BEVERLY, MASS.- Kaminski Auctions weathered winter storm Nemo the weekend of February 9th and 10th in order to hold their anticipated Winter Estate Auction. Kaminski Auctions was forced to condense the two-day sale into one day-long auction on February 10th. Despite the schedule change, the show did go on, the auction a number of great items including a Hublot watch, Brian Coole paintings, and fine estate jewelry.
Paintings were among the most successful lots of the auction. Brian Coole’s “Ships in Boston Harbor” was the top grossing painting, selling within estimate for $8,000.00. A beach scene entitled “Noordwijk,” from the renowned German Impressionist painter, Max Liebermann, fetched a similarly high price at $7,000.00. Also highly sought after by many bidders was a luminist painting signed “S. R. Gifford,” entitled “Evening at the Campsite,” which sold for $6,500.00.
Another painting of interest to many buyers was Allan Ramsay's “Portrait of a Nobleman.” The Scottish born painter was one of the foremost 18th C. British portraitists. His works present a unique lightness and lack of pretention, uncommon in the portrait genre of the time. The example sold at Kaminski fetched $5,000.00, $1,000.00 above the original estimate. A work from Charles Watson (1857-1923) titled “Highland Sheep”, also sold well above estimate for $4,500.00.
A striking example of Maynard Dixon’s work also sold well above estimate. Dixon was one of the premier painters of the American West in the early 20th century. His illustrative paintings capture the open expanse and beauty of the landscape that surrounded him. His boldly colored painting “Utah” embodied this signature style, and garnered much interest among bidders. The price of the painting was finally hammered down at $4,750.00.
A number of well-known portraitists were also represented at the auction. One piece by Emilio Grau Sala was among the top selling lots of the auction. Born in Spain, Grau Sala later became fully integrated into the French post impressionist artistic community. His piece sold as Kaminski, “Portrait of a Young Girl Reading,” demonstrates his loose and spontaneous style that built upon the works of French artists such as Dufy and Bonnard. “Portrait of a Young Girl Reading” sold for $3,750.00.
A number of desirable pieces of estate jewelry also commanded high prices at the action. A gentleman’s Hublot “Big Bang” chronograph watch was one of the most highly anticipated items in the auction, bringing in over five phone bidders to join the in-house and online bidding. With many competing bidders, the price of the watch was finally brought to $11,000.00. A beautiful platinum, diamond, and 2.00 CT sapphire ring fetched $5,000.00, while a stunning 18K gold, diamond and natural ruby ring went for $4,500.00.
Highlights of the furniture and decorative items sold at the auction included a taxidermy African Leopard, which sold after much bidding competition to an internet bidder for $5,500.00 and two Continental chargers that brought $4,500.00. A beautiful English chest on chest with walnut and burl veneer with molding and herringbone decoration fetched $2,100.00 at the podium.
Kaminski Auctions’ staff pulled together to hold a successful day-long Winter Estate sale on February 10th. With the increased number of phone bidders, as well as a very dedicated in house audience and many online bidders, the auction was quite lively. Kaminski Auctions now looks forward to their upcoming http://www.kaminskiauctions.com/boston-ma/coins-stamps-ephemera [Auction of Fine Collections __title__ ], scheduled for February 24th.
