Our Summer Auction will take place Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd at our Main Gallery in Knoxville and features fine art, antiques, and jewelry from Southern institutions, collections, and estates. We are continually adding new preview items, so please check in regularly. We expect to publish our full catalog on our website later in June.
Charles Krutch (Tennessee, 1849-1934) watercolor East Tennessee landscape that depicts an atmospheric Smoky Mountain vista beneath a cloudy sky. Fog gathers in the valley at right and a break in the trees reveals a patch of bare earth at left. Signed “Krutch” lower left in red. Housed under acrylic in a likely original giltwood frame. Sight: 9 1/8 in. H x 17 7/16 in. W. Framed: 13 1/4 in. H x 21 9/16 in. W.
Joanna Higgs Ross (Tennessee, 1934-2025) acrylic on canvas modernist East Tennessee landscape painting, “Cades Cove No. 8.” A green, yellow, and red valley lies at the foot of a towering blue mountain range, with a line of trees that separates the two. Signed, titled, and dated to back of stretcher. Unframed. 61 3/4 in. H x 72 1/4 in. W. 1985.
Porfirio Salinas (Texas, 1910-1973) oil on panel painting depicting a Texas hill country road winding past a patch of bluebonnets and a large tree, down into a shadow-covered valley. Signed “P. Salinas” lower left. Possibly original textured giltwood frame with Bradford Paint Co. Austin TX label en verso. Sight: 13 1/4 in. W x 9 1/2 in. H. Frame: 18 in. W x 14 in. H.
Robert Gwathmey (Virginia/New York, 1903-1988), Couple with Guitar on a Porch. More information in the coming weeks.
Exceptionally large Helen La France (Kentucky, 1919-2020) oil on canvas landscape painting depicting an African American church community gathering for a Decoration Day or Memorial Day picnic celebration. Signed lower right. Note: This is the largest Helen LaFrance “Church Picnic” painting we have ever offered, with the canvas measuring 60 in. W x 30 in. H and the frame, 64 in. W x 34 in. H.
William Aiken Walker (American/South Carolina, 1838-1921) oil on academy board cabin scene painting with an African American family gathered before a cabin or small house and accompanied by a small cat. Chickens walk through the foreground while laundry dries on a line at right. Spanish moss hangs from the branches of a tree that reaches over a cornfield visible in the background at left. Signed lower left. Inscribed “Cabin” along with other text en verso. Housed in an ornate giltwood frame. Board: 6 1/2 in. H x 12 1/4 in. W. Sight: 5 3/4 in. H x 11 5/8 in. W. Framed: 14 in. H x 20 in. W.
Maria Howard Weeden (Alabama, 1846-1905) watercolor on card portrait of an elderly African American man shown in bust-length. He wears a striped, blue shirt under a jacket and looks directly toward the viewer. Signed “Weeden,” lower left. Inscribed “Mm. A. L. Eastland / Los Gatos” and “Mm. Ha[rrison?]” in pencil to verso. Framer’s note inscribed the lower edge of recto reads “Make nearly sa[me s]ize as [others?] as possible.” “W.K. Vickery / Publisher and Art Dealer / 224 Post Street / San Francisco” gallery label affixed to old backing board (housed behind newer backing board). Gallery label, verso, and mat all numbered 5593. Framed under glass in a giltwood frame with textured creat mat. Card: 11 in. H x 9 in. W. Sight: 9 1/4 in. H x 7 in. W. Framed: 16 in. H x 13 1/2 in. W. Note: W.K. (William Kingston) Vickery (1851-1925) established his W.K Vickery gallery in San Francisco in the last decades of the 19th century. By 1900, the firm took the better-known name of Vickery, Atkins, & Torrey. The present painting was likely framed or sold by Vickery prior to 1900.
Dale Chihuly (American, b. 1941) art glass sculpture, Vermillion Macchia Set with Viridian Lip Wraps, 1987. Seven pieces of graduated sizes, featuring a mottled purple-white exterior with red striated interior accentuated by bright green lips. Largest piece: 16 in. W x 13 in. D x 8 1/2 in. H. A copy of the original sales receipt from Chihuly Inc., dated June 2, 1987, numbering this piece as 454.87.7 is available to the winning bidder.
Martin Chirino (Spanish, 1925-2019), “Raiz” (Root), 1970, gilded bronze abstract sculpture, 16 in. W x 7 in H x 5 1/2 in. D. (40 cm x 18 cm x 13 cm). Accompanied by a circular wooden turntable base, 1 3/4 in. H x 9 1/2 in. diameter. Note: this lot includes the 1970 purchase receipt from the Galeria Juana Mordo, Madrid, with certification that it is an original sculpture by the artist, along with a 1990 letter from the same gallery appraising it at $27,000.
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Madoura Owl Jug, Cruchon Hibou, 1955 (Ref. A.R. no. 293). Glazed ceramic pitcher painted in black, blue and brown. Inscribed on the underside “Edition Picasso Madoura,” with the “Edition Picasso” and “Madoura Plein Feu” pottery stamps. From the edition of 500. Measures 10 in. H (25.5 cm) x 7 in. W x 5 1/2 in. D.
Diamond ring with 4 carat center diamond (SI2 clarity, L color). More information in the coming weeks.
Ladies 18K Rolex yellow gold Oyster Datejust wristwatch. 64.1 grams. More information in the coming weeks.
18K gold amethyst bracelet. 68.4 grams. More information in the coming weeks.
A.G. Schultz heavy and ornate sterling silver 4-piece tea service retailed by Sylvan Bros. Columbia, SC, circa 1900. The set includes a large teapot, sugar bowl, cream jug and waste bowl, all with repousse grapevine decoration to bodies and rounded feet, with naturalistic handles and finials. Stamped to underside “Sterling”, with the “hand made” logo of A.G. Schultz (Baltimore, 1899-1950) and retailer mark of Sylvan Bros. (1897-present). Elaborate 3 part letter monogram with leafy flourishes to one side; the teapot is engraved “Memphis” to the other side. Pot 13 inches H. Combined weight: 89.67 oz troy.
Robert “Bob” Norman Ross (American, 1942-1995) oil on canvas landscape painting depicting the Northern Lights illuminating the night sky over an Alaskan mountain, with snow-covered trees and lake in the foreground. Signed lower left “Ross” and dated 197_ (last digit partially concealed by frame). Stamps en verso for “Bob Ross Alaskan Oil Paintings,” Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Molded giltwood frame with linen mat. Sight: 19 1/2 in. H x 15 1/2 in. W. Frame 26 1/2 in. H x 23 in. W.