THOMASTON, MAINE – With the Wyeth Center at Farnsworth Art Museum only minutes away and the region known as the summer haunt of America’s most famous family of painters, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries knew it had a winner in “Island Cabin with Swallows,” a watercolor and ink on paper by Andrew Wyeth. Estimated at $40/60,000, the somber depiction of a weathered, coastal dwelling ignited competition between two determined bidders, one on the phone and one online. Adding to the drama, each contender waited until the last possible second before increasing his bid. Accompanied by a round of applause, the caller prevailed and the work hammered down at $138,000 including premium. Among decorative arts offerings, a New York work table of circa 1830 brought $46,000. Watch for a complete report on the August 29-30 sale in a future issue.