Also, the original 2-piece costume worn by TV’s Captain Kangaroo changed hands for $9,323.
(OCEANSIDE, N.Y.) – An original oil on canvas painting by the renowned Russian artist Boris Israelevich Anisfeld (1879-1973) sold for $93,225 at a three-day multi-estate sale held Jan. 21-23 by Philip Weiss Auctions, in the firm’s spacious gallery facility located at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside. The work, from Anisfeld’s Horses of St. Mark series, was signed and dated (1914).
The painting was the top lot in a sale that saw hundreds of mostly fresh-to-the-market items change hands (the Anisfeld work, in fact, came from a Queens estate and had not been on the market since the owner purchased it over 60 years ago). Overall, the sale grossed a little over $500,000. A healthy in-house crowd was complemented by brisk Internet bidding, via Proxibid.
Boris Anisfeld was a sculptor, lithographer, painter, illustrator, set designer and long-time teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago. From 1901-1909, he studied at the Odessa School of Art in the Ukraine and at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Petrograd. His influences were the realist painter and sculptor Ilya Repin and the impressionist Igor Grabar. Anisfeld is highly collectible.
The auction kicked off on Friday afternoon, Jan. 21, with a session dedicated mainly to antique advertising, coin-operated machines, a collection of shoe-related trade cards, catalogs and more. The Jan. 22 session featured Hollywood memorabilia, rock ‘n’ roll items and more. The last day of the sale, Jan. 23, had important paintings, period furniture, Hummels and more.
Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.
The original, two-piece costume worn by Bob Keeshan for the iconic kids’ television program Captain Kangaroo from the 1950s and ‘60s soared to $9,323. The coat had large pockets, reminiscent of a kangaroo’s pouches, and all buttons were present. The interior tag was from the Eaves Costume Co., but Mr. Keeshan’s name was incorrectly spelled (“R. Keishan”).
The real estate contract signed by Elvis Presley and both of his parents (Vernon and Gladys) when the legendary signer purchased his first home in Memphis. Tenn., in 1956 (not Graceland), garnered $9,605. The contract was for the property located at 1034 Audubon Drive. Presley was able to buy the home with money made from his hit record That’s Alright Mama.
A mint condition, artist’s proof copy of a concert poster for Janis Joplin at the Aerodome in Schenectady, N.Y. (June 26, 1968) climbed to $8,193. The poster, by Gary Butts, was signed in pencil by Butts on the front and back, with the inscription “1 of approximately 35 pulled from the screen.” The piece said “Live In Concert” and “2 Shows” and was 14 inches by 22 inches. A wonderful typed letter, hand-signed by both John Lennon and Yoko Ono, coasted to $7,910. The letter was addressed to “Mr. Hal Smith, c/o Senator Sam Ervin” and thanked Mr. Smith for arranging a visit to the historic Watergate hearings in Washington, D.C. The lot also included a 6 inch by 8 inch “War Is Over” postcard, signed by Ono and Lennon and dated 1973.
A pair of works by the Dutch artist Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher (1898-1972) fetched a combined $36,160. One, a lithograph on wove paper titled Up and Down (1947) was signed in pencil by the artist and numbered (9/36). It brought $16,950. The other, titled Day and Night (1938), was a woodcut in black and gray on laid Japan paper, also signed. It breezed to $19,210.
Rounding out the day’s top lots, an occupational shaving mug depicting an image of a man laying a brick walkway topped out at $4,407. Above the image was printed the name “Arthur Kaesner.” Occupational shaving mugs date back to the 1870s and were popular through 1920 or so. Each barber shop patron had his own personalized mug, decorated for his profession.
Philip Weiss Auctions has a pair of 3-day mega-sales lined up for this spring. The first in scheduled for the weekend of Mar. 4-6. On Friday, Mar. 4, an estate sale, featuring prominent local estates and collections, will be held. Saturday, Mar 5, will focus on trains, toys, dolls and toy soldiers. Sunday will have comics, comic art, animation, Disney and sports memorabilia.
Then, on the weekend of Apr. 1-3, another massive auction event will be held. The action will kick off Friday evening, Apr. 1, with postcards, rare books, paper stamps and coins. The following day, Apr. 2, will be dedicated to folk art, Native American objects and militaria. The Sunday session, on Apr. 3, will feature transportation, aviation, automotive and maritime items.
Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (516) 594-0731, or e-mail them at [email protected].
To learn more about Philip Weiss Auctions and the firm’s calendar of upcoming auctions, to include the March and April events, log on to www.weissauctions.com