Smooth sailing ahead for marine art in Kaminski's May 30-31 sale

Ships in New York Harbor, William Torgerson, estimate $10,000-$15,000. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Kaminski’s.

BEVERLY, Mass. – Marine art highlights day two of Kaminski’s May 30-31 Great Estates Auction, featuring a total of 947 lots. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.

Top entries in the second session include American seascapes and antique ship models, including replicas of J.P. Morgan’s private Steam Yacht Corsair IV and the 1896 Steam Yacht Harvard.

The elegant Morgan yacht replica features an expertly planked mahogany deck and built-up cabins. Six detailed launches and lifeboats hang from davits. Other details include ventilator cowls, winch, deck plates, pennants, passenger benches, wood-capped deck rails and many other realistic accents. Measuring 56 inches long, the cased model is mounted on turned brass columns onto a mahogany stand. It is expected to make $6,000-$9,000 at auction.

The model of the Steam Yacht Harvard, which replicates a vessel owned by George Baker, was built at the Bath Iron Works in 1896. The 66-inch-long model has a planked deck, mahogany deckhouses with raised panels, skylights with brass bars and six launches suspended from davits. Fitted into a freestanding, inlaid-mahogany display case, it carries a presale estimate of $8,000-$12,000.

A fine oil-on-canvas painting by William Torgerson (American, 1833-1890), titled Ships in New York Harbor, measures 14 inches by 12 inches and is signed W. Torgerson at lower left. An especially appealing depiction, it is expected to fetch $10,000-$15,000.

Another noteworthy picture in the sale is the unsigned artwork titled Ships of the Coast Line. The oil on canvas measuring 22 inches by 36 inches (sight), depicts both 19th-century American and British ships. The work is estimated at $6,000-$9,000.

To enquire about any lot in the sale, call 978-927-2223. To view the fully illustrated catalog and to sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet, log on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com. View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.