March Madness, a popular annual event for basketball fans throughout the country as the all of the top-rated college teams go head-to-head competing for the NCAA championship, is also a highly popular antiques-related event in this hamlet snuggled among the picturesque Catskill Mountains. With snow lingering across the summits of much of the lure-filled range, activities down below included Carlsen Gallery’s Annual March Madness Antique Auction on March 28.
The event has been conducted for many years by the gallery and the sale is always chock-full of good estate merchandise that has been culled over the winter months. Included in the assortment was a selection of “choice” items from the contents of the Berkshire Women’s Society Home, a stately brick mansion located in Pittsfield, Mass. Also fresh to the market were country furniture and accessories from a Clinton Corners home that had remained in the same family for generations.
Auctioneer Russ Carlsen reported a great deal of presale activity that resulted in a host of absentee bids and more than 70 people on the telephones. The morning of the sale the showroom was packed; the auction house commented that more than 200 people were on hand to vie for the merchandise.
Carlsen reported a “real burst of energy” in regard to this most recent auction, “More than there has been of late,” he commented. “If they wanted it, there was a tremendous amount of activity,” he said, although he also indicated that the lesser materials still proved uneven.
The top lot of the auction came as an Oriental carpet was offered. Cataloged as a palace-size Kashan, it was later identified as a Meshed that measured roughly 11 by 20 feet. Bidding on the lot was brisk, hammering down at $9,200. Other carpets were termed “very affordable,” some selling for as little as $200.
“American paintings continued to have strong support at our sale,” commented Carlsen, although European examples led the bidding. An oil on canvas of peasants in a landscape by Gabriele Smargissi attracted a great deal of attention, with several phone bidders lined up for action. Bidding opened in the house, with Carlsen knocking the lot down moments later for $8,625.
A selection of paintings by Hudson River School painter Ralph Albert Blakelock caught the eye of collectors; an oil on cardboard titled “Autumn Trees” led the way at $6,670. An oil on panel by Blakelock, “Autumn Forest,” also did well at $3,737.
An unsigned landscape from the Hudson River School, an oil on canvas measuring 18 by 32 inches, sold at $4,312, while a White Mountain landscape signed “J.W.A.S.” went out at $2,645.
A pair of classical bronzes after Moreau of Pandora and Psyche saw spirited bidding, with the lot going out at $4,830, while a signed Moreau bronze realized $3,950.
Furniture in the auction included a New York classical mahogany breakfront bookcase with glazed top doors that sold for $4,887. A New York classical carved recamier, circa 1825, also did well, bringing $3,737.
An early heart and crown banister back armchair was another lot to attract serious attention, selling at $3,950.
A private collection of Rose Mandarin Chinese Export had a bevy of collectors in competition with one another. A large compote, 9 inches in diameter, did well at $3,450; a set of 8-inch plates in different patterns brought $1,955; and a set of 12 cups and saucers went out at $1,610.
The next auction at Carlsen’s will feature a “terrific” estate from the Glen’s Falls area and it is scheduled for late May.
Prices include the 15 percent buyer’s premium charged. For further information, 518-966-5068 or www.carlsengallery.com .
