Sublime Painting by American Landscape Artist John F. Kensett (1816-1872) Soars to $1.08 Million at Cottone Auctions

Geneseo, NY, USA, October 6, 2021 -/DailyVoice/- A truly sublime painting titled Singing Beach & Eagle Rock, Magnolia, Massachusetts by American landscape artist John Frederick Kensett (1816-1872), was the top lot in Cottone Auctions’ Fine Art, Antiques and Clock auction held on Saturday, September 18th. The painting saw trade competition into the high six figures, and easily surpassed its estimate, selling to a private collector by phone for $1.08 million. Overall, the sale grossed $3.7 million.

The Kensett painting was purchased in 1955 by Mrs. Adrian Smith (formerly Lusyd Wright Keating) of Buffalo, New York, from Victor D. Spark of New York, and bequested to her daughter Cynthia Doolittle in 1971. It was previously twice exhibited at the Albright Knox Art Gallery, first in 1958 and again in 1983.

“It has been a privilege to market the painting,” said Matt Cottone of Cottone Auctions. “I was pleased for our consignor – the Doolittles – who could have sent their things anywhere but gave us the opportunity.”

Catalog notes included quotes regarding the painting, including a letter by John K. Howat, assistant curator of American paintings and sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Mrs. Adrian W. Smith, on May 25, 1965, stating, “The Kensett strikes me as being a very fine one. The arrangement and colors are very clear and forceful — a good sign in Kensett’s work. The silence of these spare Kensetts is very impressive.”

More recently, Susan Crane, associate curator Albright Knox Art Gallery, in a letter to Mr. & Mrs. Doolittle on March 24, 1983, said, “Your Kensett was an important element in the success of the show — it really made the room glow. Several art historians, in fact, commented on its excellence. It really does rank with the most magnificent of his works, and we are grateful to have been able to show it in the context of his ‘peers’.”

There were also many outstanding lamps in the auction. These were led by a rare Tiffany Studios elaborate Peony lamp on a telescopic library base with a 22-inch shade ($390,000); a fine Tiffany Studios Dragonfly table lamp on a reticulated Indian base with a 20-inch shade ($153,600); a Tiffany Studios, Lily Pad table lamp on a twisted vine base with a 20-inch shade ($127,200); a Tiffany Studios Bamboo table lamp with a 16-inch shade ($136,800); and a rare Duffner and Kimberly Poppy floor lamp on a renaissance floor base ($98,400).

Modern and contemporary art included an oil on canvas designator by Ted Stamm (American, 1944-1984), titled DGR-32 (Dodger), selling for $55,200 to an overseas buyer. A gouache by Patrick Heron sold for $23,400 and Maternite by Vu Cao Dam brought $21,600. An oil on board by British artist Tristram Hillier titled The Mud Berth sold to a U.K buyer for $16,200.

An Early Tibetan Thangka from a private Rochester, New York collection sold to the phones for $30,000. A fine Turkish sword (Kilij) from the historic Wadsworth family sold to a buyer in Istanbul for $24,000, and a rare 17th century scagliola table, also from the Wadsworth family, brought $12,000.

The clocks category featured a rare E. Howard & Co. No. 49 astronomical hanging regulator, purchased directly from Edward Howard in 1875 by Henry Abbott, which sold for $174,000 to a bidder by phone. Other highlights included a rare D. J. Gale astronomical calendar gallery clock, patent model 1871, selling for $43,200, and a Robert Houdin (Paris) mystery swinging clock, which sold for $12,000.

Americana featured two exemplary Navajo weavings, one a Second Phase chief’s blanket, circa 1860-1870, the other a Navajo transitional blanket, in near pristine condition. Both were descended in the family of Othniel Charles Marsh, a paleontologist at Yale University. The blankets were purportedly given to him by Red Cloud, the native American Sioux chief. After intense competition, the blankets totaled $204,000.

Period furniture was led by a fine and rare Chippendale serpentine blocked-end slant-front desk, circa 1770, figured mahogany with a deep rich amber patina, shell carved and blocked interior, block ends and bold ball and claw feet with original period brasses, from the Wadsworth family ($15,000); and a diminutive New England Queen Anne tiger maple highboy, circa 1740-1760, with a deep rich honey brown patina, cabriole legs and pad feet with period brasses, purchased from Israel Sack in the 1940’s ($18,600).

For more information about Cottone Auctions and the firm’s calendar of upcoming auction events, please visit www.cottoneauctions.com; or, call (585) 243-1000.

About Cottone Auctions:
Since 1985, Cottone Auctions has expertly handled a diverse mix of fine art and antiques for national and international audiences. With average sales between $1 million and $2.5 million, our typical offerings include Fine Jewelry, Asian Art, Modern Design, American & European Paintings, Decorative Items, Americana, Native American, Oriental Rugs, and more. Allow Cottone to be your gateway to the international art market through live internet and unlimited phone bidding. Cottone Auctions strives to provide welcoming personal service with outstanding final results. We are proud to work with private individuals, estates, museums, and institutions across the United States and all over the world. If you represent a museum, have a private collection, or are deaccessioning a single time or an estate, contact us today to learn more about how to consign. To learn more, please visit www.cottoneauctions.com.

