founder of the Fall River School in Massachusetts and is best known for his trompe l’oeil paintings.
17th-century Flemish Old Master hunting scene, est. $3,000-$5,000
Rounding out the art highlights is a large, unsigned 17th-century Flemish Old Master hunting scene estimated at $3,000-$5,000. The scene is framed by full trees and neoclassical structures in the distance beneath a sky fading from blue to pink.
Chinese silk gold thread dragon robe, Qing Dynasty, est. $2,000-$3,000
A Chinese silk gold thread dragon robe dating to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) is expected to change hands for $2,000-$3,000. The robe is decorated with images of five-toed dragons rendered in raised gold thread.
Early 20th-century African Baule tribe Kplekple carved wood mask, est. $2,000-$3,000
Equally stunning is an early 20th-century round African Baule tribe Kplekple carved wood mask with two horns, protruding eyes, a low mouth and beard. It is decorated in red, black and white paint and was deaccessioned from the collection of a cultural museum in Alabama. It should sell for $2,000-$3,000.
To contact Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers about consigning a single piece or an entire collection, e-mail info@bruneauandco.com or phone 401-533-9980.
View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/
