Alma W. Thomas and Alvin D. Loving, Jr. outperformed at Swann’s African American Art sale

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NEW YORK — Leading names in modern and contemporary African American art outperformed estimates in spirited bidding at Swann Auction Galleries on October 19. The 216-lot sale’s complete results are available for viewing at LiveAuctioneers.

The sale’s highest-estimated lot, Untitled by Sam Gilliam (1933-2022), hammered just above its low estimate at $160,000 ($208,000 with buyer’s premium).

Instead, it was the work of Alma W. Thomas (1891-1978) that delivered the most exuberant results. Thomas, who for most of her career taught art at a Washington, D.C. junior high school, grew in stature to become recognized as a leading Expressionist.

Etude, an acrylic on arches paper from 1968, hammered at $130,000 ($169,000 with buyer’s premium) against an estimate of $50,000-$75,000, while Transcendental sold at $120,000 ($156,000 with buyer’s premium).

Hard-edged geometric abstractions are the domain of Al Loving (1935-2005). His precise work leaves the viewer’s eye with a myriad directions to view each piece, such as in Janice, a 1970 acrylic on shaped cotton canvas. Active bidding drove Janice from a start of $44,000 to a hammer of $120,000 ($156,000 with buyer’s premium), well above its estimate of $60,000-$90,000.

One lot in the sale came with a very interesting past. Untitled (Flight Into Egypt) is thought to be a design study by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) for his eventual Flight Into Egypt of 1923. The first African American artist to gain international acclaim, Tanner was known for his biblically themed paintings, which he produced as an expatriate in France. Untitled was thought by his son and documentarian Jessie O. Tanner and others to be the famous artwork’s design study (the original hangs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York). It sold for $90,000 ($117,000 with buyer’s premium), far above the $40,000-$60,000 estimate.
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Sam Gilliam, ‘Untitled,’ which sold for $160,000 ($208,000 with buyer’s premium) at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Alma W. Thomas, ‘Etude,’ which sold for $130,000 ($169,000 with buyer’s premium) at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Alma W. Thomas, ‘Transcendental,’ which sold for $120,000 ($156,000 with buyer’s premium) at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Al Loving, ‘Janice,’ which sold for $120,000 ($156,000 with buyer’s premium) at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Henry Ossawa Tanner, ‘Untitled (Flight Into Egypt),’ which sold for $90,000 ($117,000 with buyer’s premium) at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Simone Leigh, ‘Untitled,’ which sold for $120,000 ($156,000 with buyer’s premium) at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Norman Lewis, Sam Gilliam and other superstars of African American art showcased at Swann Oct. 19

Sam Gilliam, ‘Untitled,’ estimated at $150,000-$250,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.

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NEW YORK – Swann Auction Galleries launched its African American art department in 2006 and has done much to build the category. Still helmed by founder Nigel Freeman, the department will conduct its next African American art sale on Thursday, October 19. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers. Every artist discussed in this story are those for whom Swann currently holds the world auction record for their work.

Drawing the highest estimate in the sale lineup, at $600,000-$900,000, is Moon Madness, a 1959 oil on linen canvas by Norman Lewis (1909-1979). It fully earns its high numbers. Moon Madness is one from a group of important nocturnal-themed Lewis works from the 1950s, and its first owner was a friend of the artist who sat for a portrait painted by him. In addition, the upper stretcher bar on the back of Moon Madness bears a label from the Willard Gallery of New York, which raised his profile and would give him a solo show in 1961.

American color field painter Sam Gilliam (1933-2022) gained fame for liberating the canvas from its stretcher in a range of innovative ways. One of the most striking and powerful iterations is his draped canvas, which is exactly what it sounds like – the painted canvas is displayed in the manner of a swag of fabric or a section of bunting. Gilliam’s 1979 Untitled draped painting stands out for its provenance as much as its alluring hues rendered in acrylic and metallic paint. It comes from the collection of artist and printmaker Lou Stovall, who died earlier this year and maintained a friendship with Gilliam that lasted five decades. Bearing the artist’s studio inventory tag at the lower left, it has an estimate of $150,000-$250,000.

Also on offer are seven works by Hughie Lee-Smith (1915-1999), led by the 1954 oil on Masonite Untitled (Two Young Men on a Beach), estimated at $120,000-$180,000; three by Faith Ringgold (b. 1930-), distinguished by her vibrant 2007 color screenprint on wove paper titled Somebody Stole My Broken Heart, estimated at $4,000-$6,000; and three by Carrie Mae Weems (b. 1953-), including a 2014 limited edition titled Blue Notes (Basquiat): Who’s Who or a Pair of Aces #1. Its estimate is $30,000-$40,000.

