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Merton D. Simpson

Quinn’s auction to feature Merton D. Simpson paintings Sept. 14

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Merton D. Simpson
Series of seven paintings by the African American artist Merton D. Simpson (1928-2013), titled ‘Universal Orchestration (Series A),’ to be sold as one lot, est. $12,000-$16,000. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – On Saturday, Sept. 14, Quinn’s will present a superb selection of Latin American, Asian, European, American and Modern fine and decorative art in a 437-lot gallery auction. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Many decorative art categories are represented, including rugs, bronzes, porcelain, silver and glass. The Asian decorative art selection includes Japanese netsuke, Chinese porcelain, snuff bottles, silk textiles and other lovely pieces. Original fine art to be offered includes works by such luminaries as Jim McNutt, Merton D. Simpson, and leading Latin American artists like Fernando De Szyszlo, José María Mijares and Rafael Soriano.

Ten artworks by Merton D. Simpson will cross the auction block. Simpson (1928-2013) was an African American artist, a New York City gallerist and a member of the Spiral collective, an alliance of visionary Harlem artists formed in 1963 by Romare Bearden, Charles Alston, Norman Lewis and Hale Woodruff. All 10 paintings are either from Simpson’s gallery inventory or his private collection.

Lot 226 (above) comprises a series of seven paintings by Simpson, with thick swatches of color contrasted with loose, curvilinear brush strokes, and titled Universal Orchestration (Series A). The set of oil- and acrylic-on-board renderings executed in 1981 has a presale estimate of $12,000-$16,000. Each 24-by-18-inch (sight) painting is signed and dated on front and signed and numbered verso.

An oil-on-canvas Cubist still life painting by Rafael Soriano (Cuban/American, 1920-2015), titled Naturaleza Muerta (Still Life), is signed at lower right and has an estimate of $3,500-$4,500.

Merton D. Simpson
Oil-on-canvas Cubist still life painting by Rafael Soriano (Cuban/American, 1920-2015), titled ‘Naturaleza Muerta (Still Life),’ signed lower right, est. $3,500-$4,500. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

Also, an early to mid-19th-century oil-on-canvas by an unknown artist (probably English), depicting the 1818 confrontation between the captain and crew of the Everthorpe of Hull and a polar bear in the Davis Strait, is presented in a 14-by-16-inch frame and comes to auction with a conservative $400-$600 estimate.

Merton D. Simpson
Early to mid-19th century oil on canvas by an unknown artist (probably English), depicting an 1818 confrontation between the captain and crew of the Everthorpe of Hull, a British whaling ship, and a polar bear in the Davis Strait, est. $400-$600. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

Two paintings with identical estimates of $20,000-$30,000 are contenders for top-lot status. One is a large untitled abstract painting by Fernando De Szyszlo (Peruvian, 1925-2017). The oil-on-canvas, painted in the 20th century, depicts dark impasto blocks with brightly colored highlights on an ochre background. Artist-signed, it measures 38 by 40 inches (sight).

Merton D. Simpson
Untitled oil-on-canvas abstract painting by Fernando De Szyszlo (Peruvian, 1925-2017), showing dark impasto blocks with brightly colored highlights on ochre background, est. $20,000-$30,000. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

The other is a Jim Nutt (American, b. 1938-) Surrealist colored-pencil-on-paper drawing of a couple and two children flanked by a clown. It is whimsically titled Really!? (thump thump!) (1986). The 14-by-16-inch drawing is nicely housed in a 23¼-by-25¼-inch frame and was purchased from the Phyllis Kind Gallery in New York in 1988. A gallery label is affixed on verso.

Merton D. Simpson
Jim McNutt (American, b. 1938-), Surrealist colored-pencil-on-paper drawing titled ‘Really!? (thump thump!)’ (1986), est. $20,000-$30,000. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

An oil-on-canvas portrait by Robert Ryel Bliss (American, 1925-1981), titled Young Boy, is signed and dated and measures 29 by 49 inches (sight). It is expected to reach $3,000-$4,000.

Merton D. Simpson
Oil-on-canvas portrait Robert Ryel Bliss (American, 1925-1981), titled ‘Young Boy,’ signed and dated and 29 inches by 49 inches (sight), est. $3,000-$4,000. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

An untitled monochromatic landscape by Gules Guerin (American, 1866-1946), depicting a stream running beneath a stone bridge, is estimated at $1,500-$2,500. The mixed media on linen applied to board artwork measures 26 by 19½ inches, sight.

Merton D. Simpson
Untitled monochromatic landscape by Gules Guerin (American, 1866-1946), depicting a stream running beneath a stone bridge, mixed media on linen applied to board, est. $1,500-$2,500. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

Among the top Asian lots is a 19th- or 20th-century Manchu military officer’s ceremonial armor jacket and skirt of navy-blue silk lined with light blue silk. The outfit consists of a batwing jacket with metallic thread dragon embroidery and central medal and brass studs; and a two-panel wraparound divided skirt with matching embellishments. The armor could change hands for $2,000-$3,000.

Merton D. Simpson
19th- or 20th-century Manchu military officer’s ceremonial armor, consisting of a jacket with metallic thread dragon embroidery and two-panel wraparound divided skirt, est. $2,000-$3,000. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

Decorative accessories are plentiful and will be led by a Paul Storr (English, 1770-1844) footed tureen with a decorated scrolling acanthus handle atop gadrooning and sides adorned with flowers. The body of the tureen has reeded handles flanked by lion masks. The piece is marked on both the lid and the tureen and weighs about 127.998 ozt. It comes to auction with a $6,000-$8,000 estimate.

Merton D. Simpson
Paul Storr (English, 1770-1844) footed tureen with decorated scrolling acanthus handle atop gadrooning and sides flanked with flowers. Approximate weight 127.998 ozt, est. $6,000-$8,000. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

A women’s platinum aquamarine, ruby and diamond ring with a custom-crafted four-prong cast wire platinum head and a central square step-cut aquamarine weighing a robust 18 carats is expected to slip onto a new finger for $4,000-$6,000. The tapered shank is pave-set with six .02-carat round single diamonds. The ring has a clarity grade of VS2 and H/I color grade.

Merton D. Simpson
Women’s platinum aquamarine, ruby and diamond ring with a custom-crafted four-prong cast wire platinum head and a central square step-cut aquamarine weighing 18 carats, est. $4,000-$6,000. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

An 1862 JS Anchor-marked Confederate import Enfield pattern 1853 rifle-musket with socket bayonet, .58 caliber, is expected to hit $1,200-$1,800. The lock plate is marked with an English Crown proof mark and “Tower 1862.” The stock has a cartouche embossed in wood with the words “C.W. James, Maker, Birmingham.” The barrel has Birmingham proof marks, while the bayonet is unmarked.

Merton D. Simpson
1862 JS Anchor-marked Confederate import Enfield pattern 1853 rifle-musket with socket bayonet, .58 caliber, lockplate marked with an English Crown proof mark and ‘Tower 1862,’ est. $1,200-$1,800. Quinn’s Auction Galleries image

The auction will start promptly at 11 a.m. Eastern. For additional information about any item in the September 14 auction, call Quinn’s at 703-532-5632, ext. 575; or, e-mail inquiries@quinnsauction.com.

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