Full Text:

GROGAN'S ANNIVERSARY SALE TOPS $1.9 MILLION

Bob Jackman

DEDHAM, MASS. -- During the first week of December, the Dedham firm of Grogan

and Company celebrated its tenth year with a gala anniversary party on Tuesday

and $1.9 million auction on Sunday. The merchandise was offered in sections on

paintings, Oriental rugs, decorative arts, jewelry, and silver. The top lot

was Robert Spencer's oil on canvas, "Summertime," which sold for $112,500.

There were over 200 registered bidding paddles, over 100 phone bidders, and

over 100 absentee bidders. Seventy eight percent of the 830 lots sold.

Robert Spencer's (American, 1879-1931) painting "Summertime" depicted a

commonplace moment in a family's backyard. A boy watched two ladies folding

laundry while a man selected wood from a timber pile. It was executed in an

earthtone palette with the broken brushstrokes of an Impressionist. Spencer

and his wife, Margaret Fulton Spencer, were major figures in the New Hope Art

Colony in Pennsylvania. A phone bidder won the lot for $112,500.

Another strong lot was a drypoint and aquatint by Mary Cassatt (American,

1844-1926) entitled "Afternoon Tea Party" which after a battle of phone

bidders sold for $101,500. That image was from a series of ten color prints

for the first Cassatt exhibition at Galerie Durand-Ruel in Paris, 1891. It

showed the fifth and final state of the print. In addition to many printed

colors, there were also a half dozen gold highlights which had been hand

painted with a brush. Grogan art specialist Allyson Lee commented, "The

success of the gold highlights differ from print to print, and these

significantly effect value." Likely potential buyers such as Winchester dealer

Sunne Savage were permitted to examine the print out of its frame.

Another work which created widespread interest was an interior scene of the

French retreat of famed early Twentieth Century designer Edith Wharton. House

guest Walter Gay (American, 1856-1937) frequently painted this scene, but this

particular work was the only one chosen by Wharton for her personal

collection. A phone bidder won it for $51,750, and possibly established a new

record for Gay. The Decade in Review by Franklin and James Publishing lists

$34,500 as top auction price for a Walter Gay painting in the past decade.

Two artworks which did exceptionally well against their estimates were Henry

Roderick Newman's (American, 1843-1917) small 1870 still life at $28,750 (est

$3/5,000) and C.H. Moore's watercolor of dog toothed violets at $42,550 (est

$1/1,500).

Art dealers in attendance were dismayed by the extent of phone bidding. For

example, Boston dealer Willie Postar felt he had a strong chance to win Maxime

Maufra's (French, 1861-1918) "Sortie d'ur Cargo-boat, Harve," but he was left

as the underbidder when it sold above estimate at $29,900.

The tenth anniversary party attracted several hundred collectors, dealers and

business leaders from across eastern Massachusetts and some from beyond New

England. Spontaneous, enthusiastic support expressed by partygoers

demonstrated a high degree of community support and appreciation toward

Michael Grogan and his business.

A startling array of supporters attended the party. Without impinging upon

those at a private event, it can be stated that CEO's of national financial

and banking institutions were among the well-wishers. Universities and museums

were also represented. A collector with homes on Boston's Beacon Hill and in

Palm Beach volunteered, "This is reminiscent of Palm Beach parties. I'm part

of the benefit scene there, and this has a similar energy and ambiance.

Michael's very well thought of in this area."

The large contingent of Grogan alumni celebrating the anniversary demonstrated

the positive atmosphere within the firm. Eight original staff members included

former gallery manager Anne O'Callaghan Stephens who commented, "I'm a Mom

now. I guess most of us are. Only a couple of the original employees couldn't

make it. Of course, for auctions Jeannie and I used to go across Commonwealth

Avenue and round up a bunch of college kids to work as runners for one day.

There's also a strong turnout of later Grogan employees who worked with Cara

Littlefield after I left." Allyson Lee added, "Michael's a family man who

genuinely cares about his employees and their families. He's fun and classy."

