Dargate auction brings record bids

PITTSBURGH – Dargate Auction Galleries in Pittsburgh, saw some world record prices for Modernist works at its May sale.

Works from the private art collection of Marc and June Sandler of Upper St. Clair, Pa., were among the over 2,000 lots of fine property offered in the four-day sale.

The most notable work from the collection was “Dancers Resting” (1946), an oil on canvas by Marion Greenwood (American, 1909-1970).

It was estimated at $1,500-$2,000, but astounded all when it brought $27,025, a world record price for the artist.

The pyramidal form structure of four interlocking dancers was reminiscent of Greenwood’s earlier painting titled, “Mississippi Girl” (1944).

During her too short life, Greenwood exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney and Brooklyn Museum, The Corcoran Art Gallery and Carnegie Art Institute.

Dancers Resting was reproduced in Paintings in the U.S.A. by Alan D. Ruskin in 1946. The painting came to auction after Hong Kong Girl, a larger work by the same artist. That work brought $7,050.

Other notable strong performances from the Sandler estate included two 18-inch high baseball player sculptures by Harry Wickey that went for $5,581 and $7,050.

Both sculptures were cast by the Roman Bronze Works of New York, and sold to buyers from Virginia and New Jersey, respectively. Several drawings by Wickey were also sold.

Internet buyer.

Reminiscent of summertime, a colorful gouache on paper by Doris Emerick Lee (American, 1905-1933), titled “Havanna Siesta” (1946) went for $3,525 to an Internet buyer.

A Paul Cadmus (American, 1904-1999) etching, “Two Boys on a Beach No. 2” from 1938-1939, went for $7,050.

After a heavy amount of interest in the print, it went to a Massachusetts buyer. Cadmus is regarded as a master of the human figure, but his infamous depictions of navy sailors were considered controversial for their sexually charged nature.

An oil on canvas by Anthony Thieme, estimated at $4,000-$6,000, was hammered down to a buyer from Florida for the price of $12,925.

The painting, titled In Gloucester, depicted a delightfully hazy scene of docked boats bearing passengers in brightly colored slickers.

Thieme was born in Holland and trained there as well as in Germany and Italy. He immigrated to the United States in the 1920s and kept studios in Massachusetts and Florida.

Antoinette works.

Marie Antoinette ruled over the sales floor from her spot on the stage. The marble statue of Antoinette, made by the Italian artist A. Cipriani depicted her posed casually on a chair.

The rendering of the French queen sold to a German buyer for the sum of $8,225.

Among the other pieces of fine property sold were a pair of antique free-standing oriental bronze lanterns. The lanterns had acquired a rich green patina from their time in the previous owner’s garden.

Crowned by monumental pagoda shaped tops with flaming sun finials at the top, and dragon finials at the sides, they stood at an impressive height of 7 feet high each.

They boasted ornately pierced lanterns and beautiful carving and sold to a Pittsburgh buyer for $10,575.

Lamps for sale.

Also lighting up the room were many other exquisite lamps. One set of Egyptian revival torchieres topped with pink art glass shades sold to a Washington state buyer for $4,700.

A Wilkinson water lily lamp sold to a Pittsburgh buyer for $8,225. A leaded and stained glass shade rested on the base, with high relief decoration of water lilies, lily pads and cattails.

A colossal carved limestone fountain was hammered down to a Chicago buyer for $16,450. Standing at 15 feet high and 18 feet across, the architectural giant was comprised of three tiered bowls, and was carved all over with lions.

A lovely set of Dansk sterling silver flatware exceeded its estimate of $400-$600 when it brought $3,818 from an Internet bidder.

The set was of the “Tjorn” pattern, circa 1950, and included 68 pieces total.

Train lovers were delighted to find a large collection of HO trains, models and books at the sale, which bought over $12,000 in all.

Unrelated to the collection was a large steel model steam train and tender. The model train sold to a Pennsylvania buyer for $5,875.

All prices listed include Dargate’s buyer’s premium of 17.5 percent.

For more information call Jen Dixon at 412-362-3558.