I thought I’d revisit the Brooke Astor auction which just wrapped up, and show you the estimate and then the actual hammer price. The auction raised more than twice what was expected – $18.8 million - although there is some conjecture that the estimates were set low so that regardless of what things sold for, it would look like a raging success.
First up, the Haseltine Pig. I received an e-mail this afternoon about this pig, apparently Herbert Haseltine and Buddy Marshall were second cousins which is, no doubt, how she came to possess this piece of sculpture - they were both great-grandchildren of Charles Marshall, head of the Black Ball Line between NYC and Liverpool…
HERBERT HASELTINE 1877 - 1962
MIDDLE-WHITE SOW: WHARFEDALE ROYAL LADY
ESTIMATE $10,000-15,000 USD SOLD: $43,750
EARLY 20TH CENTURY
ESTIMATE: $700-900 USD SOLD: $6,250
FIRST HALF 20TH CENTURY
ESTIMATE $500-700 USD SOLD: $12,500
ESTIMATE $1,500-2,500 USD SOLD: $9,275
ESTIMATE 2,000-3,000 USD SOLD: $12,500
ESTIMATE 2,000-4,000 USD SOLD: $11,250
ESTIMATE 800-1,200 USD SOLD: $6,825
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, NEW YORK, CIRCA 1970
ESTIMATE 10,000-15,000 USD SOLD: $65,000
Some of the pieces went WAY above their estimates, like this one:
or this one:
But this was the big winner of the auction:
Here’s the link to the catalogue so you can browse through and see what things were hammered down for. Everyone loved Mrs. Astor, and the money raised is going to her favourite charities, ones which she supported for years, so it’s all good.
I went to the preview, considering it a "must see," given whose stuff was for sale and because Sotheby's is only a block from where I live in NYC. I thought they did a marvelous job of displaying Mrs. Astor's extensive belongings, much of them in room-like settings. I knew the sale would go for through-the-roof prices, as these types of sales attract buyers who have more money than sense, paying crazy premiums because of who owned the goods in most cases. While there were any number of things I would have liked to have, I didn't bother leaving any bids, knowing that I hadn't a chance of winning anything. I am a great fan of Hazeltine, and there are any number of his sculptures at the Virginia Museum of Art, collected by (and donated by) Paul and Bunny Mellon. I would dearly love to own one, but sadly never will, given their astronomical worth. Additional, lesser-quality decorative goods from Mrs. Astor's estate are up for sale at Stair Auction Galleries in Hudson, NY, in early October. I suspect the frenzy will continue...
ReplyDeleteHello Meg:
ReplyDeleteWe too have often wondered about the estimated prices in sales such as this one being set on the low side in order, as you say, to give the appearance of a huge success. It is, as we are sure that you are aware, much the same in the United Kingdom, particularly where country house sales are concerned.
But, surprisingly, a few years ago at the Savoy, prior to refurbishment, many items appeared to sell for rather less than one might have imagined. We have proof of this!!
Hmmm smart those auction houses, giving low estimates for the goodies! Enjoyed so much looking at the catalog. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteAs Charlotte said: "That's some pig."
ReplyDeleteAstounding prices really! I love the Fornasetti malachite ground plates, good lord though! The same with the Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
2012 Artist Series
Hello Meg, At least the provenances are real in a sale such as this, even if the prices are exorbitant. When you see "Abraham Lincoln's desk" or "Mme. Curie's locket" for sale, you often only have the dealer's or owner's word to back up the inflated price.
ReplyDelete--Road to Parnassus
I have a friend who has worked for auction houses forever! She says that even in situations like Jacqueline Kennedy or the Duke and Duchess of Windsor; they estimate the "actual value" of an item; because they cannot predict (it is not a science!) the "glamour effect" of a celebrity or dearly beloved person!
ReplyDeleteReally; I totally agree with that! I think that is fair and how could one predict? Some things sold for wildly exorbitant prices! And, sadly for me, some things sold for less than I would have estimated! I was dying to buy the Vertes screen; that came with two other paintings! I thought it would go for a fortune; they went for a relative "song"!
So it seems like the right way to do it!
With Jackie Kennedy, every single thing sold for way more (I think every single thing!)
There was a Vertes water color almost exactly like one I have; it sold for $17,500.00. All those years ago!
The screen plus two watercolors (not pictured sold for 4 thousand something!
oh p.s. I consider the catalogue "graduate school" for understated good taste and beautiful comfortable decorating. A treasure!
ReplyDeleteAnd her love for animals so obvious!
Joyful, whimsical, happy decorating without a trace of pretension or showing off! I could move in with my toothbrush and not change one thing!
Know when that happens? Never!