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#WhiteMountainArt #BenjaminChampney #AuctionFun #ArtCollectors #PaulSamplePaintings #MarineArt #AntiqueFurniture #FineJewelry #AuctionSuccess #HistoricArt #ChippendaleStyle #ArtMarket #AuctionHighlights #CollectibleArt #AuctionTrends
Bill Smith’s February 26 Important Winter auction in Plainfield, N.H., was a resounding success, attracting a large crowd of 165 in-person bidders and achieving a total sale figure of over $746,000. This was a notable shift from the trend of declining in-person attendance at auctions, with Smith attributing the success to his approach of making auctions entertaining and engaging. His ability to keep the audience amused with humor, provide detailed insights into the items’ origins, and create a comfortable, friendly atmosphere in the gallery proved to be a winning formula. The sale was well-organized, with items thoughtfully displayed and catalog descriptions offering thorough information. Additionally, the auction schedule was strategically mixed, with categories like jewelry, silver, furniture, and Asian items scattered throughout the sale, ensuring sustained interest.
Paintings were a highlight of the auction, with Benjamin Champney’s White Mountain landscape leading the sale at $22,800, nearly tripling its estimate. This strong performance underscored the enduring appeal of the White Mountain school among collectors. Eight paintings by Paul Sample (1896-1974) from a single collection also performed well, with an oil on canvas titled “Reveries of an Iceland Mariner” fetching $21,600, the second-highest price of the day. Among Sample’s watercolors, “Ski Lesson” sold for $3,600. Another noteworthy painting was a large unsigned Hudson River scene, which fetched $5,400, with Smith speculating that its value could rise significantly once the location is identified.
The sale also featured a pair of Eighteenth Century historical marine paintings by British artist Robert Dodd (1748-1815), depicting battles between the British Royal Navy and the French navy in 1794. “The Queen Endangered” sold for $9,600, while “The Terrible Dismasted” brought $8,400.
Furniture performed strongly, with a surprising $9,600 achieved by a large Chinese Chippendale-style two-part breakfront bookcase from the early Twentieth Century. A circa 1760 New Hampshire Queen Anne tiger maple highboy sold for $6,600, while a maple tall case clock made by Concord, N.H., brothers Levi and Abel Hutchins, apprentices of Simon Willard, fetched $5,400. A circa 1810 New England blue set-back cupboard sold for $2,880, and a circa 1830 red-painted Bucks County, Penn., corner cupboard with a broken-arch crest was a bargain at $660. The selection extended beyond traditional furniture, with a set of eight mid-to-late Twentieth Century Julian Chichester NY dining chairs realizing $3,600, a fraction of their original $27,000 price.
Jewelry also saw strong results, with a platinum and diamond line necklace set with approximately 70 diamonds leading the category at $19,200. A platinum and diamond bracelet with nearly 14 carats of emerald-cut diamonds sold for $12,000. A 14K Italian gold necklace weighing 50 grams fetched $5,100, and an 18K yellow gold Rolex Cellini wristwatch with a brown ostrich leather strap and Oysterlock clasp went for $4,500.
Smith expressed satisfaction with the auction, noting that the large in-person crowd was the largest since before the Covid-19 pandemic. He highlighted the unpredictability of furniture pricing but praised bidders for their discerning judgement. The remarkable results, including the unexpected performance of the Champney painting, underscored the strength of the market and the appeal of Smith’s approach to auctions. Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, and additional information can be found at www.wsmithauction.com or by calling 603-675-2549.
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