Altermann Galleries held several art auctions this summer that resulted in sales of $2,984,947.
Starting the series was a July 8 offering that grossed $1,791,584. Highlights of this annual event, now in its 26th year, was Gerard Delano’s painting “Sundown in the Canyon” ($60/80,000), which brought $115,000, including the buyer’s premium.
Frank McCarthy’s art made its usual stellar showing with “The Whirlwind” selling for $66,700 and “Before the Dawn” achieving a respectable $63,250, both slightly over high estimate.
Curt Walters’ Grand Canyon scene “Emergence” brought $46,000 and Mian Situ’s “People from Yun-Nan Province” soared past its $16/18,000 estimate and ended up at $32,200.
The biggest surprise was relative newcomer Tim Solliday, who saw his northern New Mexico subject matter painting “Water’s Edge” ($10/12,000) end up in heated bidding battle that resulted in a final bid of $47,150.
Next on the summer agenda was Altermann’s inaugural American Indian Art auction on August 17 that brought $661,508. A late classic Cheyenne beaded cradleboard, third quarter of the Nineteenth Century ($60/70,000) realized $63,250.
A Sioux pictorial beaded dress, last quarter of the Nineteenth Century brought $34,500, a Lakota Sioux pictorial muslin, last quarter of the Nineteenth Century with great provenance, was hammered down at $50,600 and a highlight of the painting section was Paul Pletka’s “Proud Old Man” that realized $34,500, all within estimate.
The final event was Altermann’s annual Last Call auction on August 19, which focuses on lesser and moderately priced works with low or no reserve. The sale had its best outing ever, with a final total of $531,855.
The biggest surprise of the auction was probably Edmund F. Ward’s “Evading Trouble” that was estimated at $2/3 ,000 and ended up at $16,100. Solliday continued his streak of above market sales with his painting “Husking Corn” ($5,5/6,500) being chased to $17,250.
An original work by Western artist Oleg Stavrowsky entitled “The Only Choice” ($3/5,000) got plenty of attention with a final bid of $9,200. The artist’s over sized offering “Washington Heights,” a 60-by-60-inch painting, was the top lot at $31,050.
For information 505-983-1590 or www.altermann.com.
