Found among a hoard of prints and paintings in a Newtown home, and undisturbed for several decades, a portrait of a young lady holding a red book and sitting in a stenciled Sheraton chair by Sheldon Peck was sold at Fairfield Auction on November 22.
Bidding opened at $21,000 from competing absentee bids and with nine phone bidders, gradually built momentum, until Woodbury, Conn., dealer David Schorsch hit the lot at $32,500. From there, Schorsch battled with several in the crowd and bidding went rapidly until Schorsch won the lot at a final price of $241,500.
The price is the third highest in the history of the gallery, surpassed only by a centaur weathervane sold in 2004 for $253,000 and a Tlingit warrior helmet sold in 2008 for a Native American record $2,185,000.
The sale also included a number of good Americana lots. A Chippendale armchair with snake cut-out in the splat, probably Southern, sold for $19,550, while a signed Fiske horse and four-wheel sulky weathervane brought $17,250, and a Boston inlaid bowfront chest, in the manner of Seymour, earned $6,900.
A standing folk portrait of a child holding a basket far surpassed a $1/1,500 estimate when it sold at $40,250. A Massachusetts slant front desk with shell-carved prospect door sold for $3,737, while a refinished Queen Anne maple highboy brought $4,312.
A large selection of fine art was led by Rembrandt’s “Flight to Egypt,” which sold for $24,150. Another old master etching by Albrecht Durer earned $8,050. A small oil on paper by William Bradford sold reasonably at $2,587, while a gem by James Brade Sword exceeded estimates at $5,750. A group of works by Walter Koeniger included two winter scenes that made $2,415 and $2,587.
A large collection of historical American prints, despite condition issues, attracted solid prices. Currier & Ives small folio “Blue Fishing” lotted with “Trout Pool” sold for $2,760, while a large folio titled “Winter in the Country” earned $747, and “Liberty Enlightening The World” sold for $747. Many were offered in larger groups that sold as high as $3,162.
Other items of interest included a roomsize Northwest Persian carpet at $17,250, and a Tiffany mantel clock with porcelain panels for $4,312. A signed first edition of Steinbeck’s East of Eden sold for $1,121, and a group of six Old Judge baseball cabinet cards were hotly contested and soared above a $1/1,500 estimate to bring $4,600. An English sterling montieth bowl brought $4,025, while a letter signed by Napoleon Bonaparte was a nice buy at $1,495. A Visscher map, “Orbis Terrarum,” well exceeded estimate at $3,737.
A group of Native American items included several Carl Moon photographs topped by an orotone, “The Wolf,” at $2,415. Navajo rugs sold well, with the top price being $1,495. An unusual Northwest Coast totem, 20 inches high, brought $1,265.
All prices reported include a 15 percent buyer’s premium. Fairfield Auction is at 53 Church Hill Road. For more information, www.fairfieldauction.com or 203-364-1555.
