Shannon's Fine Art Auctioneers grossed $7.6 million in just two sales in 2011 Shannon Fine Art Auctioneers enjoyed a banner year in 2011, grossing over $7.6 million in just two sales. It was a record year for the firm, which conducts two auctions per year (in April and October)
News-Antique.com - Jan 18,2012 - (MILFORD, Conn.) – Shannon Fine Art Auctioneers enjoyed a banner year in 2011, grossing over $7.6 million in just two sales. It was a record year for the firm, which conducts two auctions per year (in April and October) in its gallery located at 354 Woodmont Road in Milford. Shannon’s is currently accepting quality consignments for its next big sale, planned for Apr. 26.
While the October 2011 event was a solid, respectable auction, grossing $2.5 million, the April sale was the real barn-burner, with some spectacular consignments and eager bidders combining for a $5.1 million gross. That was by far the most Shannon’s had posted in one sale, and that came as good - but not unexpected - news for Gene Shannon, the owner of the company.
“We were fortunate in two respects last year,” Mr. Shannon remarked. “First, we had some truly wonderful consignments that made holding a successful sale almost easy. But more importantly, we had – and still have – aggressive client-collectors who aren’t shy about spending money to acquire the pieces they want. As long as the quality is there, the clients will step up.”
The top lot of the April sale (and the top lot of the year) was an oil on canvas landscape scene of trees, water and mountains by Louis Remy Mignot (Am., 1831-1870), initialed and dated (“M/61”), 22 inches by 36 inches ($516,000). The top lot of the October auction was an oil on canvas landscape scene by Jasper Francis Cropsey (Am., 1823-1900), dated 1873 ($252,000).
Works by 19th century American artists continued to be in high demand (and fetch high dollars). An oil on paper on canvas landscape of a sunrise (or sunset) with trees, mountains and figures by Sanford Robinson Gifford (1823-1888), titled Bend in the Juanita River, hit $204,000.
There are two other noteworthy examples from the same category. One was an oil on board self-portrait by John F. Peto (1854-1907), showing the artist seated in his studio, holding a palette. The 1904 work made $156,000. Also, a signed and dated (1888) oil on canvas of a still life with apples, grapes, peaches and pear by Robert S. Dunning (1829-1905) garnered $48,000.
Impressionism also proved to be popular, with three original oil on canvases topping the $100,000 mark. The top earner was a signed work by Mary Bradish Titcomb (Am., 1858-1927), executed around 1905 and titled Two Girls, Old Lyme. The 40 ¼ inches by 30 ¼ inches work showed two women, outdoors, one knitting and the other one looking on. It sold for $120,000.
The other two were a signed 21 inches by 28 inches snowy landscape scene by Walter Launt Palmer (Am., 1854-1932), showing a river and snow-laden trees ($114,000); and a portrait of a little girl in a doorway dressed in a white dress and hat and with a white cat by her side, by Charles S. Hopkinson (Am., 1869-1962), titled The Piazza Door, executed in 1911 ($108,000).