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Norman Lewis, ‘Moon Madness,’ estimated at $600,000-$900,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Sam Gilliam, ‘Untitled,’ estimated at $150,000-$250,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Hughie Lee-Smith, ‘Untitled (Two Young Men on a Beach),’ estimated at $120,000-$180,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Faith Ringgold, ‘Somebody Stole My Broken Heart,’ estimated at $4,000-$6,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Carrie Mae Weems, ‘Blue Notes (Basquiat): Who’s Who or a Pair of Aces #1,’ estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Unique Picasso pitcher heads Freeman’s Modern and Contemporary Art sale, May 17

Pablo Picasso, Two-Handled Pitcher, estimated at $300,000-$500,000. Image courtesy of Freeman’s
Pablo Picasso, Two-Handled Pitcher, estimated at $300,000-$500,000. Image courtesy of Freeman’s
Pablo Picasso, Two-Handled Pitcher, estimated at $300,000-$500,000. Image courtesy of Freeman’s

PHILADELPHIA — From Pablo Picasso to Ken Price, Sam Gilliam and Grace Hartigan, Freeman’s Wednesday, May 17 Modern and Contemporary Art auction brings the best of the 20th and 21st century to market. The 67-lot sale is led by Picasso’s Two-Handled Pitcher, a unique work from a private Philadelphia collection showcasing the best of Picasso’s experiments in ceramics and collaboration with Suzanne and Georges Ramie at the Madoura Pottery studio beginning in 1946. The pitcher carries an estimate of $300,000-$500,000. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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PBMA presents third offering from Tupperware corporate art collection, May 6

Rico Baca, auctioneer and co-owner of Palm Beach Modern Auctions, rotates a Jorge Marin sculpture on its base. The monumental kinetic bronze, estimated at $3,000-$5,000, is one of dozens of pieces from the Tupperware Brands Corporation art collection that appear in the May 6 sale. Photo credit Palm Beach Modern Auctions staff
Rico Baca, auctioneer and co-owner of Palm Beach Modern Auctions, rotates a Jorge Marin sculpture on its base. The monumental kinetic bronze, estimated at $3,000-$5,000, is one of dozens of pieces from the Tupperware Brands Corporation art collection that appear in the May 6 sale. Photo credit Palm Beach Modern Auctions staff
Rico Baca, auctioneer and co-owner of Palm Beach Modern Auctions, rotates a Jorge Marin sculpture on its base. The bronze, estimated at $3,000-$5,000, is one of dozens of pieces from the Tupperware Brands Corporation art collection that appear in the May 6 sale. Photo credit Palm Beach Modern Auctions staff

LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. – On Saturday, May 6, Palm Beach Modern Auctions (PBMA) will present the third sale featuring works from the art collection of the Tupperware Brands Corporation. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers. The works represent several genres and styles: geometric abstracts, Color Field paintings, landscapes, botanical scenes and florals. Many are by central Florida artists, including works by Doris Leeper of DeLand, Steve Lotz of Orlando and Luis Sottil of Tampa. To the delight of PBMA Co-Owner and Auctioneer Rico Baca, the careers of some of these artists have blossomed in the intervening years.

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Gallery Report: Historic 17-star flag flies to $46K at Morphy’s

ATLANTA – At the beginning of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall delivers top auction highlights from around the United States and the wider world. Please enjoy the July 2022 edition of his Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

17-star United States flag, $46,740, Morphy Auctions

A 17-star, 17-stripe U.S. flag from descendants of American naval hero Stephen Decatur Jr. (1779-1820), who famously risked his life to avenge the death of his brother, Lt. James Decatur, following an 1804 U.S. attack on Barbary pirates’ ships in Tripoli harbor, sold for $46,740 at an Early Arms, Militaria & Extraordinary Firearms auction held May 17-18 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. The flag dated to 1804-1812, which coincides with Decatur’s service time in the US Navy.

Marvel Mystery Comics #9, $40,000, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A copy of Timely Comics Marvel Mystery Comics #9 from July 1940, graded CGC 4.0, sold for $40,000 at a Spring Comic, Toy & Sports auction held May 21 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a copy of Marvel Comics Fantastic Four #1 from Nov. 1961, graded CGC 2.0, realized $18,750; a copy of Marvel Comics Amazing Spider-Man #1 from March 1963, graded CGC 1.8, brought $10,938; and a Madame puppet used by entertainer Wayland Flowers made $7,812.

