The Clarke Auction Gallery Announces Record-Breaking Results for its Third Annual Fine Arts Auction.

    /24-7PressRelease/ - LARCHMONT, NY, November 12, 2007 - A BBQ baron from Texas and a Scottish Baron from the Highlands were among absentee bidders joining a standing room-only Larchmont crowd November 5 2007. The results were that a quarter of the more than two hundred and fifty lots exceeded their high estimates with records falling for Fourteen American and European Artists. Four lots were passed.

Among Americans, the top lot of the night was John Wilde's 1955 oil on panel "In My Studio" realizing $48875, a record for the artist. African-American Joseph Delaney's 1971 oil of a Soho loft party left the house at $25875, another record. Among rarities found and sold at record prices by Clarke were an Ellen Emmet Rand 1920 portrait of her three sons at $10350 and E.T. Quinn's 1891 "The Potter" at $8625. Sidney Loeb's c.1940 large bronze of a seated woman also set a record at $4025. A large oil of a Bronx Fishmarket by Lee Jackson broke existing records at $9775.

Surprises included a 1930's oil "London Newsboys" attributed to DeForest Stull at $5750 and a Peter Max drawing on a napkin at $1725.

International highlights included record prices for William Malherbe's "The Terrier" at $5175; a record $4600 for an Edward Fahey landscape; and $1725 for a large Max Savy. A small Shanti Dave oil was purchased for $13800, a c.1900 Mexican painting by little known J. Cortes realized $1150 and a small Antonio Fabres hit almost $10000.

A surprise was a 18th C. painting of a Scottish regiment with intense European interest selling outside the trade to a Scottish-American contractor in the house for $6900. Bargains included a set of c.1930 German Expressionist crayon portraits realizing $805.

All realized prices include the Clarke Auction Gallery's 15% Buyer's Premium.

Ronan Clarke, the firm's co-founder, commented that while the sale far exceeded his own estimates, "at the end of the day, it's all about coming fresh-to-market with art that stops both the retail people and the trade in their tracks. I saw it myself at our previews. But our modest 15% Buyer's Premium also meant that bidders could spend more their money on Art versus exorbitant auction fees."

About Clarke Auction Gallery
Clarke Auction Gallery, Westchester's Premier Auction Gallery, conducts catalogued sales monthly featuring distinctive fine and decorative arts, antiques, exceptional furniture, oriental rugs, sterling silver and mid-century modern. For further information, please contact us at (914)833-8336 or [email protected]

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