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#ArtAuction #MiltonAvery #PatekPhilippe #LuxuryWatches #FineArt #DetroitInstituteOfArts #RareJewelry #LaliqueVase #ModernArt #SurrealistArt #RonGorchov #ManoucherYektai #LilaCabotPerry #RoyLichtenstein #TonySmithSculpture
DuMouchelles’ two-day auction on April 17-18 in Detroit featured nearly 660 lots of luxury watches, jewelry, and fine and decorative arts, achieving a 90% sell-through rate with robust bidding activity across all platforms. The sale was highlighted by significant works from the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), consigned by the estate of Gil and Lila Silverman, prominent art patrons and supporters of the museum. The auction attracted global interest, with strong participation from in-person, online, and phone bidders.
The top lot of the sale was Milton Avery’s 1944 oil on canvas board, Mama’s Boy, which sold for $186,000 to a New York phone bidder. The piece, depicting Provincetown art dealer Tirza Karlis and her son, was authenticated by Avery’s daughter in the 1970s and came with a provenance letter from Avery’s wife. It was a highly sought-after work, with spirited bidding from multiple parties.
The first day of the auction was led by an 18K gold Patek Philippe Triple Calendar Moonphase Calibre 2400 wristwatch, which sold for $155,000 to an online buyer in Miami, potentially setting a record for the model. Other notable timepieces from the Bloomfield Hills collection included a stainless steel Patek Philippe Aquanaut Calibre 330 ($34,100) and a circa 1930 Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. 18K yellow gold pocket watch ($10,540).
Fine jewelry also performed well, with an Italian 18K yellow gold and diamond collar necklace achieving $17,360 and a pearl, emerald, and diamond 18K gold necklace fetching $16,120. A rare deep blue René Jules Lalique Perruches vase, circa 1920, sold for $14,190, more than doubling its high estimate, to a UK collector.
The second day focused on fine and decorative art, with Frantisek Muzika’s 1944 Surrealist painting Popelec (Ash Wednesday) selling for $105,400 to an online bidder in Massachusetts. Ron Gorchov’s untitled cyan oil on shaped canvas, with provenance to the Silverman collection, sold for $80,600 to a New York phone bidder. Manoucher Yektai’s 1968 oil on canvas Meadow achieved $62,000, also going to a New York phone bidder.
Lila Cabot Perry’s Mary and Her Little Lamb (circa 1880-1910) sold for $34,100 to a Michigan collector in the room. Roy Lichtenstein’s screenprint Wallpaper with Blue Floor Interior, a five-panel work, sold for $34,100 to an Illinois phone bidder. Tony Smith’s 1961 ebony granite sculpture Spitball, commissioned by the Friends of Modern Art at the DIA, sold for $22,320 to a local Michigan collector, benefiting the museum.
A rare Civil War tintype portrait of a uniformed Union Army first sergeant and his bride, circa 1865, sold for $8,680 to a Virginia phone bidder. The piece was notable for its historical significance and excellent condition.
Overall, the auction demonstrated strong market interest in high-quality art, jewelry, and timepieces, with significant prices achieved across categories. The sale benefited the Detroit Institute of Arts, continuing the legacy of the Silvermans’ support for the museum. For more information, visit www.dumoart.com or call 313-963-6255.
