COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Local And International Appeal Helped Shatter Records At Alderfer Auction Peter Sculthorpe Paintings Excel FRIDAY APRIL 12, 2019 • VOL. 50, NO. 15
A Van Gogh, Without A Doubt
AAN Current News
Wadsworth Atheneum’s “Vase With Poppies,” ca. 1886, Authenticated After nearly 30 years of doubt, the W a d s w o r t h Atheneum’s painting, “Vase With Poppies,” by Vincent Van Gogh, has now been fully authenticated by specialists at the Van Gogh Museum. While the painting came to the Wadsworth in a bequest from the writer and French Impressionist collector Anne Parrish Titzell in 1957 along with works by Renoir, Monet, and Redon, “Vase With Poppies” has been difficult to confidently attribute since questions Vincent Van Gogh’s (Dutch, 1853-90) “Vase With Poppies,” ca. 1886, about Van Gogh’s is an oil-on-canvas, measuring 21.5-by-17.75 inches, and a practice remained bequest of Anne Parrish Titzell, 1957.617. unresolved. Experts in Amsterdam following sci- to harmonize brutal extremes.” Concurrent to the physical entific and art-historical inquiry have determined that the painting examinations by the team at the technically and stylistically concurs Van Gogh Museum, recent investiwith Van Gogh’s documented work gations uncovered that the painting in 1886. This new finding means was exhibited at the watershed 1913 that the Wadsworth is home to two Armory Show in New York City. Van Goghs; “Vase with Poppies” will These new investigations were all join “Self Portrait,” both painted prompted by the Wadsworth conduring his Paris period of 1886-87 servation lab using newly acquired imaging equipment through the atop earlier paintings. “Vase With Poppies” fits stylisti- generosity of the Sherman Fairchild cally with a group of works the Foundation. Digital x-ray and artist made shortly after arriving to advanced infrared reflectograms Paris in the spring of 1886. Van revealed with greater clarity than Gogh took advantage of the easy ever before the presence of an earaccess to flowers as he reinvented lier painting beneath the current his stylistic approach after two composition. These early forensic years of depicting peasant life in findings made sending “Vase With Nuenen. His embrace of a more Poppies” to the Van Gogh Museum vibrant palette and light-filled ren- for advanced study the logical next derings of humble subjects, flow- step. Their work, analyzing the ers, nuts, fruit, is evident in this paint, materials, linen, and style, simple composition of cut poppies enabled a level of professional in a plain cylindrical vase. In his scrutiny and artist specific context words in an 1886 letter to fellow to arrive at this new judgement of artist Horace M. Livens, “And now authenticity with great confidence. “It was a pleasure for our musefor what regards what I myself have been doing, I have lacked money um to work together with the for paying models else I had entire- Wadsworth Atheneum on this parly given myself to figure painting. ticular project,” says Louis van But I have made a series of color Tilborgh, senior researcher, Van studies in painting, simply flowers, Gogh Museum, and professor of Art red poppies, blue corn flowers and History, specializing in Van Gogh, myosotys, white and rose roses, University of Amsterdam. “When in yellow chrysanthemums, seeking 1970 Van Gogh’s oeuvre catalogue oppositions of blue with orange, by De la Faille was published, it was red and green, yellow and violet seen by many as a progress report. seeking les tons rompus et neutres Continued on page 2
This Peter Sculthorpe signed watercolor “Winter in Berks County” sold for $33,000. Alderfer Auction broke auction records for the Chester County artist Peter Sculthorpe with his signed watercolor “Winter in Berks County” selling for $33,000 during its singleowner estate collection from the mainline sale held March 20. Sculthorpe is well-known for his wintery landscapes; “Belted Galloway” and “The Smell of Snow” sold for $15,600 and $14,400, respectively. As his paintings were impressive in size, locality, and simplicity, it
was the perfect complement to the auction. Also, a worthy mention was the signed and dated 1886 Edmund Darch Lewis painting that retained its Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts label. This work sported a $22,800 price realized. As the regional artwork from mainline estate attracted a local audience, one particular item brought international attention. A monumental Kashan hand-knotted
Shore Antique Center To Host Display Of Classic Cars on page 2
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Collection Of Scrimshaw Canes Steps Into Winner’s Circle At Sworders Auction A collection of scrimshaw walking canes assembled by a local gentleman sold for a total of £34,000 ($45,110 U.S. dollars) at Sworders in Stansted Mountfitchet, England, on March 12. Antique marine ivory and baleen canes such as the ones offered by Sworders typically were worked by American and European sailors as gifts for loved ones, or to be sold to natural history-curious Victorians in the port A collection of antique scrimshaw walking canes were cities. They have long auctioned on March 12 by the British auction house Sworders been popular, particu- for a total of £34,000 ($45,110). larly in the United Kingdom and in North America, and with both tortoiseshell and white many now hold appeal beyond the metal pieces. Estimated at £5,000cane collecting community and into £6,000 ($6,635-$7,960), the hammer price was £7,000 ($9,290). the folk art world. A similar cane with a Turk’sWhile some scrimshaw canes are relatively simple, the best head knot over a baleen disc above examples reflected many hours of fluted, crosshatched and spiralwork, carving to the shaft with turned sections sold for £1,100 spiraling and crosshatching, tor- ($1,460), while another with colored toiseshell inlay and careful carving line inlay, a spiral-turned shaft with of a marine ivory pommel or baleen stringing and a silver plaque handle. The most sophisticated engraved with a crowned “H” example in the collection, which reached £2,000 ($2,650). The canes was apportioned into nine lots, had formed part of day one of Sworders’ a Turk’s knot pommel and a shaft two-day sale. For more information, visit with a series of carved octagonal and square sections, some inlaid Sworders at www.sworder.co.uk.
Spring Into Easter Sale Set For Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall on page 3
Simple Goods Spring Show To Be Held April 27 on page 4
Locati’s April Sale Features A 17th Century British Royal Document on page 14
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 5 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 8 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 8
FEATURED AUCTION: Rich Penn Auction - April 27 and 28 in Waterloo, Iowa - Page 9
AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . on page 10 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 15