Important Oil Painting by John F. Kensett (1816-1872) will Headline Cottone Auctions’ September 18th Online-Only Auction

Geneseo, NY, USA, August 12, 2021 -/DailyVoice/- Cottone Auctions’ late summer Fine Art, Antiques and Clock auction returns on Saturday, September 18th at 12 o’clock noon Eastern time, featuring items from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Roy W. Doolittle, Jr. of Buffalo, N.Y., including an important work by John F. Kensett (American, 1816-1872), and outstanding early 20th century lighting by Tiffany Studios.

Also offered will be fine clocks from the collection of W. C. Moodie, Sr. and sons, which represent three generations of clock collecting in East Hanover, N.J., items from the prominent Wadsworth family of Geneseo, N.Y., plus items from private institutions, estates and individuals. The sale will be held online.

A fresh to the market oil on canvas painting by John Frederick Kensett, titled Singing Beach & Eagle Rock, Magnolia, Massachusetts, highlights the fine arts being offered. With a pre-sale estimate of $200,000-$400,000, it is the highlight of the fine art category.

“Your Kensett strikes me as being a very fine one,” said John K. Howat, assistant curator of American paintings and sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in a letter to Mrs. Adrian W. Smith on May 25, 1965. “The painting’s arrangement and colors are very clear and forceful—a good sign in Kensett’s work. The silence of these spare Kensetts is very impressive.”

Another fine painting is a portrait by Jules Joseph LeFebvre (French, 1836-1911), titled Morning Glory (est. $50,000-$80,000), from the estate of Mickey Sabety of Oceanside, N.Y., acquired in the early 1950s. Modern and contemporary art includes an oil on canvas designator by Ted Stamm (American, 1944-1984), titled DGR-32 (Dodger), 1976 (est. $40,000-$60,000). Other artists including, Ed Ruscha, Robert Motherwell, Sam Francis, Patrick Heron and Vu Cao Dam.

The many outstanding lamps will be led by a rare Tiffany Studios elaborate Peony lamp on a telescopic library base with a 22-inch shade (est. $250,000-$500,000); a fine Tiffany Studios Nasturtium table lamp on a tree trunk base with a 22-inch shade (est. $70,000-$100,000); a Tiffany Studios, Lily Pad table lamp on a twisted vine base with a 20-inch shade (est. $60,000-$80,000), a rare Tiffany Studios grape trellis chandelier (est. $50,000 – $80,000), and a rare Duffner and Kimberly Poppy floor lamp on a renaissance floor base (est. $50,000-$80,000).

The clocks category features a rare E. Howard & Co. No 49 astronomical hanging regulator, purchased directly from Edward Howard in 1875 by Henry Abbott (est. $50,000-$80,000). Other highlights include a rare D. J. Gale astronomical calendar gallery clock, patent model 1871 (est. $15,000-$25,000) and a Robert Houdin, Paris mystery swinging clock (est. $7,000-$10,000).

Americana will feature two exemplary Navajo weavings, one a Second Phase chief’s blanket, circa 1860-1870 (est. $40,000-$60,000), the other a Navajo transitional blanket (est. $10,000-$15,000), in near pristine condition. Both were descended in the family of Othniel Charles Marsh, a paleontologist at Yale University. The blankets were purportedly given to him by Red Cloud, the native American Sioux chief.

Period furniture will be led by a fine and rare Chippendale serpentine blocked-end slant-front desk, circa 1770 (est. $7,000-$10,000), figured mahogany with a deep rich amber patina, shell carved and blocked interior, block ends and bold ball and claw feet with original period brasses, from the Wadsworth family; and a diminutive New England Queen Anne tiger maple highboy, circa 1740-1760, with a deep rich honey brown patina, cabriole legs and pad feet with period brasses, purchased from Israel Sack in the 1940’s and estimated to hammer for $7,000-$10,000.

In all, more than 200 quality lots will come up for bid. Previews are by appointment. Online bidding will be facilitated by Cottone Auctions; register to bid at live.cottoneauctions.com. Bidding via LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com will also be available. Telephone and absentee bids will be accepted. To place bids, call the Cottone Auctions gallery at (585) 243-1000, or register through the website.

For more information about Cottone Auctions’ Saturday, September 18th auction, please visit www.cottoneauctions.com; or call (585) 243-1000.

About Cottone Auctions:
Since 1985, Cottone Auctions has expertly handled a diverse mix of fine art and antiques for national and international audiences.With average sales between $1 million and $2.5 million, our typical offerings include Fine Jewelry, Asian Art, Modern Design, American & European Paintings, Decorative Items, Americana, Native American, Oriental Rugs, and more. Allow Cottone to be your gateway to the international art market through live internet and unlimited phone bidding. For more information, please visit www.cottoneauctions.com.