Capo Auction Fine Art and Antiques recently enjoyed its highest grossing auction to date September 22, bringing in close to $650,000, making this its most successful auction since Capo opened its doors almost two years ago.
Capo Auction’s “Fall’s Finest” September 22nd auction featured a great many items, including fine art, a vast collection of Nineteenth Century bronzes and sculptures, along with a very impressive collection of Romain (Erte) de Tirtoff reproduction figures, fine examples of Eighteenth⁎ineteenth Century furniture and a selection of jewelry. Many of these items, throughout the entire auction, brought in much more than their estimated values.
Serious collectors and dealers kept the fast-paced bidding going all day long in the room, online and with phone bidding. One of the most exciting sales of the day was of a rare sketch by American realist painter George Wesley Bellows (1882‱925), “Children on the Porch,” purchased by the Newport Art Museum for $24,000, for its permanent collection. This sold substantially higher than the painting’s $5/6,000 estimate and is the second highest price ever paid for a Bellows sketch at auction.
A French figural clock garniture stirred up a frenzy with multiple international phone bids from various countries, along with the New York dealers, who, when the bidding hit the $15,000 mark, were actually inquiring (in vain) as to who the other bidders were. The lot sold for $27,600, much higher than its high estimate of $2,500. Another top seller, with multiple international bids, was the Eighteenth Century Louis XV marble top kingwood commode by Boudin, which sold for $45,600, and is now making its way home back to France. The commode was estimated at $20/30,000.
The excitement level in the room soared again as the auctioneer ran through a series of about 35 individual bronze figures after Romain (Erte) de Tirtoff (Russian, 1892‱990), each with multiple fast-paced bids online and on the phone. Each sold over their estimates, ranging from $1,920 to $3,300 per lot.
Among porcelain plaques crossing the block were a KPM plaque of a religious scene, impressed with KPM mark with scepter and “E,” that measured 255/8 by 20¼ inches framed and sold for $18,000 and a Meissen portrait plaque, “Repenting Magdalena,” that brought $9,600.
Rounding out the auction were three patinated bronze sculptures, “Charging Bulls,” by Arturo Di Modica (Italian⁁merican, b 1941) from 2006, each signed, dated, and numbered 46/200, that realized $5,400; two Angela Cummings gold and enamel bangles in 18K yellow gold that each sold for $6,000 and a chinoiserie decorated lacquered side cabinet having a rectangular marble top with outset corners, over a two door cabinet. Measuring 50½ by 40½ by 16 inches, the cabinet more than tripled its high estimate when it fetched $13,200.
Capo Auction is at 36-01 Queens Boulevard. For information, www.capoauction.com or 718-433-3710.
