KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— American Art from the estates of Southern collectors and three museums leads a diverse summer sale at Case Auctions in Knoxville. The July 12-13 event features more than 1,100 lots and also features estate jewelry, silver, historical documents and books, and Mid-Century Modern and Southern regional decorative arts.
A 13-inch tall carved limestone sculpture of a mother and child by William Edmondson (1874-1951) carries the highest pre-sale estimate at $60,000-70,000. In 1937, Edmondson became the first African American sculptor to have a solo exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. This particular sculpture is illustrated in the 1973 book by Edmund Fuller, “Visions of Stone: The Sculpture of William Edmondson.” The sculpture comes from a private Middle Tennessee collection which also featured an Edmondson preacher figure sold by Case for $540,000 in 2020 and a Lady figure for $268,400 in January of this year.
Several of the sale’s top paintings come from the estate of noted Nashville arts patrons Ervin and Jane Entrekin, including a “Magic Realist” painting of a figure in a cemetery by Carroll Cloar, an Edward Alfred Cucuel oil of a woman with parasol, a Walt Kuhn oil portrait of New York arts patron Elizabeth Bliss Parkinson, a Hayley Lever oil landscape, “Caldwell, NJ, 1935”; a Maurice Prendergast watercolor landscape with cattle, and two watercolor and pencil landscapes by Charles Burchfield. Paintings fresh to the market from other Southern estates include a rare Maxfield Parrish portrait of a woman, dated 1922; an exhibited Francis Speight oil of Blantyre Mills in Manayunk, Philadelphia; a Jasper Cropsey autumn landscape titled “Along the Delaware”; a Thomas Doughty Hudson River School landscape; an Edgar Alwin Payne landscape of a lake in the High Sierras; and a James Guy Evans marine painting, titled “The Eleanor Jane… in a Stiff Blow Near Cape Henry [Virginia].” There is also a portrait of George Washington attributed to James Peale, Sr., one of several paintings in the sale deaccessioned by the Arkansas Museum of Art.
A carved limestone sculpture of a mother and child by William Edmondson (American, 1874-1951) carries an estimate of $60,000-$70,000.
Other fine art standouts include two Edouard Cortes Paris streetscapes, a large Tsibi Geva abstract painting; a Samuel Bak exhibited Surrealist oil; a Frederick De Voll cityscape; an Eduardo Kingman 1938 oil of indigenous laborers (“Obreros”); original watercolors by Jean Michel Folon and Erte; a 17th century Italian School painting of “The Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine”; a large “Josephine Baker” jute tapestry after Alexander Calder, and a Max Kuehne silver-gilt screen.
In addition to the Cloar, Southern Regional art includes an impressive salon-size portrait depicting Andrew Jackson on horseback at the Battle of New Orleans by important Tennessee painter Lloyd Branson (after the smaller original by Ralph E.W. Earl); a rare William Lester Stevens oil on canvas Charleston street scene; an Elizabeth Verner O’Neill pastel portrait of a Charleston flower seller; abstract paintings by Southern modernists Lamar Dodd and Philip Perkins; a colorful Ida Kohlmeyer sculpture, and a Helen Lafrance Church Picnic scene along with paintings by other outsider artists Lonnie Holley, Mose Tolliver, Howard Finster, and Bessie Harvey. There are also several works from the estate of artist Meyer Wolfe, including two oils: one depicting a Nashville street scene with African American figures and the other depicting a Tunisian Bride, plus several of Wolfe’s WPA era sculptures and drawings. Southern paintings deaccessioned by the Brooks Museum in Memphis and the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga include multiple paintings by Carl Gutherz and George Cress of Tennessee, along with other American artists.
The works on paper category is especially strong. It includes a circa 1511 Albrecht Durer woodcut, “The Four Avenging Angels” from “The Apocalypse” along with multiple 20th century prints: two Mark Chagall signed lithographs, “Chasing the Bluebird” and “Les Amoureaux dans le ciel a St. Paul”; a Robert Motherwell lithograph, “Samurai II,” ; a Tom Wesselmann color Mixografia, “Still Life with Blonde and Goldfish”; and a Thomas Hart Benton signed lithograph, “Youth Music.” There are a number of works on paper from the estate of Nashville arts advocate and print collector Walter Schatz, including a signed O. Winston Link photograph, “Hotshot Eastbound, Iager, West Virginia” and prints by Camille Billops, Ed Ruscha, Kiki Smith, Sam Francis, Red Grooms, Rockwell Kent, plus a number of Tamarind Institute prints.
While art dominates the lot count, there are also more than 200 lots of estate jewelry and watches. Lending a special sparkle to this sale are a ladies platinum ring with central 4.71 ct brilliant cut diamond accented by two baguettes and a 1.62 ct. diamond jacket, and a 2.69 ct. solitaire diamond ring with 1.54 ct. diamond jacket. Both rings include GIA reports. There is also a 5.61 ct emerald beryl ring and multiple lots of designer gold jewelry such as a Louis Tamis & Sons 18K yellow gold cable chain necklace; an Oreste Guidi 18K necklace and Etruscan Revival bracelet; and a 18K gold and diamond brutalist necklace by Ilias Lalaounis. Watches include two men’s Rolex timepieces: an 18K Presidential Watch #18038 with aftermarket diamond bezel and dial, and a Submariner model 16610 with stainless case, plus a Breitling Superocean Heritage watch (model AB2010) and a mid-century ladies 18k and diamond watch by Kentucky designer George Headley.
