Bronze Collection Shines at Kaminski’s Fall Fine Art Auction (Danvers, MA) - Kaminski Auctions’ Fall Fine Art Auction, held on October 20, 2007 in Danvers, Massachusetts was a preeminent success. The event, which took place at the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort, in
News-Antique.com - Nov 02,2007 - (Danvers, MA) - Kaminski Auctions’ Fall Fine Art Auction, held on October 20, 2007 in Danvers, Massachusetts was a preeminent success. The event, which took place at the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort, included one of the largest single-owner collections of bronze and marble sculpture ever to come to the auction market. Auction-goers arrived in droves to bid on a vast selection of fine art including rare and valuable paintings, sculpture, works on paper and more. The fervent bidding of those in attendance and on the phones was supplemented by a torrent of eBay Live online bidders, who accounted for approximately 30% of the day’s sales. Northshore magazine was the media sponsor for the event. (All prices reflect a 15% buyers premium)
An outstanding array of paintings, fine prints, watercolors and drawings highlighted the auction. A painting by Victorian artist, Alfred de Breanski, Snowdon & Pass of Llanberis, attracted considerable attention from bidders, realizing a final price of $9,200. Breanski, regarded as one of England’s most accomplished landscape artists, derived inspiration from the picturesque, but characteristically desolate Scottish countryside.
Other notable paintings included Sailboat at Sea by Charles H. Woodbury. This unframed 8” x 10” piece astonished the crowd, more than doubling its high estimate of $1,800 at a final price of $3,910. Fishermen, by Jack de Loudres Leonard, was also a surprise success. While little-to-no information was available on the artist, the quality of this WPA style painting was evident, with its final price reaching $5,175.
Underscoring the success of this important group of paintings were two works by popular female artists: Braiding a Rug by Agnes M. Richmond and The Artist’s Garden in Giverny by Mariquita Gill. Richmond is renowned for her independent, dignified portraits of women, while Gill’s impressionistic depictions of landscapes and garden scenes highlight her body of work. Both artists proved highly collectible as each of the two paintings realized a final price of $13,800.
A rare bronze and marble sculpture collection offered over 90 original 19th and 20th century works ranging from traditional to Art Nouveau, and from stunning Art Deco to sleek contemporary. Among these lots was a remarkable life-sized marble statue of Venus. The statue, which measured in at a prodigious 66 inches, dazzled the crowd and achieved a final price of $9,775.
Additional pieces of fine bronze sculpture accentuated the importance of this vast collection. A large bronze by Robert Toberentz, The Snake Charmer, sold to an online bidder for $5,175. Representing the popular equine category was Cheval a la Barriere, a piece by Pierre-Jules Mene, which realized $4,945 and Rearing Horse with Groom by Louis de Monard, which brought $3,737.
The most coveted lot of the day was undoubtedly a 19th Century European School bronze by T. S. Gerome titled The Gladiator. The statue, originally estimated at $600-$800, was speculated to have been from the Andy Warhol Collection. After a feverish volley between two bidders, one by phone and one on the internet, the piece realized a final price of $6,900, soaring
