No artist did bucolic like Ben Austrian, and prices for his work reflect this.
Irish Setter weathervane, $8,525.
Ben Austrian Barnyard Scene Brings $20,075 in Western New York
MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y. – Peter’s Party Complex was the site of a recent antiques auction conducted by Sam Cottone. Three hundred attendees competed for 330 lots. Two prominent western New York estates were consigned, one by a Buffalo doctor, along with various other private consignments. All lots were sold without reserve.
Bringing the highest bid of the day, an eight-by-10-inch oil on canvas by Ben Austrian, depicting a barnyard scene with scarecrow, sold to a Lancaster-area buyer on the phone at $20,075. The same buyer won a second Austrian depicting chicks and a barn, a companion painting, also eight by 10 inches, for $10,175.
A sterling silver centerpiece set comprising three pieces, two being compotes flanking the centerpiece, went to a phone bidder at $7,150; an ormolu mounted side commode painted with a pastoral scene of people and sheep sold for $5,225; a bronze and porcelain mantel clock, two winged cherubs flanking the face, the piece marked “Tiffany & Co. NY,” brought $5,500; and a seven-piece tea set in sterling silver, also made by Tiffany & Co., went out at $7,040.
A two-drawer blanket chest standing on bracket feet, in red and black old paint, made in the “soap hollow” Pennsylvania area, garnered $5,225; a pair of marble and gilt bronze lidded urns, standing 20 inches high, did $5,225; a signed Tiffany floor lamp reached $11,275; a diminutive boudoir signed Pairpoint lamp with a five-inch diameter shade sold at $5,225; a signed Handel lamp depicting trees on the shade was purchased at $4,125; and a second signed Pairpoint standing 21 inches high, the 15-inch diameter shade featuring ships at sea, did $8,250.
Four matched and signed Thonet chairs were a very good buy at $550; a carved and giltwood side table, festooned with carved giltwood garlands, garnered $2,910; a pair of painted and giltwood side chairs with half-shield backs, upholstered in a cream colored fabric, made $1,210; a copper “dog” weathervane in the form of an Irish Setter reached $8,525; and two Windsor chairs in original old paint brought $880 for a brace back side chair, and $990 for a hoop back example.
A J. C. Brown acorn clock with intricate banding and inlay, circa 1840s, 24 inches high, sold at $15,400; a Turkish room-sized rug went to a buyer on the floor at $7,925; a Serapi rug in need of restoration made $2,750; a cherry slant-front desk of cherry was purchased at $3,300; and a tall case clock with broken arch surmounted with three brass finials, in banded mahogany, went to a New England collector at $6,050.
Prices quoted above reflect a required ten percent buyer’s premium.
