Weschler's April 19th 2008 Auction

Here is an update to my March posting on Weschler's April 19th auction.

The auction was held yesterday on a very nice spring day here in DC. Perhaps that is the reason for all the pieces sold, (two went unsold), failing to meet their high estimates. It looks like a few good deals were made yesterday. Today would have been a better day to attract a crowd as we've had over two inches of rain fall in the DC region. This would have made a perfect day to stay indoors and bid on such nice objects. Let's take a look at the winning bids. I must say, I loved that last small French impressionist painting.




Highlights, personally picked, for Weschler's April 19, 2008 Auction, in Washington DC. For a complete view of the listings for the auction simply click here, WESCHLERS.

Group of Five Steuben Clear Glass Table Articles
Consisting of a set of four 'Teardrop' candlesticks, shape no. 7792, circa 1937; and an oval bowl, shape no. 7970, designed by George Thompson, circa 1949. Each inscribed on the underside Steuben. One candlestick broken at base of shaft.
Height of candlestick: 8-7/8 in (22.5 cm); Width of bowl: 9-5/8 in (24.4 cm)
Estimate $500-1,000. Sold for $700.00

Pair of Le Corbusier 'LC/2' Chromed Metal and Leather Chairs
Probably Manufactured by Cassina, Design Introduced 1928
Each upholstered in tan leather upon a chromed tubular metal frame. Each with an Atelier International, Ltd. cloth label on the underside of the seat cushion; each impressed on the underside of one arm Le Corbusier and LC/2; the first impressed 945, the second 956. Each with some distress and wear to leather.

Estimate $1,200-1,800. Sold for $850.00. Guess they weren't in the best condition.

George Nakashima Walnut Three-Legged Side Table
Circa 1972-1973
Having a shaped triangular top with a single free edge raised on three tapering dowel legs. Unmarked.
Height: 17 in (43.2 cm); Width: 22-1/4 in (56.5 cm); Depth: 18 in (45.7 cm)
Estimate $1,200-1,800. Sold for $1,700.00

Jacob Epstein (British 1880-1959)
First Portrait of Isobel (Silber 221)
Unsigned
Bronze sculpture with dark-brown patina, executed in 1932, edition 6/6.
Height: 21-1/2 in (54.6 cm)
Estimate $20,000-30,000. Sold for $14,000.00. Wow, way low.

Stephen S. Pace (American b. 1918)
Two Oxen
Signed Pace and dated 73 l.r., signed Stephen Pace and titled on a paper label affixed to the verso
Oil on canvas
30 x 40 in (76.2 x 101.6 cm)
Estimate $10,000-15,000. Unsold. Shame, I loved the painting.

Victor Salmones (Mexican b. 1937)
Recumbent Male Dancer
Signed Victor Salmones lower reverse
Bronze sculpture with dark brown patina
Height: 32 in (81.3 cm)
Greatest width: 67 in (170.2 cm)
Estimate $4,000-6,000. Sold For $5,500.00

Grant Wood (American 1891-1942)
Fertility (Cole 15)
Lithograph, 1939, signed Grant Wood in pencil l.r., edition of 250, published by Associated American Artists, New York; laid down, with mat toning and glue residue along the margins, a few points of yellow spotting and a few minor points of restoration in the barn. Framed.
Image size: 229 x 302 mm (9 x 11-7/8 in)
Estimate $2,000-4,000. Sold For $3,400.00. Looks like a deal.

James Abbott McNeil Whistler (American 1834-1903)
Billingsgate (Kennedy 47)
Etching, 1859, signed Whistler within the plate at l.r.; apparently in good condition overall. Framed.*
Plate size: 152 x 222 mm (6 x 8-3/4 in)
Estimate $1,000-1,500. Sold For $700.00. That was a deal!

Pablo Picasso (Spanish 1881-1973)
L' Abreuvoir from La Suite des Saltimbanques (Bloch 8)
Drypoint on Van Gelder paper, 1905-1913, edition of 250, published by Vollard, Paris; with some minor surface soiling along the margins. Unframed.
Plate size: 121 x 191 mm (4-3/4 x 7-1/2 in)
Estimate $6,000-8,000. Unsold. Used to be a fan. Not so sure anymore.

Manolo (Miguel Hugué) (Cuban 1872-1945)

Figure of a Seated Woman
Unsigned, inscribed No. 4 with founder's mark CIRE/ C. VALSUANI/PERDUE on the side of the base
Bronze sculpture with dark brown patina
Height: 9-7/8 in (25.1 cm)
Estimate $1,200-1,800. Sold For $1,800.00




Lois Mailou Jones (American 1905-1998)

A View of Windsor Castle
Signed Lois M. Jones, located London and dated '38 l.r.
Watercolor and graphite on paper; with some slight fading and an area of spotting in the u.r. corner. Framed.*
Sight size: 14-3/4 x 19 in (37.5 x 48.3 cm)
Estimate $2,500-3,500. Sold For $3,000.00

Manner of Thomas Sully (American Early 19th Century)
Portrait of a Young Girl in a Diaphanous Gown
Unsigned
Oil on canvas
30 x 24-3/4 in (76.2 x 62.9 cm)
Estimate $2,000-3,000. Sold For $1,200.00. A good deal.

The canvas has been relined. With scattered fine craquelure, most notably in the areas of flesh-colored pigment. With some minor spots of surface soiling, most notably a yellow surface spot on the sitter''s shoulder and a small spot on her right cheek. With an even milky-green varnish visible under UV examination. Scattered areas of restoration in the background, with some scattered minor restoration on the sitter''s face, hair and gown, with heavy restoration visible on the back of her top hand.

Charles Edward Dixon (British 1872-1934)
Limehouse Reach
Signed Charles Dixon, titled and dated 02 l.l.
Watercolor and ink on paper mounted on paperboard; with toning along the margins. Framed.
Sheet size: 10-1/2 x 30-1/2 in (26.7 x 77.5 cm)
Estimate $3,000-5,000. Sold For $4,800.00

Giovanni Lomi (Italian 1889-1969)
Strada di Firenze
Signed Lomi Giovanni and inscribed faintly in Italian on the verso
Oil on panel
9-3/4 x 6-3/4 in (24.8 x 17.1 cm)
Estimate $1,500-2,500. Sold For $2,000.00

With a couple of small areas of pigment loss in the u.l. quadrant. A small point of gold leaf transfer along the u.l. perimeter. No restoration is visible under UV examination

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Luigi Steffani (Italian 1827-1898)
Colpo di Vento
Signed L. Steffani l.r.
Oil on canvas
11-1/2 x 17-3/4 in (29.2 x 45.1 cm)
Estimate $10,000-15,000. Sold For $7,000.00. A great buy.


Provenance:
Pandolfini Casa D''Aste, Firenze, 1984, lot 199.

With some scattered minor frame abrasion, some points with surface pigment loss, along the edges of the canvas. Some light soiling in the sky area. With a few minor points of restoration in the area of the ocean at c.r. visible under UV examination




Georges Charles Robin (French 1904-1928)
Estuary of the Seine
Signed Georges Robin l.r.
Oil on canvas
18 x 22 in (45.7 x 55.9 cm)
Estimate $2,000-4,000. Sold For $3,000.00