ATLANTA – At the start of each month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from around the United States and beyond. Here’s what made headlines since last month’s report:
Marsden Hartley painting, $169,650, Thomaston Place
An oil on canvas painting by Marsden Hartley (American, 1877-1943) of the sun breaking through clouds over a Maine harbor sold for $169,650 at a Summer Sale held Aug. 25-27 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, an untitled gouache painting by Alexander Calder (French/ American, 1898-1976) fetched $64,350; a large 1925 oil on canvas by Waldo Peirce (American, 1884-1970) brought $33,000; and a 1930s Paris painting by James Taylor Hartwood made $28,080.
Book titled ‘Les Roses,’ $65,340, James D. Julia Inc.
A book titled Les Roses by Roudoute and Thory, published in Paris, fetched $65,340 at a Fine Art, Asian & Antiques Auction held Aug. 16-18 by James D. Julia Inc. in Fairfield, Maine. Also, a painting signed and dated by Japanese artist Jiro Takamatsu, titled Shadow of Two Keys (Skeleton & Church Key), sold for $69,575; a 1923 Qing Dynasty huanghuali and hardwood side table fetched $33,880; and James E. Buttersworth’s painting Shipping in a Busy Channel reached $23,595.
1902 Liberty $10 gold coin, $66,275, Rago Arts & Auction
A U.S. 1902 Liberty gold proof coin, graded PR67 and one of a mintage of only 113, sold for $66,275 at a Coins & Currency Auction held Aug. 24 by Rago Arts & Auction Center in Lambertville, N.J. Also, a U.S. 1911-D Indian $2.50 gold coin fetched $6,628; an 1865 National Bank of Frederick (Md.) $1 note changed hands for $5,423; a U.S. 1813 capped bust $5 gold coin realized $4,519; and an 1863 $2 National Currency (Ill.) bill went for $3,916.
Donald Trump drawing, $29,184, Nate D. Sanders
A black and white sketch drawing of the Manhattan skyline, done by President Donald Trump in 2005 for a charity auction benefiting global literacy, sold for $29,184 at an auction held July 27 by Nate D. Sanders in Los Angeles. The sketch was drawn on a large envelope made of a stock type of paper, and it is one of only three known variants of the drawing, which attracted 11 bids. The bidding started at $9,000.
1795 U.S. reeded edge cent, $192,000, Heritage Auctions
A 1795 U.S. reeded edge large cent coin, certified genuine by PCGS, sold for $192,000 at a Signature Auction held Sept. 7-10 by Heritage Auctions in conjunction with the Long Beach Coin & Collectibles Expo in Long Beach, Calif. Also, a pattern 1792 U.S. “disme” coin, graded AU50 PCGS, brought $180,000; an aluminum 1879 Flowing Hair Stella U.S. coin, graded Proof-67 PCGS, fetched $120,000; and the same coin in copper, Proof-66 Brown, made $108,000.
Chinese porcelain vase, $143,750, Freeman’s
A Chinese blue and white porcelain hexagonal vase, Qianlong six-character mark and of the period, sold for $143,750 at an Asian Arts Auction held Sept. 9 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, an ink and color on silk painting from the Chinese School, titled Tribute Bearers, soared to $112,500; an ink and color on paper by Fan Zeng (Chinese, b. 1938), titled Yi Yuanji Playing with a Monkey, brought $93,750; and a Ming Dynasty carved wood Bodhisattva figure made $53,125. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Acoma Pueblo water pot, $15,000, Winter Associates
An Acoma Pueblo olla water pot, 12 ½ inches tall, circa 1890-1900, sold for $15,000 at an auction held Aug. 28 by Winter Associates in Plainville, Conn. Also, a KPM hand-painted porcelain plaque after William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) knocked down for $3,800; a French Belle Epoque Louis XV-style womwn’s writing desk with porcelain plaques realized $4,500; and a ruddy duck decoy carved in 1988 by Mark McNair went for $1,500.
Chinese painting on silk, $11,400, Eldred’s Auctioneers
A painting on silk from the School of Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining), depicting an imperial hunting dog, sold for $11,400 at Asian Art Week sessions held Aug. 22-26 by Eldred’s Auctioneers in East Dennis, Mass. Also, a Japanese Kawase Hasui woodblock print, Tennoji Temple in Osaka, climbed to $9,000; a gray-green jade bowl from the Troubetzkoy Foundation Collection brought $9,600; and a Chinese green dragon plate with a Daoguang mark, from the period, hit $5,700. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Chinese jade white censer, $87,500, Doyle New York
A 19th-century white jade covered censer sold for $87,500 at an Asian Works of Art Auction held Sept. 11 by Doyle New York in New York City. Also, a Chinese painting of morning glories by Qi Baishi (1864-1957) soared to $46,875; a 1959 painting by Chen Qikuan (Chinese, 1921-2007), titled New Moon Over Hong Kong, brought $34,375; a 19th-century Chinese Doucai porcelain “Birthday” dish fetched $34,374; and a Qing dynasty white jade snuff bottle made $22,500.
