KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Grossing over $2.3M, the sale featured over 1,100 lots with 6,000 registered bidders in person, by phone, and online. The top-selling lot was a carved limestone sculpture of a mother and child by William Edmondson (1874-1951), which soared to $244,00 (all prices include the buyer’s premium). A Carroll Cloar painting, “Final Resting Place,” from the estates of collectors Jane and Ervin Entrekin of Nashville, finished strong at $97,600. A bidding war broke out over a 19th century Jasper Francis Cropsey Hudson River School painting from a Maryland estate, with an internet bidder prevailing over a floor bidder who had flown in from New York; the final price was $63,500, triple the painting’s pre-sale estimate.
Case set new world auction records for six artists in this sale. A large Lloyd Branson painting of General Andrew Jackson on Sam Patch (after the original War of 1812 era portrait by Ralph Earl) achieved $28,800, and a Meyer Wolfe portrait of a Tunisian Bride competed to $17,080. A Carl Gutherz oil painting of a French gardener, deaccessioned by the Memphis Brooks Museum, sold for $8,890, while a soft sculpture of a figure on rolling horse by Tennessee artist Akira Blount galloped to $6,000. A large oil on canvas Tuscany scene by Henry Barnes brought $5,124 and a tall bronze ringed columnar sculpture by Mexican artist Paloma Torres Estrada realized $4,064.
A circa 1975 woven jute tapestry after Alexander Calder, from the estates of Nashville arts patrons Walter and Mary Schatz, wrapped up $18,300, while possibly the oldest item in the sale, a 15th century Albrecht Durer woodcut print, doubled its estimate at $13,420. Other art highlights included an Edgar Alwin Payne western landscape painting, $17,780, and a rare Maxfield Parrish oil portrait, $15,240.
Fine Jewelry highlights included a 4.71 ct. diamond and platinum ring with jacket, $18,300; an 18K Tiffany & Co. cross pendant, $13,420, and a men’s Rolex Day-Date President wristwatch from the estate of late TBI director Mark Gwyn, $12,200. A pair of large Howard & Co. early 20th century sterling candelabra, deaccessioned by the Arkansas Museum of Art, lit up at $13,200.
Southern Regional highlights included a Mississippi McCarty Pottery Hippo, $11,590; an East TN or Southwest VA pie safe with painted panels, $10,800, a Virginia Federal Huntboard, $7,320; and an 1842 Spring Hill Academy needlework sampler, $7,800.
Applause broke out when a rare Tiffany “Fern” candle lamp, found by the consignor in an East Tennessee antique mall for $20, rocketed to $56,120. Other standouts included a Max Kuehne silver-gilt screen, $10,980; an Alexander Hamilton signed order related to the Whiskey Rebellion, $6,000; a Marta Maas Fjetterstrom mid 20th century rug, $5,124; and a set of Hermes porcelain dinnerware in the Siesta Island pattern, $6,710.
Over 98 percent of the lots in the auction sold and the overall sale grossed 25% above the high estimate. For more information, or to consign objects for our upcoming Winter Auction (Jan. 31-Feb. 1), call the gallery in Knoxville at (865) 558-3033 or the company’s consignment offices in Nashville (615) 812-6096 or Chattanooga (423) 251-1320, or email info@caseantiques.com .