Cowan's Auctions Fine and Decorative Art Auction will take place on May 19, 2012. The 390-lot sale will be held at Cowan's Auctions   salesroom. This sale will feature pieces from the Lewis Cotlow Collection of Salamgundi Club paintings and Japanese porcelain. The collection is being sold to benefit the Cincinnati Museum Center. In 1987, Cotlow donated his 260-piece, million-dollar collection, which included artifacts, films, and photography, to the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. The auction will also include Cincinnati and Kentucky paintings, fine groupings of 19th and 20th century Western Art, George Nakashima furniture, Georgian silver and furniture, inkwells, and Pablo Picasso ceramics.

Regional works in the sale will include a painting by Elizabeth Nourse, titled Mere et Bebe, and estimated to bring $30,000/50,000. A work by Cincinnati artist, Frank Duveneck, titled Mary Mallon, is estimated to sell for $10,000/15,000. Two Kentucky paintings by Paul Sawyier will also be offered. A Kentucky River Scene is estimated at $3,000/5,000 and a Kentucky Landscape is estimated at $2,000/4,000. 

A grouping of 19th and 20th century Western art will also be offered in the auction. A painting by Charlie Dye, titled Cow Thief Canyon, is estimated at $6,000/9,000.

A painting by George Phippen, titled No Life for the Easily Bruised, is estimated at $8,000/10,000.

Pablo Picasso ceramics will also be featured in the sale. A Pablo Picasso Earthenware Vase is expected to sell for $15,000/25,000. A Pablo Picasso Mudoura Earthenware Jug is estimated to bring $4,000/6,000.

A collection of George Nakashima chairs and tables will highlight the furniture portion of the sale. A Nakashima Drop-Leaf Table is estimated at $8,000/12,000. A set of Nakashima Mira Chairs is estimated at $2,000/3,000. George Nakashima’s daughter, Mira, carries his traditions and practices on today.

An Andrew Clemens Sand Bottle, dated 1888, is estimated to sell for $3,000/5,000. Andrew Clemens was a sand artist from Iowa who created sand bottles using naturally colored grains of sand.

Georgian Silver and Furniture are also expected to do well in the sale. A Widdicomb Georgian-style Sideboard is estimated at $1,000/1,500. A Georgian Sterling Cake Basket is expected to bring $600/800. A Georgian-style Breakfront is estimated at $1,000/2,000.

About Cowan’s Auctions, Inc.

As one of the nation’s leading auction houses with sales approaching $20 million, Cowan’s has been helping individuals and institutions build important collections for more than a decade.  The company’s seven divisions of American History, American Indian and 

Western Art, American and European Fine and Decorative Art, Historic Firearms & Early Militaria, Asian Art, Ceramics, and Jewelry hold semi-annual cataloged sales that routinely set records for rare offerings.

Contact:  Erika McMillan, Director of Marketing Communications

                erika@cowans.com

                513.871.1670 ext.30