On April 21, Weschler’s held an auction of American and European fine art and Twentieth Century decorative arts which showcased works by a wide variety of prominent artists, enticing many determined bidders in the gallery and from around the world. The auction totaled $571,000, with 83 percent of the lots sold.
The top lot of the auction was “Abstract Composition with Hand Fan” by Russian contemporary artist Eugene Rukhin (1943‱976). This mixed media on canvas exceeded presale expectations to realize $67,550.
Another Russian highlight was an oil on canvas by Sergei Kolesnikoff (1889‱947), “An Afternoon Rest Along the River.” Garnering plenty of attention during exhibition, the oil quickly passed its presale estimate and was hammered down for $52,875.
Standouts among Old Master works of art included an unsigned oil on canvas, “Still Life with Insects and Shells,” in the manner of the Eighteenth⁎ineteenth Century Dutch artist Balthasar van der Ast at $9,400; an oil on canvas after Peter Paul Rubens’ “Garden of Love” by Nineteenth Century Spanish artist Adro Miguel at $11,750; and a Northern European School oil on canvas from the mid-Seventeenth Century, “Saint Mark in a Cathedral” ($5/7,000), which fetched $14,100.
The selection of French works of art was highlighted by an oil on canvas depicting Place Vendôme by artist Jean Dufy (1888‱964), which realized $51,700. In addition, “Le Moulin de la Galette,” a Parisian cityscape by Maurice Utrillo (1883‱955) sold for $18,800, and an oil on board, “Voilier au Port,” attributed to Eugene Louis Boudin (1824‱898) sailed away to $18,800.
A pair of landscapes by British artist Alfred Fontville de Breanski (1877‱955), “Evening Near Princetown, Dartmoor and Near Betws y Coed, N. Wales,” sold slightly below estimate for $11,750.
Highlights in American works included two New York City cityscapes, “Grand Army Plaza” and “Washington Square” by Johann Berthelsen (1883‱972), which brought $6,462 and $7,637 respectively.
Other top American lots included a portrait of General Edmund Pendleton Gaines that was attributed to John Wesley Jarvis (1781‱840) for $9,987; a pair of Roman landscapes by Joseph Ropes (1812‱885) at $7,050; an oil on canvas board, “Evening on Sarasota Bay, Florida,” by Benson Bond Moore (1882‱974) at $11,750; and a Connecticut winter landscape by Ernest Lawson (1873‱939) that sold to an online bidder for $17,150.
Rounding out the sale was an oil on board by Gerard Sekoto (1913‱993), depicting a South African street scene, which exceeded expectations and sold to an overseas bidder for $49,350.
The Twentieth Century Decorative Arts session was highlighted by a Tiffany Studios Favrile glass and bronze seven-light “Lily” lamp, circa 1910, which sold above estimate at $24,675. Other Tiffany offerings included a Favrile glass floriform vase, in shades of green and gold, circa 1905, at $12,925 and a three-piece “Abalone” gilt bronze desk set at $3,290.
A Florence Knoll marble top rosewood credenza, manufactured by Knoll International Inc, highlighted the selection of modern furniture, selling above estimate for $3,760. An Arne Jacobson leather upholstered “Egg” chair ottoman initiated a fury of online bidding, which pushed the hammer price to $3,920. Arts and Crafts furniture featured an L&JG Stickley oak settle, model No. 281, circa 1910, which realized $4,465.
Weschler’s next auction of American and European Fine Art and Twentieth Century Decorative Arts will be on September 15 with a consignment deadline of July 27. For more information, www.weschlers.com or 202-628-1281.
