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Luster bottle by Beatrice Wood, est. $700-$900

Beatrice Wood, Alice Neel featured in Capsule Auctions Sept. 30 sale

Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Luster bottle by Beatrice Wood, est. $700-$900
Luster glaze bottle by Beatrice Wood, est. $700-$900

NEW YORK — Capsule Auctions presents LEVEL UP: Post War & Contemporary, a curated sale of exceptional paintings, design, sculpture, and editions from New York estates and collections. The sale takes place Thursday, September 30 at 1 pm Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

This auction showcases paintings by Michael Lowe, Robert Natkin, and Lowell Nesbitt, among others. A featured highlight is an untitled large abstract painting by John Wells, estimated at $5,000-$8,000. This 1970 oil on canvas plays with lines and minimal strokes of color to an overall off-white background.

John Wells, ‘Untitled,’ $5,000-$8,000
John Wells, ‘Untitled,’ $5,000-$8,000

In addition, this sale features a number of prints by artists such as Wayne Thiebaud, Dieter Roth and Cy Twombly. A notable highlight is a silkscreen print by the expressive portraitist Alice Neel, titled Portrait of a Girl in Blue Chair and estimated at $1,500-$2,500. This 1970s print was produced by Editions Limited in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, which also produced serigraph prints of artists such as Leroy Neiman, Jim Youngerman, Julio Granda, Donna Thompson, Seymour Robins, Mildred Had, Rene Molineaux, Joni Frankel, and Peter Shulman. This particular Alice Neel print is numbered AP (artist’s proof) 6/6; it was created in addition to the print run of 200.

Alice Neel, ‘Portrait of a Girl in a Blue Chair,’ est. $1,500-$2,500
Alice Neel, ‘Portrait of a Girl in a Blue Chair,’ est. $1,500-$2,500

The sale also features furniture by George Nakashima: a distinctive Minguren II coffee table, estimated at $20,000-$30,000, as well as two sets of three Amoeba nesting tables. These two unique designs capture Nakashima’s philosophy of working with the natural qualities of the wood. Both items were acquired directly from the artist’s studio by the present owner.

George Nakashima, Minguren II coffee table, est. $20,000-$30,000
George Nakashima, Minguren II coffee table, est. $20,000-$30,000

Also featured in the sale is a selection of pottery by artists David Leach and Daniel Reynolds. It also includes stoneware luster bottles by Beatrice Wood from a private New York collection. As a potter, Wood was captivated by the glazing process and devoted much energy to the study of luster glazing techniques. Working from her studio in Ojai, California, Wood began perfecting her own version of the luster glaze, beginning with dinner sets and figures, and then moved on to more complex and decorative vessels.

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