Silver standouts include a rare 19th century Tiffany 6-piece sterling tea service in the Ivy Chased pattern; a 24 inch tall sterling Art Nouveau vase with trophy inscription for the 1904 Baltimore Horse Show; a large circa 1830 Russian silver tea tray; a large water pitcher and pair of monumental sterling silver candelabra by Howard & Company; a Hester Bateman English cruet set, and a George II sterling silver cup with presentation inscription relating to the successful capture of a murderer! The auction also features some rare examples of 19th century coin silver, along with more plentiful sets of 20th century goblets, bowls and flatware by Gorham, Reed & Barton, Dominick & Haff, Wallace and others. And there is a striking circa 1905 set of six hand hammered copper cups and pitcher with rabbit handles, attributed to designer Joseph Heinrichs and retailed by Black, Starr and Frost.
Asian Arts include a large and intricately carved Chinese jadeite brush pot, exhibited at the “Many Faces of Buddha” Exhibit at the Oglethorpe University Art Gallery in 1986, along with a Southeast Asian gilt silver urn or trophy featuring elaborate repousse Hindu decoration from the estate of Jane Dudley, wife of U.S. Ambassador Guilford Dudley (1907-2002). There is also a set of three framed Chinese scrolls painted with Mongolian hunting scenes, formerly in a corporate collection; a Japanese Edo “Tale of Genji” screen; a scarce Tanaka Ryohei color etching titled “July”; a pair of early Chinese bronze beaker vases; and several fine Chinese porcelain items, including two gilt bronze mounted Famille Rose centerpiece bowls.
A notable rarity in the Historical category is a broadside on silk commemorating The Augusta Resolves, a Revolutionary War period declaration of support by Augusta Co. Virginia representatives, supporting Congress’s resistance to the Intolerable Acts. (Only two other examples are known, both in museums). An Alexander Hamilton signed letter authorizes payment to troops involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, plus there are numerous Civil War related items such as a canteen, clothing, CDV and letter archives from brothers Thomas and Captain William Henry Tabb of Mississippi (neither of whom survived the war). There is also an 1861 Confederate Navy appointment signed by Steven Mallory and Raphael Semmes; an extensive slave ledger from the Merrill Plantations in Mississippi and Louisiana; and a very rare 1894 map of Nashville. Several rare books are featured including first editions by Rudyard Kipling and Cormac McCarthy. The firearms category includes a German DWM Model 1914 Artillery Luger semi-automatic pistol with holster and a 19th century flintlock rifle marked for Kirkman and Ellis of Nashville.
Just in time for Independence Day, this auction boasts three patriotic quilts recently shown in the “Pieced and Patterned” exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg (Sept. 2021-Jan. 2022). All three are from the estate of Linda Felts of Memphis. There are also several silk embroidered needlework pictures from the Felts collection, and a rare Tennessee sampler dating from 1842.
A desirable Southwest Virginia or East Tennessee pie safe with floral painted tins leads the furniture lineup, along with a Kentucky sugar sideboard, a Tennessee sugar chest, and a Virginia Federal huntboard. Furniture from other regions includes a Federal sofa attributed to Philadelphia, a large European trumeau mirror with Hunting Scene painting, and multiple lots of mid-century modern and contemporary furniture.
Ceramics and Art Glass include a Pablo Picasso Madoura “Sujet Poule” earthenware bowl; a Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre bowl; and a scarce Hippopotamus figure by the McCarty Pottery of Mississippi, plus a large Daum “Fleur de Paon” art glass vase; a Richard Jolley green studio glass face sculpture; a colorful Sidney Hutter art glass vase, and multiple lots of Herend porcelain and Lalique glass. Lighting includes a rare Tiffany Bronze “Fern” lamp base plus Tiffany bronze candelabra; a pair of circa 1900 Arts & Crafts glass lanterns by J.P. Frink; and a Baccarat crystal chandelier
Rounding out the sale are a scarce mid-20th century Marta Maas Fjetterstrom “Cow” rug plus a collection of fine antique Persian Rugs; Native American textiles, pottery and baskets; coins and currency; and a series of 19th century U.S. Patent Models from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. O. Rundle Gilbert of Garrison, New York.
The complete catalog for the auction, with full descriptions, price estimates, and photographs for items, in the order in which they will be sold, can be viewed online at www.caseauctions.com . Case’s gallery is located at 4310 Papermill Drive in Knoxville. The live auction begins Saturday, July 12 at 9 am ET and Sunday, July 13 at 1 pm ET; online, absentee and phone bids will also be accepted. Preview appointments may be made on the company’s website through Friday, July 11, when a public preview will be held from 10 am to 6 pm. For more information, or to consign objects for a future auction, call the gallery in Knoxville at (865) 558-3033 or the company’s offices in Nashville (615) 812-6096 and Chattanooga (423) 251-1320 or email info@caseantiques.com .