Thomas Hart Benton handwritten letters to be auctioned Nov. 12 A pair of letters, handwritten and with illustrations by the American artist Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) are expected to be centerpiece lots in an auction slated for Nov. 12 by Dirk Soulis Auctions
pre-sale estimates of $3,000-$4,000. The third painting, titled Sails (32 inches by 40 inches) is expected to garner $5,000-$7,000. All three works are nicely framed.
Two Tiffany lamps are expected to get paddles wagging. The first is a late 19th century Hampshire Pottery melon form green matte glaze art pottery table lamp with oil font, dated 1897 and with a 16-inch-wide leaded dome shade with rectangular green panels decorated with yellow pomegranates (est. $8,000-$12,000); and a bronze harp form lamp base signed Tiffany Studios and numbered 419, with a gorgeous gold aurene shade attributed to Steuben (est. $1,500-$3,000).
A pair of Rookwood art pottery vases are expected to generate much bidder interest. One is a monumental (24 inches tall) early standard glaze vase attributed to Albert Valentien (1885), with bats against a full moon (est. $1,000-$2,000); the other is a vase with rooks on a board fence at sunrise/sunset, signed on the base for Kataro Shirayamdani, 1909 (est. $2,500-$5,000).
Returning to fine art, two noteworthy oil on canvas paintings deserve mention. The first is a work by French artist Michel Henry (b. 1928). Measuring 44 by 76 inches minus the original frame, the painting is in fine overall condition (est. $2,000-$3,000). The second is a painting by Cuban artist Baruj Salinas (b. 1935), titled Tepetl II, 69.5 inches by 49 inches (est. $500-$1,000).
Other artworks will include a Colorado watercolor on paper by Birger Sandzen (1871-1954), done circa 1930s, showing a lake and mountains with snow (est. $8,000-$12,000). The 15 inch by 21.5 inch work, minus the frame, is in very good condition. Also sold will be a monotype print of a work by Abraham Walkowitz (1878-1965), titled Blind (est. $500-$1,000).
Finally, a Gustav Stickley umbrella stand with pegged construction and boasting good original finish and color, is expected to hit $500-$700. To view all the lots to be sold, please log on to www.DirkSoulisAuctions.com, which will allow you to link to LiveAuctioneers.com, the auction’s Internet bidding facilitator. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted for this sale.
Previews will be held on Friday, Nov. 11, from 4-7 p.m., and on Saturday, Nov. 12, the date of sale, from 8-10 a.m. At 10 a.m., some uncataloged items will be offered. Immediately after that, the cataloged items will be sold. The Dirk Soulis Auctions gallery facility is located at 529 West Lone Jack-Lee’s Summit Road in Lone Jack, Mo., under the large white water tower.
Dirk Soulis Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (816) 697-3830, or toll-free at (800) 252-1501. Or, you can e-mail them at dirksoulis@gmail.com. To learn more about Dirk Soulis Auctions and the Nov. 12 auction, you may log on to www.DirkSoulisAuctions.com.
