Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Gray’s Auctioneers to Auction John Koch Painting

Gray’s Auctioneers Fine Art, Furniture and Decorations auction on September 27, at 11am EST will feature the sale of property from the personal collection of Cleveland luminaries Maxeen & John Flower. The proceeds from the sale of the collection will benefit the Cleveland Institute of Art, Maxeen Stone Flower’s alma mater.

Highlights from the collection include lot 126, the largest John Koch painting to come up at auction. ‘The Party’ (also known as Summer Party) is a magnificent oil on canvas with a simple gold leaf wood frame measuring 48 inches high by 60 inches wide. It was exhibited at the New York Historical Society in the show entitled John Koch: Painting a New York Life, October 16, 2001-January 27, 2002. It is also featured in the book sold to accompany the show, published in 2001 by Scala Publishers Ltd. Painted in 1971, ‘The Party’ depicts the artist with several of his friends including his gallerist Antoinette Kraushaar, his wife Dora, artists, musicians and actors together with Mrs. Kenneth Spencer, whose portrait Koch painted the same year. At once formal and elegant the painting captures the essence of mid 20th century New York’s bohemian creative life, always jaded but nonetheless passionately engaged.

Maxeen and John Flower traveled extensively and built a massive collection over a period of fifty years. Another featured lot is lot 39, an exquisite 10th century buff sandstone figure of the Hindu deity Vishnu. At over 31 inches tall and mounted on a museum grade mount the ornately detailed figure is beautifully preserved. Lot 38, a 17th century gilt bronze figure of the deity Vajradhara, from Tibet is inset with turquoise, coral, lapis and garnet stones. The figure is seated on a beaded lotus throne and stands at 12 inches tall. The collection includes an extensive array of Chinese, Japanese and Indian decorations as well as antique furniture, paintings from well known artists and other lesser known artists, together with rugs, carpets and tapestries all of which were displayed throughout their Shaker Heights home. Many a dinner party guest viewing the lots up for auction shared memories brought back by the items on display, including lot 318 a Turkish Oushak wool rug measuring 15′ 11″ x 13′ which was featured prominently in the couple’s home.

The auction features a small collection of carved ivory Chinese figures including lot 30, an early 20th century Chinese carved ivory figure of a seated Guanyin, which is generating a lot of interest. Lot 173A a late entry into the auction is also of great interest, a pair of 18th Century Ming style Huanghuali Chairs, which are conservatively estimated at $2,000 – 4,000.

While the auction features an extensive collection of Asian items, European and American paintings, furniture and decorative items round out a very interesting and attractive auction to be held on September 27 at 11am EST in Cleveland, Ohio. Live online bidding is offered through LiveAuctioneers.com as well as telephone and absentee bidding when registering directly with the auction house.

Gray’s will be open for preview of their 52nd auction, at their spacious showrooms, 10717 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio from Monday September 19 – Monday September 26, 11am – 6pm. The auction will take place at 11am EST on Tuesday, September 27. Live online bidding for this auction is offered by LiveAuctioneers.com. Gray’s also accepts absentee bids and telephone bid registration on their website. Gray’s Auctioneers is the only licensed, bonded and insured auction house in Cleveland holding monthly live auctions, and offering complimentary valuations every Friday between 11am – 4pm. Deborah J. Gray, auctioneer, opened her eponymous auction house in 2007, transforming the abandoned building that used to house a Citroen dealership into a driving force in the vibrant Cleveland Fine Art and Antiques auction market. The complete illustrated catalog for this auction can be found on Gray’s web site at www.graysauctioneers.com and also on Live Auctioneers

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