Last weekend was the first of 6 auctions we have scheduled for 2011. We are pleased that things got off to a wonderful start–not one passed lot!

The property in our March 19th sale came from The Estate of Emily Frew Oliver. Mrs. Oliver was a woman born to a life of privilege and exposed to art at a very young age. She had an astute eye, and her taste developed over her ten decades of very full life. A wonderful collection of high quality art and antique furniture was what made this sale so successful.

The James Ensor original drawing fetched $80,000 plus buyer’s premium and Orville Bulman’s”La Famille” closed at a $52,500 plus buyer’s premium. That price set a new record for a Bulman painting at auction. Another highlight of the sale was the two Alberto Giacometti pen and ink drawings which fetched a combined hammer price of $61,000.

In addition to the quality of Mrs. Oliver’s property the live real time internet bidding helped attain the strong results. We hosted bidders from more than 30 countries including 4 continents.

We have been told the auctions are very entertaining and this last weekend’s sale was high energy. Interested viewers often sit here all day long without casting a single bid. So when the day is finally here, (next sale is April 23rd) and it’s time for Sam to commence the sale, please feel free to come in and watch the action. You may be the consignor who has just seen grandma’s family silver go to the highest bidder on the internet or perhaps you’re the person involved in a spirited competition of back and forth bidding over a scalp level painting by George Hetzel. I guarantee you will be in for some great entertainment. And unless you raise your hand, it won’t cost you a cent!

-Marianne