1971 Chevrolet Impala, $31,250, EstateOfMind

A 1971 Chevrolet Impala convertible that had been sitting, undriven, in a heated garage for 30 years sold for $31,250 at a two-session estate auction held May 21 by EstateOfMind in Middletown, New York. Also, a Louis Vuitton trunk found a new owner for $6,562; a pair of 19th- or 20th-century Italian Carrara marble guardian angels finished at $6,250; and a 1945 painting of a World War II float plane by Eric Sloane (American, 1905-1985), earned $4,625.

Sam Gilliam collage, $67,650, Neue Auctions

An abstract acrylic on canvas collage and enamel on aluminum by African American artist Sam Gilliam (1933-2022), titled Pantheon #5, sold for $67,650 in an online-only May Modern auction held May 28 by Neue Auctions in Beachwood, Ohio. Also, a paper collage by Victor Vasarely (French and Hungarian, 1906-1997), titled Kontosch-C, realized $15,990; and a 1984 bronze sculpture by Clement Meadmore (Australian and American, 1929-2005), titled Open End, hit $10,455.

288-pound meteorite found in China, $4,125, Holabird Western Americana Collections

A 288-pound iron-nickel meteorite found in China in 1958 and believed to have fallen to Earth in the year 1516 sold for $4,125 at a Minerals Galore & Western Americana auction held June 2-5 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, a Wells Fargo Company (Omaha, Nebraska) stock certificate #647 for 100 shares, issued in 1870 to Henry Wells, one of the co-founders of American Express, attained $2,875; and a U.S. commemoratives stamp album that spanned 1900-1975 brought $3,750.

Boba Fett L-slot prototype action figure, $236,000, Hake’s Auctions

A Boba Fett L-slot rocket-firing prototype action figure, predecessor to the Boba Fett figure in Kenner’s popular 1979 Star Wars toy line, sold for a world record price of $236,000 at a Star Wars Special Event Auction held June 2 by Hake’s Auctions in York, Pennsylvania. Also, a 1978 Star Wars Jawa 12 Back-A action figure with vinyl cape rose to $40,887; and a Hungarian bootleg Return of the Jedi Boba Fett figure, AFA 50 Q-VG, went for a record price of $20,768.

Apollo 11 astronaut’s wristwatch, $765,000, Heritage Auctions

A circa-1969 gold Omega Speedmaster wristwatch, No. 19, one of only 28 made and presented to Apollo 11 moon mission astronaut Michael Collins, sold for $765,000 at a Fine Watches & Timepieces Signature Auction held June 1 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a circa-1971 Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Paul Newman Panda dial chronograph, Ref. 6263, hit $250,000; and a Kari Voutilaunen platinum wristwatch with retrograde date, No. 8/10, finished at $112,500.

Egyptian mummy mask, $175,000, Hindman

An Egyptian gilt cartonnage mummy mask sold for $175,000 at an Antiquities & Ancient Art: A Study auction held May 26 by Hindman in Chicago. Also, an Egyptian bronze cat, cast in bronze and depicted in a conventional seated position, realized $125,000; a faience female figure rang up $107,500; a Roman marble portrait head of Antisthenes achieved $100,000; and two Cycladic marble sculptures depicting female figures earned $81,250 and $31,250 respectively.

Fern Coppedge landscape, $252,000, Freeman’s

A large-scale view of Lambertville by Philadelphia Impressionist Fern Isabel Coppedge (1883-1951), titled Winter Decoration, sold for $252,000 at an American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists auction held June 6 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, a Saturday Evening Post cover illustration by Sarah S. Weber (American, 1878-1939), titled Three of Us, reached $119,700; and a striking portrait by Emma Fordyce MacRae (American, 1887-1974), titled Melina in Green, changed hands for $63,000.

Saltillo Revival serape, $10,625, John Moran Auctioneers

A late 19th- or early 20th-century Saltillo Revival serape textile sold for $10,625 at an Art of the American West auction held May 24 by John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, a Santa Clara Pueblo blackware vessel by Nancy Youngblood (Native American, b. 1955-) climbed to $5,525; an early 20th-century (Dine) Navajo double saddle blanket settled at $4,875; and a mid-20th-century hand-tooled saddle and bridle by D. Hulbert of Arboles, Colorado changed hands for $4,375.

M. C. Escher print, $59,850, Doyle New York

An iconic 1938 print by the Dutch artist M. C. Escher, titled Day and Night, depicting tessellation, or the tiling of a plane, sold for $59,850 at a Modern & Contemporary Furniture, Art & Design auction held June 8 by Doyle in New York City. Also, two works by Sharon Ellis, titled Air and Fire, both from 2002, went for $47,250 and $31,500, respectively; and a walnut cabinet by George Nakashima, featuring a live edge and three pandamus cloth sliding doors, realized $40,950.

