Date: Fri 27-Feb-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

Buchard

Full Text:

Stuart Estate At Burchard

W/2 cuts

By Rita Easton

ST PETERSBURG, FL. -- Jeff Burchard of Burchard Galleries reported a

standing-room-only crowd, "the best in the past five years," at the January 25

auction.

Estates, antiques, and more than 100 "investment" artworks were the focus,

numbering approximately 500 lots. Items from the estate of W.H. Stuart, a

well-known fifth generation central Florida rancher and entrepreneur, were

featured.

Reaching the high point of the auction, an oil on canvas by Charles Francois

Daubigny (1817-1878), depicting a European river landscape, in excellent

condition, encased in a heavy period gilt frame, fetched $9,500. The

Nineteenth Century work was signed on the lower left and had been estimated at

$12/14,000.

Bringing well above its $2/3,000 pre-auction estimate, an oil on canvas by the

relatively obscure British artist V. Rolyat sold at $7,500. The Nineteenth

Century painting depicted an expansive mountain valley landscape featuring a

serene lake with sailboats, set among finely detailed rocks and greenery,

framed in the heavy gilt of the period.

Other lots meriting significant attention were a Reginald Marsh (New York,

1898-1954) watercolor of a seated female nude, signed, purchased at $1,100; a

William Clussmann (American, 1859-1927) oil on canvas barnyard scene depicting

a rooster and a gathering of hens, signed, achieving $2,500; an Albert Insley

(American, 1842-1937) oil on canvas titled "Path to the Sea," done in a

contrasting palette of autumn colors, going out at $2,250; and an Emile Gruppe

reaching $3,000.

Joseph Nicolaus Butler (Swiss, 1822-1885) was represented by an oil on canvas,

a mountain landscape with figures, signed on the lower left and dated '78. The

scene garnered $3,000, surrounded with its original heavy gilt frame. A Hugo

Wilhelm Kauffman (German, 1844-1915) interior tavern scene with three men

involved in a two-man card game reached $5,000, one-half the high estimate;

and a Chen Chi (Chinese American, 1912- ) watercolor of an impressionistic

view of two lovers in the green surroundings of a park, with Chinese

calligraphy on the upper right, labelled Grand Central Art Galleries, reached

$5,500, having had a pre-sale estimate of $8/10,000.

Topping the various sculptures and casts for sale was the nude female bronze

"Raindancer," by Tom Bennett (est at $750/1,000), going out at $3,000.

In other categories, a pair of delicately inlaid sterling and cast iron

Oriental riding stirrups realized $1,500; a singing bird automaton brought

$1,200; a Golden Shred Golliwog advertising figure reached $1,000; and a

Career Captain novelty fortune teller coin-op was purchased at $1,100.

Art glass was strong, with an opalescent green glass vase, unsigned and

attributed to Galle, selling at $1,800; a Tiffany candlestick reaching $1,750;

a pair of Steuben calcite candlesticks achieving $1,700; and a Steuben aurene

jack-in-the-pulpit vase bringing $1,000.

Prices quoted above do not reflect a required premium.