CHICAGO.- Hindmans Summer Jukebox themed auction once again proved that collectors dont take the summer off as the fine art and modern design auction achieved $1.1 million, a new house record for the annual sale. This years auction was titled Never Too Much after Luther Vandrosss iconic debut single, which proved to be prophetic as several lots vaulted well past their estimates on the way to auction records.
It is very rewarding to see this fourth version of our Summer Jukebox series continue the upward trend of this sale, shared Zack Wirsum, Hindmans Vice President and Director of Post War & Contemporary Art. I have the most fun getting in the collaboratory with our Design team and by chance curation, crossing the category diamond with the collector pearl. As the name of the sale and prices realized would indicate, this years chemistry experiment produced macro results and, as the great Luther Vandross himself put it: I just dont want to stop.
The highlight of the auction was Yvonne Jacquettes 1977 work Lincolnville Beach (lot 69), which sold for $100,800 besting the artists previous auction record by $75,000. The oil on canvas is a quintessential work by Jacquette depicting a Maine beach in her distinctive pointillistic style from an aerial perspective.
Hindman continued to establish itself as a leading auction house for the works of Gertrude Abercrombie selling her 1957 work Shell (For Karl Priebe) (lot 49) for $81,900, an auction record for a work on paper by the artist. Abercrombie largely used oil on canvas for her art, making this a rare and highly desirable piece. Although the subject is one of countless shells painted by Abercrombie, it is distinguished by the initials K. P., referring to her close friend Karl Priebe, on a pennant flying from a pole adjacent to the large shell.
The highlight of the Design section was a hand-blown glass murine by Stephen Rolfe Powell entitled Mendacious Guppy Johnson from the Teasers Series (lot 224) that sold of $20,160. The 1994 piece from the famed Kentucky glass blower is typical of the artist being brightly colored and standing just over three feet tall.
Additional Highlights Throughout the Auction Included:
·Lot 137 | Clement Meadmore (Australian/American, 1929-2005) | Switchback, 1980 Price Realized: $40,950 (Estimate: $10,000 15,000)
·Lot 237 | Stephen Pace (American, 1918-2010) | Untitled (#58-A3), 1958
Price Realized: $37,800 (Estimate: $6,000 8,000)
·Lot 180 | Osvaldo Mariscotti (American, b. 1960) | Untitled Black 15, 2015
Price Realized: $25,200 (Estimate: $2,000 4,000)
·Lot 270 | Ibram Lassaw (American, 1913-2003) | Spaceloom XVIII, 1978
Price Realized: $25,200 (Estimate: $5,000 7,000)