STANDING ROOM ONLY
It
was standing room only at the Hudson Elks Lodge on Saturday, April 6,
for the launch of Stair Galleries' 2002 live auction season. Nearly
200 shoppers registered to buy at the sale and another 85 participated
with absentee and phone bids. In less than a year, this young company
has attracted a devoted following due to its ability to find fresh estate
merchandise and the success of its user-friendly website.
There was spirited bidding on the 4 paintings by California artists,
the most coveted being a Francis Cutting oil entitled "Near Arvin"
which sold for $2200, or $2180 over its original 1938 price. Equestrian
art was well received, as usual. A lot of 2 paintings by George Paice,
one of "Lyddite," the other of "Topthorne," brought
$2000 and a James Clark depiction of a white horse in a stall jumped
over its pre-sale estimate to bring $3250.
The top furniture lot was a handsome George III mahogany chest on chest,
hammered down for $4500. Also faring well were a Regency mahogany tall
case clock ($4250), a Regency mahogany writing table ($2600) and a New
England Queen Anne cherry highboy ($4250). Continental furniture was
popular with the audience. Many pieces exceeded their high estimates
including a Louis XV Provincial commode (est. $800 - 1200, sold for
$1600); a Flemish baroque armchair (est. $1500 - 2500, sold for $2600);
an oak Welsh dresser base (est. $1400 - 1600, sold for $3500) and a
pair of Louis XIV Provincial walnut tabourets (est. $1000 1500, sold
for $3000).
There were quite a few standouts among the decorative items offered.
A Louis XV carved Giltwood mirror reached $2000; 3 group lots of South
Staffordshire souvenir boxes sold at $1100, $750 and $850; a Dodie Thayer
cabbage-form tureen went for $1250 and a striking pair of yellow-ground
composition lamps with blue iris decoration brought a surprising $2000.
The sale was 97% sold and the total of all lots sold was above the high
estimate.
A fully illustrated catalogue with prices realized may be viewed by
clicking on "past events" and "April 6, 2002." The
next auction is scheduled for May 25. That catalogue will be online
approximately 2 weeks prior to the sale.
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