Date: Fri 10-Sep-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: GWARD

Quick Words:

O'Keeffe-Julia-Easton

Full Text:

Georgia O'Keeffe Paintings Score Twice At Julia Auction

(with 3 cuts)

By Rita Easton

ROCKLAND, ME. -- During a two session auction held by James D. Julia, Inc at

the Samoset Resort on August 26 and 27, two canvases by Georgia O'Keeffe,

consigned from a Maine home, each realized prices approximately two and one

half times the pre-auction estimate. The first, a 7 by 7 inch image of a barn,

the viewer looking squarely at the front with open barn door, the peak of the

roof silhouetted against a sky with wispy clouds, fetched $250,000, the

undated oil purchased by a member of the trade. Sale coordinator and division

head of Americana and Victoriana Bill Gage of the gallery noted that the

building was the barn of Alfred Steiglitz in Lake George, N.Y. The second

work, an oil on board measuring 9 by 11‹ inches, dated "1923" on the back,

depicting a ripe eggplant in a bowl as the viewer would see it looking

straight down on a surface, reached $233,500, and was bought by Gerald Peters

Gallery. The consignor, who was in the audience, was described by Gage as

"elated," as the estimate on each painting was $90/120,000. The proceeds will

go to a charitable foundation.

The competitive standing-room-only bidding audience generated a gross of more

than $1,600,000 for items consigned by approximately 100 consignors from all

over the United States. "It was the biggest August Samoset sale we've ever

had," said Gage. "There's a tremendous amount of interest at all levels,

whether it's trade, retail, collectors... just all over the country, and we've

had quite a lot of response from Europe. It's hot everywhere. A lot of

participation. Phones, attendance, requests for photos, and the Internet is

becoming quite a tool for marketing."

A private Maine collector won a 15« by 19« inch oil on canvas by Childe

Hassam, depicting Gloucester Harbor, at $68,500; a 19« by 29« inch painting by

William Howard Yorke painted in 1884, depicting a many masted ship in full

sail, made $14,950; a pitcher and bowl washing set from a collection of flow

blue achieved $4,140; and an Indian Germantown weave rug went out at $7,475.

A girandole mirror crested with an eagle, 41 inches high, sold at $7,187; an

Oriental rug, 9 by 12 feet, in a Tabriz pattern, made at the turn of the

century, brought $8,050; and a poorly painted zinc with copper weathervane

elegantly depicting a sulky horse and rider, featured on Antiques Roadshow ,

which was appraised by Wayne Pratt, "I think for $7,500," said Gage, sold for

$8,625.

A grain painted two part cupboard, having four light double doors over two

cupboard doors, an 1840s Maine piece from the Dorothy Blasnik collection, made

$8,912; a sterling silver pair of Belgian candlesticks made in 1777, having a

swirled base, 9« inches high, sold at $5,175; a Gustav Stickley settle reached

$7,475; and a Stickley trestle table was purchased at $6,037, both Stickley

pieces in oak. A member of the West Coast trade won a marble bust of Marie

Antoinette for $4,600.

Prices quoted above reflect a required 15 percent buyer's premium.