Michael Grogan's original specialty was Oriental rugs, and this auction

reflected his continuing interest in the field. Topping the field of 83 rugs

and tapestries was a circa 1880 Tabriz carpet for $36,800. That large 13.5 by

10.3 feet Persian work combined a sophisticated field organization with

extreme intricacies and clever variation. The design and workmanship made it a

highly desirable collector piece.

Another wonderful Persian lot, which sold to a phone bidder for 427,600, was a

Bakshaish carpet, 12.6 by 9.6 feet. This work had a geometric central

medallion enclosed in fields of ivory and red. A striking aspect of this rug

was the deliberate use of blue dyed in different lots and density to produce

horizontal banding within the central medallion, field, and border. Both the

corner fields and border contained elaborately varied, intricate work.

Another lot which stimulated great interest was an Eighteenth Century Chinese

rug, 8.5 by 8 feet, which brought $17,250. The wool used in the rug was

exceptionally soft and lustrous. Probably it had been sheared in the early

spring (called the winter shearing), and carefully washed. The design was

particularly intricate, an important feature on early Chinese rugs. Dyeing was

more uniform than that seen on most rugs of the period, and condition was very

good beyond the ferrous oxide problems found on all Chinese rugs of the

period.

Bidders within the hall contested all rugs, but most eventually sold to phone

bidders. Two active rug bidders in the gallery were Jeff Acardi of Salem,

Mass. and Hamid Raratpanah of Watertown.

The furniture field was led by a finely carved set of 12 George II style

mahogany dining chairs which sold to a dealer for $37,950, against a broad

estimate of $15/25,000. The extensive and deep carving was a uniform strength

throughout the set. However, the presence of original tooled leather seats

raised this set above the general field. Some seats were in very good

condition while others showed considerable wear.

Another fine English furniture lot was a pair of George III satinwood demilune

cabinets with painted decoration for $24,150. The rich patina of the satinwood

heightened the harmony with three earthtone painted on each cabinet.

A remarkable piece of accessory furniture was an Empire planter in patinated

bronze for $5,175. Its graceful, sleek elegance was reminiscent of works in

the collection of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Indeed the cabriole leg

that terminated in the bust of an angel supporting the planter rim was

incorporated in some Windsor furnishings.

Topping a wide selection of chandeliers and candelabra was a rare pair of urn

form candelabra that went for $9,488. These massive 30 inch tall works would

be suited to a large banquet room. An ormolu and brass Empire chandelier with

four lights cast a $7,475 shadow on one wallet.

Meissen was the most aggressively bid type of European porcelain. A 33 piece

coffee and tea service with painted landscape vignettes brought $9,488,

against an estimate of $2/4,000. Another Meissen coffee and tea set of 34

pieces and decorated with animals sold for $7,475, far above the $1,5/2,000

estimate. The crowd murmured with surprise when a set of four Meissen covered

compotes with ormolu mounts soared to $7,188. Asian ceramics stimulated only

limited bidding.

While the public expresses a reverence for antique jewelry, the market puts a

premium on vintage, designer works. At $25,300 the top jewelry lot was a circa

1950 diamond and platinum bracelet purchased by jewelry dealer Adina Foxman of

New York City. An Art Deco ring By Cartier, featuring a stepped cut

rectangular emerald, brought a handsome $10,925. A pair of circa 1930s Art

Deco brooches tripled their high estimated at $7,475.

The silver field was led by Tiffany flatware desert service for 12 of spoons

and forks. The service was inlaid with other metals. One of the inlaid metals

was copper, and the other may have been gold, brass, or bronze. Mixed metal

sets always do well, and previewers suspected the estimate of $2/3,000 was too

low. Another exciting lot was a pair of 24 inch tall candelabra with figural

standards that reinterpreted Classical motifs with Baroque elaboration. The

pair went to a New York dealer for $6,900.

In its first decade Grogan and Company has shifted from a firm conducting two

dozen auctions a year to a company focused upon three major annual auctions.

Its range of merchandise has narrowed to the upper end in five specialized

fields. It has also grown roots deep into the community, trade, and banking

institutions. The firm's prospects for the coming decade are bright.