Date: Fri 04-Jun-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

Roberson-Easton-auction

Full Text:

Art Provides Main Focus Of Roberson Auction

(with 3 cuts)

By Rita Easton

PINE BUSH, N.Y. -- Approximately 400 lots were sold to a full house,

absentees, and bidders calling on a bank of eight phones, at Roberson's

Auctions on May 1. Lou Roberson reported the gross as "in the mid-six

figures."

While the event offered items primarily from a single estate, there were

several additions. Prices quoted do not reflect the ten percent buyer's

premium.

An oil on wood panel by Bert Greer Phillips inspired the starring bid of the

day, $25,000, purchased by a private buyer. The 9« by seven inch painting

depicted a group of American Indian girls in a flower garden, possibly in a

Taos village, where many of the artist's scenes are set.

Two works by Alfred T. Bricher were offered. A 9‹ by 18 inch summer scene of a

pond with a young man fishing, dated August 25, 1865, reached $17,000; and a

ten by 18 inch watercolor by the artist depicting a rocky shoreline scene

brought $1,700.

A watercolor by William H. Lippincott (American, 1849-1920), featuring a young

lady sewing while sitting by a stream with a dog, garnered $8,250; and a

Victor Degrailly attribution depicting the Kosciusko monument at West Point in

New York State, with the Hudson River in the background, painted circa 1845,

sold at $7,250.

A pastel on board by Thomas Dewing painted in 1915, depicting a reclining

nude, reached $7,000; "Autumn Brook," an 11 by nine inch oil on board by

Maxwell Parrish, was purchased at $8,700; and a Maurice Prendergast (American,

1859-1924) watercolor, titled "Lady in the Rain," a Victorian lady with

umbrella, went out at $9,500.

A William and Mary lowboy in original finish -- "probably European" Roberson

noted -- circa 1690-1710, with three drawers, was a good buy at $1,600; a

54-inch diameter round oak Hastings dining table, having seven leaves, sold at

$2,200; and an Ithaca double dial black face calendar clock achieved $3,400.

A diminutive refinished pine early shoe foot hutch table realized $1,200; a

14-piece Limoges fish set brought $1,550; a French carved oak sideboard

reached $1,550; a sterling silver ornate repousse water pitcher, unsigned,

sold at $1,600; and a mocha earthworm bowl with crack went out at $550.

A five-inch high Lalique jar fetched $400; from a collection of paperweights,

a clear glass example with coiled snake reached $875; a millefiore motif paper

brought $725, and approximately 25 additional paperweights ranged from $75 to

$550.