GLEN COVE, NY.- Roland Auctions NY hosted their Holiday Estates Auction on December 13th, 2025, with a rarely seen at auction Abstract painting collection by notable Mid-Century artist Jean Xceron (Greek/American, 1890-1967) taking much of the attention.

While a rare Steinway & Sons Dutch Rococo Parquetry Piano and a Neoclassical Bronze & Micromosaic Top Coffee Table, specially made for J.A. Lehman in Rome in 1857, were the top sellers of the day, all twelve lots in the Jean Xceron collection sold with anxious high-energy bidding. Contemporary Art is always a crowd pleaser at Roland, always doing well especially over the last few years.


Jean Xceron Composition 121 - Oil On Canvas. Sold for $5175.

As many art aficionados know, Jean Xceron’s work came to prominence in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, but never quite reached the level of some other well-known Modernist artists of the time. He maintained a relationship with the Rose Fried Gallery, evident by the labels on the reverse of his works and, ironically, Xceron kept his day job working as a security guard at The Guggenheim Museum for 28 years from 1939 until his death in 1967.

He is described as a "pioneer of non-objective painting" by the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. His abstract geometric art, bridging European and American avant-garde movements, was influenced by Cubism and he was crucial figure in both Paris and New York art scenes, having lived in Paris for a decade.


Jean Xceron Figures #434 - Oil On Canvas. Sold for 7150.

In this collection at Roland, most of the art had personal inscriptions and was given as gifts over a long period of time to his friends in the close-knit Greek/American community. One piece in the collection was an early work he did from 1927 in Paris, along with the much later works. At the Roland auction on December 13th, diverse buyers included both art dealers and private collectors, in and out of the Greek community, both overseas and in the U.S. , including NY, Texas, Nevada, Alabama. All the works in this collection were formerly the Property of Katherine Orphanos, a personal friend of the artist.

Over the years, Jean Xceron and his wife became very close friends with Greek immigrant Katherine Orphanos, building her life in the United States while remaining deeply connected to her heritage through the Greek church and its close-knit community. It was there that she and the Orphanos family met and formed a decades-long friendship, during which he often gifted Katherine and her loved ones pieces of his work.


Jean Xceron In Space No. 554A – Watercolor. Sold for $2470.

The highest seller of these was the Jean Xceron (Greek/American, 1890-1967): "Painting #426" - Oil On Canvas, blue, red and black abstract on white and shaded background in oil on canvas, signed and titled on back, bearing two labels from Rose Fried Gallery, NYC, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1966 RISD circulating exhibition, a label from Zappeion Museum, Athens, Greece, and Museum of Modern Art Exhibit Art and Embassies-Brussels label, 1959, and a personal inscription, which sold for $13,000.

Others included a Jean Xceron: "Figures #434" - Oil On Canvas, colorful abstract with black stick-like figures, signed and dated lower right, signed verso on canvas and bearing a label on frame, sold for $7150, a Jean Xceron: "Composition 121" - red and green heavy oil on canvas, stretcher mounted on board, dated 1934; bears Rose Fried Gallery, NYC label, sold for $5175 and a Jean Xceron: "Painting #432", colorful geometric abstract on white background in oil on canvas, signed lower right, titled on back, dated 1960, bearing Rose Fried Gallery, NYC label, 1960, went for $2925.


Jean Xceron Painting #14 - Oil On Canvas. Sold for $2340.

The Jean Xceron: "In Space No. 554A" – colorful abstract geometric watercolor on paper, signed lower left, titled on back, dated 1962; bears Rose Fried Gallery, NYC label, "Two Circles", exhibition 1963, sold for $2470, Jean Xceron: "Painting #14" - red, blue and black abstract on white and shaded background, in oil on canvas, signed lower left, titled on back, dated 1961; #442 with gift writing on back. sold for $2340 and the Jean Xceron: "Two Circles No. 55", colorful abstract geometric watercolor on paper, signed lower right, labeled on back, dated 1962; bears Rose Fried Gallery, NYC "In Space" #52 label, exhibition 1963. Sold for $1700.

More notable pieces were a Jean Xceron: Landscape - Oil On Canvas, landscape in colors with cart, verso with label "98 Jean Xceron Landscape Oil on canvas 20 x 16 1927" and on canvas "Paris Dec 23, 1927" and with personal inscription. Sold for $2210, a Jean Xceron: "Painting #362", colorful abstract geometric watercolor on paper, signed lower left Xceron - 55, labeled on cardboard reverse "Jean Xceron Composition No 362 Watercolor 31 x 11 1955 99175033", bearing personal inscription " Gift to Ms......Orphanos....Love from Mis Xceron" and Jean Xceron. Bears Rose Fried Gallery Exhibition 1959. Sold for $2080.


Jean Xceron Painting #432 - Oil On Canvas. Sold for $2925.

Additionally, a Jean Xceron: "Circle No 561-A" –black shaded color abstract geometric watercolor on paper, signed lower left, dated 1962. Sold for $1950, a Jean Xceron: "Ascent" – pink, yellow and black abstract geometric watercolor on paper, signed lower left, titled on back, dated 1960; bears Rose Fried Gallery, NYC label. Sold for $1820, and a Jean Xceron: "#365A" –colorful abstract geometric watercolor on paper, unsigned, labeled on back, dated 1951. Sold for $1560.

Please visit Roland NY at 150 School Street in Glen Cove, NY. For further information call 212-260-2000 or visit: www.rolandantiques.com