ATLANTA – At the beginning of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall delivers top auction highlights from around the United States and the world at large. Here’s the February 2022 edition of his Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.
Hale Woodruff painting, $665,000, Swann Auction Galleries
A circa-1958 oil on canvas by Hale Woodruff, titled Carnival, sold for $665,000 at an African American art sale held October 7 by Swann Galleries in New York. It was a record for an abstract work by the artist. Also, a limestone Head carved in 1943 by Elizabeth Catlett realized $485,000 and a new record for the artist, and a circa 1950-1951 oil on canvas by Norman Lewis, titled Past Time, rose to $233,000.
Ansel Adams signed photograph, $9,687, Holabird Western Americana Collections
A 1960 Ansel Adams original photograph from his Yosemite Series, signed and titled Moon and Half Dome, print No. 10, sold for $9,687 at a December Dreams: Premier Americana Auction held Dec. 17-19 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, a 12.5-cent token from The Payteller of Rhyolite, Nevada, gaveled for $5,500; and a Wells Fargo & Co. Express Directory of Chinese Houses in California, dating to 1878, went to a determined bidder for $13,750.
Oriental porcelain pieces, $17,500, Crescent City Auction Gallery
A group of four pieces of Oriental porcelain from the 19th and 20th centuries sold for $17,500 at a Winter Estates Auction held Jan. 21-22 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, a circa-1960 painting by Clementine Hunter (American, 1887-1987), titled Hauling Cotton, achieved $6,875; a 20th-century scratch-built ship model titled Natchez VI made $4,375; and a set of eight Louis XIII style dining chairs hit $3,125.
1951 Mercury coupe, $1.95 million, Mecum Auctions
A customized 1951 Mercury coupe sold for $1.95 million at a collector car auction held January 15 by Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida. The two-tone green coupe was known as the Hirohata Merc after the 21-year-old Japanese American veteran who commissioned it in 1952. It was built by some of the most prominent names in the California car scene of the day, including George Barris, who designed cars for the TV shows Batman, The Munsters and The Beverly Hillbillies.
Julie H. Beers painting, $20,000, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers
A landscape painting by Hudson River School artist Julie H. Beers (American, 1835-1913), titled Summer at Mossy Brook, sold for $20,000 in an online-only Estate Fine Art & Antiques auction held January 6 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a watercolor on paper by Anthony Thieme (American, 1888-1954) of men in boats on calm waters made $12,500; and a 19th-century European mahogany-stained glass bronze bar achieved $19,200.
1930s Eco Model 160 gas pump, CA$35,400, Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd.
A 1930s Canadian Eco Model 160 clockface gasoline pump sold for CA$35,400 (all prices for this sale are given in Canadian dollars) in an online-only Petroliana, Advertising Signs & Memorabilia auction held December 4 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a 1946 McColl-Frontenac double-sided Canadian porcelain sign realized CA$35,400, and a circa-1930s Canadian Red Indian single-sided porcelain sign rose to CA$27,140.
Thornton Dial painting, $84,700, Ahlers & Ogletree
A 1991 mixed media painting by Thornton Dial (American, 1928-2016), titled Struggling Tiger, sold for $84,700 in a New Year’s Signature Estates Auction held Jan. 14-16 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, a Tiffany Studios Favrile glass door from the 1920s, titled The Sower, rose to $51,425; an oil on canvas painting by Willard Metcalf (American, 1858-1925), titled The Barn Door, realized $37,200; and a Renaissance Revival desk made by Wooten went for $37,200.
Tom Brady signed jersey, $480,000, Goldin Auctions
A 2021 Tom Brady-signed Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey, worn a few weeks before he won Super Bowl LV in Tampa, sold for $480,000 in an auction ending on January 8 that was conducted by Goldin Auctions in Runnemede, New Jersey. It was a new all-time record for an NFL game-worn jersey. Also, a 2003-2004 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James-signed rookie patch card hit $1.5 million, and a 1958 World Cup Sweden ticket stub from Pele’s debut game on June 15, 1958 achieved $36,000.
Charles Baugniet oil, $26,400, Roan, Inc.
An oil on wood by Belgian artist Charles Baugniet (1814-1886), titled Le Toilette de la Mariee, sold for $26,400 at a two-day Pre-Christmas Auction held December 17 and 18 by Roan, Inc. in Cogan Station, Pennsylvania. Also, a vibrant fruit and candy still life painting on canvas by Annie M. Snyder (American, 1852-1927), brought $6,600, and two 13.5K solid yellow gold plate sections sold for a combined $8,690.
