Maine Antique Digest March 2015

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26-C Maine Antique Digest, March 2015
- AUCTION -
Bonhams, Los Angeles, California
California and Western Paintings and Sculpture
by Alice Kaufman
Photos courtesy Bonhams
Sales totaled a little more
than $3.2 million (including
buyers’ premiums) for Bon-
hams’ November 24, 2014, auc-
tion of California and Western
paintings and sculpture in Los
Angeles, simulcast in San Fran-
cisco. The total includes prices
for several lots that sold after the
auction.
Specialist Scot Levitt told
M.A.D. that the Gordon and
Constance Fish collection of 57
works offered at the beginning of
the auction “set a strong tempo
for the entire sale. All but two
or three offerings from the col-
lection were sold. Virtually all of
the top lots from the sale over-
all found new homes, including
a beautiful C.M. Russell water-
color near the end of the sale that
sold after the auction.”
In the group of top lots listed
here, only two were bought by
dealers (both fromNewMexico).
“More and more private collec-
tors are becoming comfortable
with the auction process,” Levitt
said by way of explanation.
A Los Angeles collector told
M.A.D. after the sale, “Both deal-
ers and auction houses have been
hampered by a lack of ten-qual-
ity paintings. Second-tier selling
prices reflect this. Guys like me
aren’t selling, and we only come
out for the really great paintings.
But at Scot’s April auction, he
has probably one of the best Wil-
liam Wendts ever, and this very
serious painting will attract other
serious paintings.”
Looking over the material that
sold, Levitt seemed to agree.
“Clearly quality continues to
be the key to a successful auc-
tion. If quality examples can be
consigned, and reasonably esti-
mated, then the auction will do
well, at all price levels. There are
still plenty of buyers in this mar-
ket as long as good paintings can
be found.”
Bonhams’ next California and
Western paintings and sculpture
auction will take place on April
28 in San Francisco and Los
Angeles. For more information,
see ) or call
(323) 850-7500.
Edgar Payne (1883-1947), Sierra with Packers, oil on canvas, 15½" x 19",
sold to a private collector in San Diego for $25,000 (est. $25,000/35,000).
E. Charlton Fortune (1885-1969), Sunny Morning, St. Tropez, oil on
panel, 13" x 16¼", sold to a private collector in southern California for
$281,000, far above its $60,000/80,000 estimate.
Granville Redmond’s California Wildflowers, oil on canvas, 24" x
36", sold for $209,000 (est. $150,000/250,000) to a southern California
collector.
The Chase (Indian on a White Horse Shooting a Buffalo), a 10¼" x
15¾" watercolor on paper by Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), sold
after the auction to a southern California collector for $200,000 (est.
$250,000/350,000).
Granville Redmond’s Fishermen and Fishing Boats on the Shore, oil
on canvas, 12" x 16", sold for $75,000 (est. $40,000/60,000) to the same
southern California collector who bought Rolling Hills with Wildflowers
by Redmond.
Wild Lilac and Poppies , oil on canvas, 20" x 30", by John Marshall Gam-
ble (1863-1957) sold for $52,500 (est. $30,000/50,000) to a southern Cal-
ifornia private collector.
“Clearly
quality
continues to
be the key to
a successful
auction.”
Hanson Puthuff (1875-1972),
oil on canvas believed to
depict Malibu Canyon, 24¼"
x 36¼", sold for $40,000 (est.
$25,000/35,000) to an Orange
County collector.
JackWilkinson Smith (1873-
1949), Marine, 22" x 30", oil
on canvas, sold for $37,500
(est. $25,000/35,000) to a col-
lector from Alaska.