Date: Fri 25-Jun-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

DuMouchelles-Smithsonian

Full Text:

DuMouchelles Offers Smithsonian "Ford Times" Collection

By Rita Easton

DETROIT, MICH. -- The Smithsonian National Museum of American Art consigned a

collection of watercolors to a May 16 auction conducted by DuMouchelles.

The 189 lots were originally from "The Ford Times Collection," executed as art

for the monthly magazine published by the Ford Motor Company. Ford Times was

sent to purchasers of Ford automobiles as a "courtesy of your dealer who hopes

thus to add to your motoring pleasure and to suggest that this service will

also add to the enjoyment of your car."

The watercolors were scenic views accompanying articles on travel to locations

in the United States, encouraging Ford owners to enjoy motor travel in their

vehicles. Ford commissioned some of the leading illustrators and artists of

the day, and one of the illustrations was usually featured on the cover of

each issue of the magazine. A selection of these watercolors is in the

collection of the Detroit Institute of Art and another group remains in the

National Museum of American Art.

The starring lot was a watercolor on board, "Massachusetts Trap Fisherman...,"

by John Whorf (1903-1959), with dimensions of 15 by 22 inches, reaching

$13,000, a price no other lot approached. A Whorf watercolor and pencil on

paper, "Sunrise at Ipswich, Mass.," followed in second place at $6,000.

An untitled watercolor and pencil on paper by Rex Brandt (b. 1914), made

$5,000; an oil on canvas on paperboard, "Indian Shell Mounds," by Dale Nichols

(b. 1904), garnered $3,250; and "Sands at Dauhpin Island," which was also by

Nichols, sold at $3,750.

" Queen Mary , New York Harbor," a watercolor by Fred Zimmer, was purchased at

$1,700; a watercolor and pencil on paper, "Catalina Island, CA," by Edward

Reep (b. 1918), reached $2,600; "Fishing at Wards Rapids," a watercolor and

pencil on paper by Henry E. McDaniel, made $2,900; and a McDaniel in

watercolor and pencil on paper, "Ruisseau Gaillard Pool in Evening," sold at

$2,000.

Paul Sample (1896-1974) was represented by several lots, including "Columbia

Bridge and Bailey's Store," a watercolor and pencil on paper, which reached

$2,200; a watercolor on board, "Overland Pack Trip on Skis," which sold at

$2,000; "Bob Keene and Chickens, NH," which fetched $1,800; "Maine Central

Mixed Train," which realized $2,300; and "Bird Hunting Near the Keen's, NH,"

which went out at $1,400.

Prices quoted do not reflect a required buyers premium.