Hopi Indian polychrome dish, $9,400, Pook & Pook, Inc.
A Hopi Indian Sikyatki pollaca polychrome dish sold for a little more than $9,400 at a biannual Native American Indian sale held October 27 by Pook & Pook, Inc. in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Also, a Navajo Indian coin silver squash blossom necklace brought $8,064; a group of three Hopi Indian kachina dolls realized $4,221; a Native American Indian birch bark canoe went for $3,024; a double-grooved stone axe rose to $1,386; and a Navajo child-size blanket changed hands for $3,906.
Raoul Dufy painting, $125,000, Nadeau’s Auction Gallery
A watercolor and gouache on paper by Raoul Dufy (French, 1877-1953), titled Araut La Course: Epsom, signed and titled by the artist, sold for $125,000 at a New Year’s Day Auction held on the holiday by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Connecticut. Also, a sideboard made in 1930 by Emile Jacques Ruhlmann (French, 1879-1933) brought $48,000, and a Tiffany & Co. Chrysanthemum sterling silver seven-piece tea and coffee set weighing a total of 445 troy ounces realized $28,290.
Chinese Hu-form vase, $54,000, Roland Auctions
A 19th-century Chinese famille rose Hu-form vase decorated in enamels with the Hundred Deer motif sold for $54,000 at a New Year’s Day auction held on the holiday by Roland Auctions in Glen Cove, New York. Also, a framed Tibetan thangka achieved $43,750; a pair of Neoclassical-style gilt bronze urn-form wine coolers rose to $46,875; and a pair of circa-1765 George III mahogany game tables in the manner of Thomas Chippendale went for $37,500.
Banksy’s Girl with Balloon, $174,000, Michaan’s Auctions
A screenprint by the enigmatic British graffiti artist Banksy, titled Girl with Balloon and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Banksy’s Pest Control Office, sold for $174,000 at a Winter Fine Sale held December 17 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, California. Also, Ira Yeager’s oil on canvas titled Chicken Lady realized $18,000; an Ernie Barnes mixed media study sketch of a couple dancing brought $24,000; and an oil painting by Henrietta Berk rose to $16,800.
1901 Nikola Tesla letter, $341,295, RR Auction
A four-page letter handwritten in 1901 by Nikola Tesla, in which he discusses his place among America’s greatest inventors, sold for $341,295 in an auction held Dec. 13-Jan. 12 by RR Auction in Boston. Also, a Purple Rain album signed by Prince soared to $73,698; a letter signed by Queen Mary I earned $30,990; and an Alexander Hamilton Treasury Department signed circular brought $22,688.
Tiffany Dragonfly lamp, $35,000, Burchard Galleries
A Tiffany Dragonfly lamp lit up the room for $35,000 at an auction held November 14 by Burchard Galleries in St. Petersburg, Florida. Also, a pair of Alexander Calder lithographs went for $3,000 and $1,900, respectively; a Chinese bronze of Guanyin sailed past its $5,000 high estimate to bring $7,000; two Knoll Barcelona lounge chairs with ottomans designed for Knoll by Mies van der Rohe earned $5,250 and $4,500, respectively; and a pair of cloisonne Qilin figures went for $1,600.
Spider-Man’s black suit, $3.36 million, Heritage Auctions
Original comic book artwork showing Spider-Man debuting a black costume, from page 25 of the 1984 comic book Secret Wars #8 and hand-drawn by artist Mike Zeck, sold for $3.3 million on January 13 at Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, artwork from page 84 of the same Spider-Man comic book finished at $288,000, and a CGC Fine 6.0-graded copy of Action Comics #1, which features the first appearance of Superman, went for $3.1 million.
Herend service, $11,340, Doyle NY
A Herend porcelain Rothschild bird pattern table service sold for $11,340 at a Doyle at Home Auction held January 11 by Doyle NY in New York. Also, a Holly Hunt black lacquered wood and bronze peso dining table achieved $9,450; a chinoiserie decorated fabric eight-panel folding screen with four matching panels brought $9,450; a George Smith upholstered dark stained wood loose cushion sofa rose to $6,930; and a group of upholstered green-painted wicker furnishings hit $6,930.
View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/
