“He painted here in the winters and still has a strong following in Palm Beach. He certainly has a different look,” said auctioneer Chris Hood, adding that the consignor acquired the paintings directly from the artist, who died in 1978.
Bulman was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1904. The son of a successful inventor, Bulman helped run the family business in the 1920s and 1930s before pursuing a career in art. He began spending winters in Palm Beach around 1946 after suffering recurring neck injuries. Bulman often traveled the Deep South to paint African-American inspired genre scenes.
“These poignant paintings of the segregated South (especially the Florida scenes) brought national attention to his art,” states a short biography on the Web site: www.orvillebulman.com.
During the 1950s Bulman focused his attention on Haiti and its people, whom he admired for their style. As his fame spread in the 1960s and ’70s, Bulman continued to develop a whimsical style and produced colorful and fantastical paintings of jungle animals.
One such example is a 1976 oil on canvas of a lion on a beach with two island women. The 16- by 18-inch oil on canvas has a $12,000-$18,000 estimate. A 1977 oil on canvas titled Avant Garde depicts a giraffe in a jungle setting. The 30- by 16-inch painting has a $15,000-$20,000 estimate.
Early in Bulman’s art career, he and his wife, Jean, established a foundation that has helped artists and art museums. The Grand Rapids Art Museum was able to purchase a painting by Picasso because of the couple’s generosity.
A collection from a Fort Lauderdale estate of more than 30 works by Latvian and Russian artists will be sold at the auction. Several are by modernist Janis Ferdinands Tidemanis (Latvian, 1897-1964). Having studied art in New York and Cleveland, Tidemanis is known for his city scenes. An example to be sold at the auction is a colorful and expressive scene of figures on a city street. The oil on board is 33 by 40 inches and has a $5,000-$10,000 estimate.
“Some of his paintings have brought good money in the past, although they might be a little soft right now,” said Hood.
Fifty pieces of fine estate jewelry will be offered, including 11 lots of Tiffany. One Tiffany highlight is an 18-karat gold, tanzanite and diamond brooch having a palm tree mounting. It carries a $7,500-$10,000 estimate.
A heavily decorated 20th-century silver urn marked “Made in Italy” and “800.” The 22-inch-high urn has a $1,500-$2,000. A pair of 22-inch-high Meissen vases bears a crossed swords mark and a $2,000-$2,500 estimate.
The auction will begin Tuesday at 6 p.m. Bill Hood & Sons Art & Antique Auction is located at 2925 S. Federal Highway in Delray Beach. For details contact the auction house at 561-278-8996.
View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet during the sale at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Click here to view Bill Hood and Sons Arts & Antiques Auctions’ complete catalog.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
