Date: Fri 27-Nov-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Cahoon-Osona-Easton

Full Text:

Cahoon Continues To Capture The Imagination Of Collectors

(with 4 cuts)

By Rita Easton

NANTUCKET, MASS. -- At Raphael Osona's October 10 auction, the standing room

became crowded enough to necessitate opening the bleachers of the American

Legion Hall where it took place. Four hundred fifty lots crossed the block for

a gross of $452,000, following two days of previews.

Paintings by Cahoon were the major attractions of the day, with three pieces

consigned by three collectors. A large consignment of furniture came from a

North Carolina collector.

"Embarking for Florida," a 28 by 37 inch oil on canvas by Cahoon, realized

$55,000, selling to a dealer. The canvas depicted a coach on shore dropping

off mermaids to board a ship with mermaid passengers; a customs house also

stood on the shore.

"The price of Cahoon goes up with the quality, or the scrimshaw frame, or the

degree of whimsy, or the number of mermaids," said Osona. "We had previously

sold one for $15,000 that was ten by eight inches, which is a huge amount of

money for such a small canvas, but it was whimsical: a standing mermaid with a

lobster pinching her bottom. When you looked at it you wanted to smile."

A second 28 by 37 inch Cahoon, "Netting Mermaids," the frame of the painting

enclosing a frame oil painted around the scene, which depicted four canoes

with sailors who have corralled a number of mermaids, some in nets, went to a

collector at $49,500.

A 48-inch round oak coffee table, cut down from a dining table, decorated by

Ralph Cahoon with mermaids, palm trees, clipper ships, and whales, went to a

New York private collector at $24,750; an American Hepplewhite sideboard with

fine inlay reached $44,000, selling to a dealer; and a Regency card table

crossed the block at $5,000.

A finely carved library table stayed on the island of Nantucket, selling to a

resident at $4,500; Nantucket baskets by Jose Reyes ranged from $3,000 to

$4,600; a "Jewel" model pool table, manufactured by the Brunswick Balky

Collender Co., circa 1870-1880, was purchased by a Connecticut dealer at

$9,350; and a period decoupage screen with four panels, each with a peak in

the Gothic style, measuring 84 inches high by 92 inches wide, depicting

sailors, Victorian women, and exotic people, was passed.

"Gloucester Fishing Dock," an oil on canvas by John Frederick Malhaupt (1871-

1938), measuring 12 inches by 16 inches, reached $7,900; an oil on board by

Richard Hayley Lever (1876-1958), 17 by 23 inches, fetched $3,080; and tall

case clocks ranged from $1,500 to $2,000. A pair of pastel portraits by New

Jersey artist Micah Williams, each with dimensions of approximately 25 by 21

inches, went to the trade at $8,800 for the pair.

Prices quoted above reflect a required ten percent buyers premium.