Movie prop from The Matrix, $78,000, Potter & Potter Auctions

A lightning rifle prop from the movie The Matrix, made out of resin, rubber and foam, sold for $78,000 at a sale titled Enter the Matrix: The Wachowski Collection held May 12 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a 43in concept maquette from The Matrix for the Nebuchadnezzar, the hovercraft captained by Morpheus, who was played by Laurence Fishburne, made $36,000; and a Sentinel autonomous machine concept maquette from The Matrix hit $14,400.

 

 

Japanese reproduction ink drawings, $225,000, Roland Auctions NY

A set of eight Japanese reproduction ink drawings sold for $225,000 at a sale of Asian art, Asian decorative items and antiquities held May 20-21 by Roland Auctions NY in Glen Cove, New York. Also, an Imperial pale celadon Mei Ping vase soared to $187,500; a peach-shaped Chinese cinnabar-lacquered bridal box from the Qianlong period (1736-1795) achieved $125,000; and a circa-1689 chinoiserie harpsichord played a sweet tune for $68,750.

1959 Corvette convertible, CA$82,600, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

A powder blue, fully restored 1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible sold for $82,600 in an online-only Petroliana, Railroadiana & Advertising auction held June 18 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a restored 1937 Ford Model 78 Deluxe convertible sedan achieved $32,450; and a restored 1972 GMC 1500 Custom pick-up truck rose to $30,680. Prices in this entry are in Canadian dollars.

Richard Prince collage, $687,500, Abell Auction

Untitled (Kate Moss), an unsigned acrylic and printed paper collage on canvas from 2008 by Richard Prince (American, b. 1949-), sold for $687,500 at an auction held May 22 by Abell Auction in Los Angeles. Also, a drawing by Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978), titled The Checker Game, one of four Rockwells in the auction, brought $30,000; a 1948 Desoto car sped away for $39,600; and a 1966 paper collage by Betye Saar (American, b. 1926-), dubbed Untitled (The Window), made $162,000.

Edgar Allan Poe-signed letter, $154,958, RR Auction

An Edgar Allan Poe letter, signed and dated Aug. 24, 1846, in which he offers his condolences to a fellow writer, sold for $154,958 in an online auction held April 15-April 22 by RR Auction in Boston. Also, a George S. Patton typed manuscript and letter, discussing combat, its history and its cause, hit the mark for $29,475; a John Lennon typed letter with a self-portrait sketch went for $24,129; and a Mary Blair concept painting of Alice from Alice in Wonderland made $22,500.

Luke Skywalker action figure, $100,252, LCG Auctions

A Star Wars 1978 Double Telescoping Luke Skywalker production action figure, graded AFA 90 and one of only two examples graded at that level, sold for $100,252 at a Spring Premier Auction held June 12 by LCG Auctions in New Orleans. Also, a 1984 Soundwave Transformer, graded AFA 85+, settled at $20,713; a 1985 Star Wars Yak Face figure, graded AFA 85, reached $22,206; and a G.I. Joe Dreadnok Ground Assault vehicle went to a determined bidder for $9,418.

Raimonds Staprans painting, $187,500, Clars Auction Gallery

A 1990 painting by Raimonds Staprans (American and Latvian, b. 1926-), titled Blue Boats, sold for $187,500 and a world auction record for the artist at a Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction held June 17 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, California. Also a 1959 painting by Leonor Fini (Argentine and French, 1908-1996), titled Zorniga, earned $187,500; and a 1983 screenprint in colors on peche soleil signed by Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929-), titled Pumpkin, achieved $87,500.

Babe Ruth rookie card, $244,489, Leland’s Auctions

A 1916 Babe Ruth blank back #151 rookie card sold for $244,489 in a Spring Classic Auction at Leland’s Auctions in New York City that concluded on June 11. Also, a 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket #144 Tom Brady autographed rookie card, graded BGS NM 7, achieved $513,102; LeBron James’s first-ever Los Angeles Lakers 75th anniversary City Edition game worn jersey from Dec. 3, 2021 brought $120,076; and a Michael Jordan-signed 1986 Fleer rookie card hit $70,940.

