LOS ANGELES — On Tuesday, April 4 at noon Pacific time, John Moran Auctioneers invites you to travel south of the border and experience the wide array of artisanal wonders in its Made in Mexico auction. This spring sale has more than 330 lots and will offer everything from fine art to folk art furniture, drink sets to saddles, and more than 150 lots of jewelry, including an impressive collection of Mexican silver designs. Featured artists and designers include Emilio Rodriguez Larrain, Arnold Belkin, William Spratling, Rene Contreraso Osio, Antonio Pineda and Matilde Poulat. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
Leading the category of fine art is Llansa-Cadaques Julio Agosto, a 1963 work by Emilio Rodriguez Larrain (1928-2015). The Peruvian Modernist exhibited throughout Europe, including Madrid, Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris, Florence, Milan and Rome. In 2016, the Lima Art Museum in Peru held a retrospective of his work, praising him as “an important avant-garde sculptor, architect, and painter who knew how to adapt to the artistic changes of the time and who played a very important role in the visual arts of Peru.” This mixed-media work has an estimate of $5,000-$7,000.
In addition to Peruvian art, there is a strong selection of Mexican art, led by Arnold Belkin with his 1951 work Los Pescadores. Belkin (1930-1992) was a Canadian-Mexican painter known for continuing the Mexican muralism tradition when many Mexican painters were shifting away from it. He was born, raised and started his artist training in Canada, but was not interested in traditional landscape-focused Canadian art. During the years, he embraced Mexican art and learned from regional artists. Los Pescadores, estimated at $4,000-$6,000, is a powerful example of Belkin’s painting repertoire, but he also produced a number of murals on commission, as well as sculptures and prints.
One of the most prominent designers in this sale is William Spratling. Spratling (1900-1967) was an American-born silver designer and artist best known for his influence on 20th-century Mexican silver design. Within the selection of lots showcasing Spratling’s work, 15 are from the Ralph Hammond estate. Ralph Hammond (1916-2010), poet laureate emeritus of Alabama and president of the Alabama State Poetry Society, was a friend of William Spratling.
Pair of William Spratling candelabra, estimated at $3,000-$5,000
The Hammond family traveled several times to visit Spratling at his Taxco home and workshop. On December 14, 1962, Hammond served as an escort for Spratling during the conferral of his honorary doctorate from Auburn University. Their relationship would span many years, and the pieces offered in this auction reflect his purchases directly from William Spratling. Another exceptional example of his work is a silver sangria pitcher. The pair of two-light candlesticks has an estimate of $3,000-$5,000, and the sangria pitcher is estimated at $2,000-$3,000.
Along with Spratling silver, there will be other examples of silver tableware, such as a so-called “Paul Klee” mixed-metal coffee pot, made in 2010 by Rene Contreraso Osio. Estimated $1,500-$2,000, this sterling silver coffee pot has a tiered geometric design, bands of inset copper, a cylindrical cut-out and an ebony handle.
Unique decorative items that collectors will not want to miss include a large Mexican folk art figure of a boy, estimated at $2,000-$3,000; a large Tlaquepaque pottery oil jar, estimated at $1,000-$2,000; and several Oaxacan alebrije figures, including a dragon with an estimate of $500-$700.
Mexican painted papier-mache dragon figure, estimated at $500-$700
Highlights from the jewelry selection in the April 4 sale include more than 35 lots of Antonio Pineda designs, one being a set of silver and aventurine quartz jewelry estimated at $1,200-$1,800.
In addition to jewelry sets, collectors will also have their pick of Pineda bracelets, brooches, rings and necklaces, such as a silver and onyx quatrefoil necklace, estimated at $500-$700. The rest of the jewelry offerings will come from designers such as Margo de Taxco, Fred Davis, Enrique Ledesma, Los Castillo, Hector Aguilar and Matilde Poulat, with a silver brooch for Matl created under the directorship of Ricardo Salas, estimated at $700-$900.
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