David Hockney’s “Peonies in a Glass Vase,” 1998, etching with aquatint on wove paper, 38 by 30 1/2 inches, secured the sale’s top price of $28,800.

Review by W.A. Demers

WINDSOR, CONN. — In a sale grossing $470,000, Nadeau’s Auction Gallery launched its premier art auction in its new auction space at 25 Meadow Road on June 8 with a single-owner sale of the prestigious Stroock & Stroock & Lavan art collection. The sale had a 90 percent sell-through rate with approximately 1,000 registered bidders vying on three online platforms. Stroock & Stroock & Lavan was an American law firm, founded in 1876 and based in New York City. The fall of the 147-year-old firm was attributed to a myriad of challenges it faced and it was dissolved in October 2023; however, its corporate art collection was robust and the following are highlights from the sale of its collection.

Among the day’s leaders was Robert Motherwell’s (American, 1915-1991) 1980 “Samurai II,” a color chine applique lithograph, which brought $16,800. Initialed and numbered upper left “RM 32/49,” it measured 57 by 24½ inches. It is staying in Connecticut, knocked down to a private collector.

The top lot in the sale was David Hockney’s (British, b 1937), “Peonies in a Glass Vase,” 1998. The etching with aquatint on woven paper, edition 30/35, sold for $28,800. It was pencil-signed, dated “David Hockney ‘98” and measured 30½ by 38 inches.

Line, color and form characterized a standout screenprint by Ellsworth Kelly (American, 1923-2015). Titled “Four Panels,” 1971, the screenprint in colors on special Arjomari, edition 26/50, was pencil-signed and numbered lower right. It earned $13,200.

Ellsworth Kelly’s colorful “Four Panels,” 1971, screenprint in colors on special Arjomari, edition 26/50, was bid to $13,200.

Fetching $18,000 was untitled #8, an acrylic on paper abstract by Japanese artist Takako Yamaguchi (b 1952). It was not signed and measured 35 by 48¾ inches.

Tripling its high estimate at $24,000, Jane Wilson’s (American, 1924-2015) “Red Still Life” 1977-1981, oil on canvas abstract, was signed upper right “Jane Wilson” and signed, titled and dated on verso. It measured 60 by 50 inches.

“Rickey,” a 1978 mixed media, relief, embossing, serigraph on handmade paper, edition 3/6, by Alan Shields (American, 1944-2005), made $7,200. It was signed and dated lower center “Alan Shields ‘78” and measured 30 by 30 inches.

A monochromatic mezzotint by Craig McPherson (American, b 1948), “Yankee Stadium at Night,” was edition 34/75, pencil signed, dated and numbered “McPherson 83,” 25 by 36 inches. Its result was $5,400.

This Navajo blanket or rug, hand woven with a geometric design in brown, beige and red was right at home with the corporate art collection. It made $2,160 against a $400/800 estimate.

It could be a painting with its geometric lines and bold colors, but it was really a Navajo blanket or rug, hand woven in brown, beige and red. It measured 65 by 50 inches and it made $2,160 against a $400/800 estimate.

Robert Longo (American, b 1953) is an artist, filmmaker, photographer and musician. He is best known in the art world for his 1980s “Men in the Cities” drawing and print series, which depict sharply dressed men and women writhing in contorted emotion. A 1998 edition artist’s proof from “Men in the Cities” was pencil-signed and diated. It went out at $21,600.

American artist Gene Davis (1920-1985) was represented by a sweet piece, a serigraph on canvas with myriad stripes titled “Sweet Carburetor,” circa 1969. Selling at $13,200, the edition number 50 of 150, from “Series II,” was signed and numbered on verso and measured 30 by 20 inches.

This set of Michael Mazur “Seasons by a Pond,” oils on canvas depicting all four seasons, 48 by 48 inches each, gaveled for $21,600. All were signed, titled and dated verso, “Mazur 2000.”

Rounding out the top highlights, a set of four of Michael Mazur’s (American, 1935-2009) “Seasons by a Pond,” depicting all four seasons, 48 by 48 inches each, oil on canvas, brought $21,600. All were signed, titled and dated verso “Mazur 2000.”

Overall it was a very successful sale, the first of many art sales at Nadeau’s new art gallery.
Prices given include the buyer’s premium as stated by the auction house. The next sale is scheduled for July 20. For information, 860-246-2444 or www.nadeausauction.com.