Dedham, MA:  On December 2nd, Grogan and Company, conducted their annual December auction to a standing room only crowd.  The over 500 lots of Fine Art, Furniture, Decorative Works of Art, Silver, Jewelry and Oriental Rugs from various estates and collections, achieved over $800,000. 

     Grogan's sale began with a selection of fine art, including four works by Alexander Calder that brought the highest prices of the day and sold over the phone to the same bidder. Red, Blue and Yellow Man and Skeleton Drinking Wine, two gouaches created in 1973 by Calder, were gifts to his neighbors, William and Virginia Chess of Connecticut.  The Man, inscribed  "To Virginia", sold for 36,580, while the Skeleton, inscribed "to Wm Chess", sold for $35,400.  A Calder hand hammered silver initial brooch brought $11,800, while a heart shaped brooch, brought $10,030.  Calder, an American modernist, best known as the inventor of the mobile, was a prolific artist creating sculptures, paintings, prints and over 1,800 pieces of jewelry.  

       Other highlights included Russian artist Jaroslav Vesin's Winter Trail, an oil on canvas was bought by a European collector over the phone for $16,520 against a $5,000-10,000 presale estimate; while a 17th century portrait of Venus by Dutch Renaissance painter Gortzius Geldorp sold to a local collector over the phone for  $9,400 (presale: $10,000-20,000).   Phone bidders continued to enjoy success when French artist, Edouard Cortes' oil on canvas of the Boulevard de la Madeliene, sold over the phone to a bidder in the UK for $14,160 against a $10,000-15,000 estimate; while Still Life of Sweet Peas,Zinnias and Marigolds, by American pastelist Laura Coombs Hills, sold to a New York collector for $8,850.  A local collector made a discovery at a small auction house in Great Britain when he acquired what was listed as an unidentified modernist gouache from the estate of a Lady in Middlesex, London.  The 12 x 9 inch Geometric Composition, turned out to be the work of French artist Auguste Herbin.  Created in 1951, the lot sold for $8,260 against a $10,000-15,000 presale estimate.  

      A 19th century American School View of Daniel Webster’s Homestead in Marshfield, Massachusetts, generated a bevy of inquiries, due to it's rare view of Webster's home before it burned to the ground on February 14, 1878.  Peter Williams of Museum Services was the first to recognize the house while working on the painting, however, Barbara Carney of the Daniel Webster Estate & Heritage Center confirmed the finding and provided a detailed history of the estate from the time it was built in 1774 through Webster's occupation from 1837 through 1852 and it's burning in 1878.    The 22 x 27 inch oil on canvas sold to a gentleman in the room for $3,835 against an estimate of $2,000-3,000.      

     "This auction we witnessed an increase in participation from private clients acquiring decorative property for their homes," stated Michael Grogan, President and Chief Auctioneer of Grogan and Company, "It appears the auction market has withstood the downturn of the economy and continues to be the preferred place for buyers and sellers to acquire as well as liquidate their fine art and antiques."    

      Furniture highlights included an Aesthetic Movement Carved Walnut Marquetry Inlaid Bedroom Suite, attributed to Herter Brothers, which included a bed, two chairs, a side table, and a  bureau with mirror.  The elaborately carved and inlaid suite sold to a private New York collector over the phone for  $22,420 (presale estimate $10,000-20,000); while an Arts and Crafts Gustav Stickley Tall Chest of Drawers, designed by Harvey Ellis, brought $6,490 against a $3,000-5,000.  A Pair of 19th century Tiffany Studios Gilt Bronze Picture Frames soared beyond their $800-1,200 estimate to sell for $9,375; and a Pair of circa 1919 Caldwell and Company Champlevé Panels sparked competitive bidding, finally selling for $9,440 against a $1,000-2,000 estimate.  

    A fully illustrated catalogue with results can be found online at www.groganco.com. All prices include a buyer's premium.  Grogan and Company's next auction will be held on January 20th and will include Fine Oriental Rugs and Carpets from prominent collections around the world.  For more information regarding upcoming auctions, consigning or appraisal services, please call Grogan and Company at 781-461-9500.