Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

WPA

Full Text:

WPA Canvas

w/3 cuts

By Rita Easton

WALLINGFORD, CONN. -- More than 400 attendees were on hand on September 17 to

compete for 275 lots at Maison Auction Company, Inc. The lifetime collection

of early American Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century furniture and Nineteenth

Century American paintings from the estate of the late Evelyn Wetzel Coggins

of Meriden crossed the block.

Coggins was the former owner of the upscale Red Barn in Woodbridge. Also sold

were items from a Boston gentleman's private collection of paintings, as well

as antiques, decorations, and Civil War memorabilia from various consignors.

Garnering the high bid of the day, an Eighteenth Century tiger maple

five-drawer bracket base chest, with original brasses, reached $8,800.

A mahogany slantfront desk with fitted interior, having replaced brasses,

brought $3,300; and a cherry wood and tiger maple two-drawer sewing stand,

circa 1830s, achieved $660. A WPA oil on canvas titled "Fishing Boat #8," by

Nathaniel Little, done in 1940, bearing a brass label saying "Connecticut's

WPA Project," generated a great deal of interest and was hammered down at

$1,760.

"I can remember selling [WPA paintings] for $25 years ago," said Laraine

Smith, the gallery's head of promotion, public relations, and appraisals. "I

thought that was pretty amazing."

A mahogany dropleaf table, with cross stretcher base and one drawer, was

purchased at $1,240; an oil on canvas signed "A.D. Shattuck 1876," depicting

cows grazing in a field with trees in the distance, entitled "Farmington River

Valley, Granby, CT," garnered $6,160; an unframed still life of fruit in a

pewter compote on a table top, an oil on canvas attributed to Edward C.

Leavitt, went out at $990; and a Connecticut sampler sold at $1,100.

A tavern table with deep overhang and a single drawer, with pine top and mixed

wood base, reached $715; a pair of handsome brass andirons crossed the block

at $1,050; and a drawing in charcoal on sandpaper of Guilford, Conn., brought

$440. A banjo clock, without a maker's name nonetheless, sold at $1,870; a

4'8" by 7'4" Navajo rug realized $880; a Civil War musket by James D. Mowry

achieved $500; and stoneware lamps and vessels with incised blue decoration

ranged from $800 to $1,000.

Maison auctioneer Bill Ulrich presided. The company specializes in the

liquidation of estates and is headed by three partners, Smith, Ulrich, and

Terry Masai, as manager.

Prices quoted include a 10 percent buyer's premium.