George Yater’s “Bradford Street, Winter,” was top lot of the Provincetown Art Colony when it sold $9,600 — it also set a record for one of the artist’s watercolors.

Review by Anne Kugielsky

Photos Courtesy James R. Bakker Antiques

PROVINCETOWN, MASS. — James R. Bakker Antiques’ June 14 sale had a new feature, which made quite a difference in the Provincetown Art Colony sale, according to Jim Bakker, owner. He said, “The sale was highly successful. After 30 years of fine art auctioneering, we have finally added online live bidding, and the result was strong international participation and hundreds of additional bids in addition to our regular clients and a packed house attending the sale held at the Harbor Hotel Provincetown.” When the bidding ended, 35 lots of the 125 offered sold to Internet buyers.

Provincetown Art Colony highlights for the sale included a selection of masterworks, and it was one of these, George Yater’s (1910–1993) “Bradford Street, Winter,” that topped the day, selling for $9,600 — a record for one of the artist’s watercolors.

Also from the Provincetown Art Colony, a 1951 Henry Hensche (1899–1992) still life titled “My Paradise,” from the estate of Daniel R. Lovette, which was shown in the 1998 “Henry Hensche and the Legacy” exhibition at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, sold above its $3/5,000 estimate, ending at $7,800.

“Highland Light” by Sol Wilson (1896-1974), oil on canvas, brought $2,400.

The works of Sol Wilson (1896–1974) performed well, as a self-portrait at his easel in his studio sold at $3,900, over the high estimate for the 28-by-22-inch oil on canvas. Wilson’s view of “Highland Light” sold at $2,400, and his 24-by-20-inch oil, floral still life went to $1,320.

Prints were in great demand, with a first state etching from an edition of only 15 titled “Going South” by Paul Cadmus (1904–1999) realizing $3,600, and a white-line color woodblock print by Angele Myrer (1896–1970), “Caning Chair,” 1957, selling at $1,800. The Cadmus etching had a Midtown Galleries label and a piece cut from the original mat in Cadmus’s own hand with his signature, the title and original price — $9! That price did not include a buyer’s premium, which all the others given here do.

“View from Miller Hill, Provincetown,” a colorful 30-by-40-inch oil on canvas by contemporary artist John Clayton (b 1961) garnered $2,280.  

Several auction records of artists associated with the Provincetown Art Colony were also established, including Nicolai Afonchikov’s 20-by-24-inch oil on canvas, “Provincetown Harbor,” selling at $1,200; John Mulcahy (1931–2012), “Day After the Winter Storm,” 1997, an oil on panel, 9 by 15 inches, sold at $900; and the colorful 30-by-40-inch “View from Miller Hill, Provincetown,” by contemporary artist John Clayton (b 1961) that realized $2,280.

Rounding out the top lots, the Impressionistic oil on canvas “Clammers” by Bonnie Whittingham (1921–1997), 12 by 28 inches, sold well over its $200/300 estimate, when it reached $960.

James R. Bakker Antiques is preparing a summer online-only auction. Its next live auction is scheduled for November 28. For further information, www.bakkerproject.com or 508-413-9758.

Read article and see more images inside July 3, 2015 E-edition