Waltham pocket watch, $100,000, Jones & Horan

A Waltham pocket watch, Crystal Plate, serial #12, model 1872, with free-sprung balance and original display case, sold for $100,000 in a four-hour auction of watches, coins and jewelry held May 1 by Jones & Horan in Manchester, New Hampshire. Also, a 1961 Patek Philippe Antimagnetic wristwatch with the original midcentury cases made $39,000; a Charles Oudin pocket watch with a cloisonne case brought $18,500; and a Rolex Oyster Panda Daytona watch finished at $40,000. Prices are hammer, exclusive of a buyer’s premium.

View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/

Sam Gilliam abstract work topped offerings at Neue’s Modern sale

Sam Gilliam, ‘Pantheon #5,’ $67,650
Sam Gilliam, ‘Pantheon #5,’ $67,650
Sam Gilliam, ‘Pantheon #5,’ $67,650

BEACHWOOD, Ohio – An abstract work by African American artist Sam Gilliam (b. 1933-) sold for $67,650 in an online-only May Modern auction held May 28 by Neue Auctions.

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Sam Gilliam mixed-media artwork at forefront of Neue’s May 28 auction

Sam Gilliam, ‘Pantheon #5,’ est. $50,000-$80,000
Sam Gilliam, ‘Pantheon #5,’ est. $50,000-$80,000
Sam Gilliam, ‘Pantheon #5,’ est. $50,000-$80,000

BEACHWOOD, Ohio – An abstract acrylic-on-canvas collage and enamel-on-aluminum work by African American artist Sam Gilliam (b. 1933-) is the expected headliner in an online-only May Modern auction scheduled for Saturday, May 28 at Neue Auctions, starting at 10 am Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Gilliam, Motherwell & Bourgeois star at Swann, Dec. 2

Sam Gilliam, ‘Untitled,’ 1971, est. $10,000-$15,000
Sam Gilliam, ‘Untitled,’ 1971, est. $10,000-$15,000

Sam Gilliam, ‘Untitled,’ 1971, est. $10,000-$15,000

NEW YORK — Swann Galleries will present a selection of 111 works by artists expanding the boundaries of abstraction, in a variety of mediums, throughout the mid-century and post-war period in a Thursday, December 2 sale of Modern & Post-War Art. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Color Field painting: European roots, New World flavor

Kenneth Noland frequently played with circular motifs, as in this untitled work from 1963 that brought $120,000 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2018 at Wright. Image courtesy of Wright and LiveAuctioneers
Kenneth Noland frequently played with circular motifs, as in this untitled work from 1963 that brought $120,000 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2018 at Wright. Image courtesy of Wright and LiveAuctioneers
Kenneth Noland frequently played with circular motifs, as in this untitled work from 1963 that brought $120,000 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2018 at Wright. Image courtesy of Wright and LiveAuctioneers

NEW YORK — Among the most distinctive styles of abstract painting to emerge from New York in the 1940s-1960s was the one dubbed “Color Field.” Its look is definitely rooted in the European modernists but it’s overwhelmingly New World flavored. Wide swaths of color fields — some have firmly defined and geometric borders while others are more amorphous — define the canvas. Brushstrokes are far less important than the overall process, and the mastery of color seeks to engage the viewer in a visceral manner. A handful of artists led the charge and their work continues to attract collectors while influencing the art world and up-and-coming artists. Among those who have been labeled Color Field painters are Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, Sam Gilliam, Clyfford Still, Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland.

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Rose Art Museum marks sixth decade with anniversary exhibit

Sam Gilliam, ‘Wide Narrow,’ 1972, acrylic on canvas, Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University. Rose Art Museum Acquisition Fund, Gift of Monroe and Edith Geller. Charles Mayer Photography.
Sam Gilliam, ‘Wide Narrow,’ 1972, acrylic on canvas, Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University. Rose Art Museum Acquisition Fund, Gift of Monroe and Edith Geller. Charles Mayer Photography.
Sam Gilliam, ‘Wide Narrow,’ 1972, acrylic on canvas, Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University. Rose Art Museum Acquisition Fund, Gift of Monroe and Edith Geller. Charles Mayer Photography.

WALTHAM, Mass.  – “I don’t want to wallow in art history,” wrote Jack Whitten. “I want to use art history as a catapult.” As an artist, Whitten recognized the past as both a foundation and a launching pad to reach uncharted realms. Organized in celebration of the Rose’s 60th anniversary and opened June 25, the exhibition re: collections, Six Decades at the Rose Art Museum, casts a critical eye in these two directions: highlighting the Rose’s radical roots while showcasing the potential for future transformations. Following the example of artists featured in the exhibition, re: collections challenges art historical conventions and cultural hierarchies by charting alternative genealogies that link artworks drawn from the museum’s stellar permanent collection. The show will be on view for three years, with several rotations.

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