A rare grand salon oil on canvas painting by prominent Dutch artist Anton Mauve (1838‱888) set a new world record price for the artist at auction when it was offered at Foster’s Auction Gallery on August 30. Standing-room-only crowds, more than 400 people each day, attended the two-day auction on August 30 and 31, a sale that has become one the area’s most popular and keenly anticipated events.
Auctioneer Bob Foster, assistant auctioneer Andre Drolet and other staff members each year assemble compelling rarities from private homes and estates throughout Maine and New England, saving them up for this annual summer sale. Foster related an anecdote illustrating the powerful draw that this two-day estates auction has on some of his longtime patrons. “I have a lady with a summer house here who organizes one of her main social activities around our auction,” he said. “This year, for whatever reason, she had planned not to attend. But she just couldn’t stand to miss it, so at the last minute, she chartered a private jet †at a cost of more than $26,000 †to fly her in for the sale.”
In the end, the woman was able to attend the auction, along with her daughters and grand-daughter, in whom she is attempting to foster an interest in antiques and auctions. “She made some purchases,” said Foster of his longtime client, “but not $26,000 worth.”
The sale’s top lot, Mauve’s “The Loggers,” will head back to Europe, the winning phone bidder who paid $148,500 was “extremely excited about the piece,” according to Foster. Along with its record price, the spectacular painting has interesting provenance, having originally come from the collection of the famous American actor Joseph Jefferson (1829‱905). Jefferson was the son of an actor and actress, who began acting at the age of 4 and was best known for his role as Rip Van Winkle. He was also known for coining the oft-quoted line, “There are no small parts, only small actors.”
Foster said that upon Jefferson’s death in 1905, his possessions were put on the block, including the Mauve painting, which sold in 1906 for $28,100. It was purchased and handed down within a family that had mansions in “Wave Hill” and “Glyndor” in New York, establishing what Foster characterized as “impeccable provenance.” Measuring 41 by 80½ inches, the oil on canvas was painted in 1877 by Mauve, who was an uncle of Vincent van Gogh.
There were a number of other interesting items crossing the block on the first day of the sale. An important 14½-inch carved limestone cat attributed to folk artist William Edmondson brought $12,100.
An oil on canvas ship’s portrait of the Francis M by well-known ship limner Samuel Finley Morse Badger (1873‱919) found favor with a maritime enthusiast willing to pay $9,900 for the 29½-by-19½-inch painting created in 1901. From a local home, the painting came to the auction house “untouched,” according to Drolet.
There was also an unsigned oil on panel portrait of a lady in a gold leaf frame that was purchased by “someone who is looking to identify the artist,” according to Foster, who said he believes that is why the buyer paid $3,850 for the lot, which was estimated at just $500․1,000.
A Silas Hoadley Plymouth tall clock with quarter columns went out at $3,135, while a four-drawer New Hampshire cookie corner Sheraton bureau finished at $2,585.
Second day highlights were led by a Browning Arms Midas grade shotgun in rare 28 gauge featuring over and under engravings, seven gold birds and a 26-inch barrel. It sold to a private buyer in a phone bid for $16,500, a bit less than what Foster had hoped, but a respectable result. Achieving the same price as the Browning was an 1858 gold US $20 gold coin, one example among a selection of US gold coins in $20, $10, $5, $2.50 and $1 dollar denominations.
A last minute consignment †a vintage Luis Vuitton trunk parked bidding interest, along with one that had already been advertised for the sale. The late-comer drew a winning bid of $6,600, while the other trunk garnered $4,675.
An 87-piece Tiffany sterling flatware set in the Wave Edge pattern found favor at $4,950, and a Tiffany Studios bronze double branch candelabrum, measuring 9 inches high and featuring art glass inserts, attained $2,915.
All prices include the ten percent buyer’s premium charged. For information, 207-563-8110 or www.fosterauctions.com .