Map of Chicago, pre-fire, $198,600, Leslie Hindman
J.T. Palmatary’s rare bird’s-eye view of pre-fire Chicago, printed in 1857 by Braunhold & Sonne, one of only four copies known (the other three are held by the Library of Congress, the Newberry Library and the Chicago History Museum), sold for $198,600 at a Fine Books & Manuscripts Auction held Sept. 13 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. The buyer was a Chicago area private collector. Palmatary was known for his aerial views of cities.
On Kawara artwork, $399,000, Phillips
An artwork by On Kawara (Japanese/American, 1932-2014), titled Friday, July 14, 2000 (Today series no. 26), sold for $399,000 at an auction held Sept. 19 by Phillips in New York City. Also, Mark Grotjahn’s 2007 untitled work (Black and Creamsicle) rose to $300,000; Tomoo Gokita’s 2008 work General Emotionality finished at $181,250; a 2000 untitled (BB2) work by KAWS brought $106,250; and Nicole Eisenman’s Foos Ball Trilogy from 1994 changed hands for $175,000. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Claude Howell painting, $49,000, Leland Little
A painting by Claude Howell, titled Loading the Nets, depicting fishermen at work, sold for $49,000 at a Fall Quarterly Auction held Sept. 16 by Leland Little Auctions in Hillsborough, N.C. Also, an oil on canvas by Francis Speight, titled Old Smoke-Houses, went for $35,000; an acrylic and acrylic gesso on canvas by Herb Jackson, titled Veronica’s Veil CLXIV, made $13,000; and a late classical walnut armoire by Caswell County craftsman Thomas Day hit $16,000. Prices are hammer, exclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Albert Bierstadt painting, $102,850, Clars Auction
An oil on landscape painting by Albert Bierstadt (American, 1830-1902), titled Passing Clouds Over Mountains, sold for $102,850 at an auction held Sept. 16-17 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, Calif. Also, a Continental micro mosaic plaque, circa 1790-1800, attributed to G. Raffelli and depicting an exotic fish, gaveled for $21,780; a bronze Chinese censer, rectangular in shape, climbed to $11,340; and a stunning sapphire, diamond and platinum ring topped out at $5,670.
Colt 1860 Army revolver, $506,000, Rock Island Auction Co.
A Colt 1860 Army revolver with matching shoulder stock sold for $506,000 at Premiere Firearms Auction #71 held Sept. 8-10 by Rock Island Auction Co. in Rock Island, Ill. Also, a deluxe engraved, black powder, nickel finish Colt single-action Army revolver brought $86,250; a Colt Model 1921 Thompson submachine gun, $63,250; and a Smith & Wesson registered Magnum once owned by the actor Gary Cooper, $57,500. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Yellow glazed Lotus dish, $25,200, Michaan’s Auctions
A yellow glazed Lotus dish sold for $25,200 at a Gallery Auction held Sept. 9 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, a Steuben Moby Dick crystal sculpture gaveled for $20,400; an Edwardian diamond, platinum-topped 18K yellow gold ring went for $20,400; an oil on canvas by Maurice Braun (Hungarian/American, 1877-1941) titled Sunny Landscape, realized $15,600; an oil on canvas by Eric Zener (American, b. 1966), titled One, made $12,000; and a famille rose vase hit $7,200. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
14K 2.16-carat diamond ring, $16,000, Cordier Auctions
A 2.16-carat diamond solitaire ring in 14K gold sold for $16,000 at an Antique & Fine Art Auction held Aug. 13 by Cordier Auction & Appraisals in Harrisburg, Pa. Also, a floating arm sectional sofa by Edward Wormley (American, 1907-1997) for Dunbar realized $8,000; a late 19th-century KPM porcelain plaque of Queen Louise, signed “Wagner,” brought $4,000; a 1963 Studebaker Avanti car reached $9,500; and a Dwayne Simeon African Hok-Hok mask rose to $1,500. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Hattie Brunner painting, $8,800, Witman Auctioneers
A painting by Hattie Brunner (American, 1889-1982), titled Public Sale Scene (1968), sold for $8,800 at an auction held Aug. 12 by Witman Auctioneers in Mannheim, Pa. Also, a mid-20th century pottery swirl swig face wig stand brought $1,320; Luke Gottshall wood horses, $1,100; a Walter Gottshall wood bird, $578; a rooster by Edward Meaders, $440; a rye straw basket with lid rose, $715; and a Rodgers face jug, $688.
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By Ken Hall
