WINDSOR, Conn. – Two original paintings by the iconic American folk artist Grandma Moses (1860-1961) sold for a combined $114,000 at Nadeau’s Auction Gallery’s spring antiques, fine art and Asian auction, held April 11th in the firm’s gallery at 25 Meadow Road. The work titled Sap Gathering, showing people engaged in snowy winter fun, was the sale’s top lot, at $78,000.

The paintings served as a springboard to Nadeau’s second million-dollar auction of 2015. It began with a highly successful New Year’s Day auction and continued with the spring sale. “We were fortunate to have some of the best antiques and art to cross the auction block in Connecticut in quite some time,” company owner Ed Nadeau said of the spring auction. “It was a great sale.”

Mr. Nadeau said interest in the auction was intense from the moment it was announced. “Phone calls and e-mails came in almost immediately,” he said, adding the excitement seemed to center around a West Hartford estate that contained many fine paintings, plus items from the estate of the late Sylvia Leven of Bloomfield, who collected 18th and 19th century New England furniture.

In the end, it was Grandma Moses (real name: Anna Robertson) who stole the show. Both of the paintings were colorful and vibrant snowy winter scenes, typical of her style. Sap Gathering was an oil on Masonite work, signed and dated (June 4, 1954). The other, an untitled gouache on artist board, depicted a fallen skier, deer and other figures. Also signed, it gaveled for $36,000.

Grandma Moses may be America’s most renowned and best loved folk artist. She didn’t begin painting in earnest until age 78, but after that she produced artworks that were shown in the U.S. and abroad, and marketed on greeting cards and other merchandise. Her paintings are highly prized by collectors. One painting, titled The Sugaring Scene, auctioned for $1.2 million in 2006.

Following are additional highlights from the auction, which featured over 300 lots, with online bidding hosted by Invaluable.com. All prices quoted include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Sylvia Leven was a huge fan of Chippendale furniture and many pieces ended up on the day’s list of top lots. A lovely Chippendale cherry reverse serpentine chest with the original hardware, attributed to Eliphant Chapin, soared to $48,000; while a Chippendale mahogany block front chest with rectangular top and set on bracket feet (Massachusetts, circa 1770) fetched $33,600.

An oil on Masonite painting by Wild West-themed photo-realist James Elliott Bama (Wyo./N.Y., b. 1926), titled Timber Jack Joe, Mountain Man, signed lower right and dated 1972, hammered for $46,800. Also, an oil on canvas still life painting by Charles Ethan Porter, titled Peonies, 26 inches by 36 inches and signed by the artist lower right, went to a determined bidder for $33,000.

A pair of Federal mahogany knife boxes attributed to Richard Fosdick (New London, Conn., circa 1785-1795), featuring serpentine fronts, inlaid satinwood conch shells and silver engraved escutcheons, made $25,200; and a mahogany and figured mahogany tea table, attributed to John Goddard (Newport, R.I., circa 1765), with a round dish tilt top and cabriole legs, hit $22,800.

A mahogany Chippendale armchair with an arched crest ornamented with carved rope and tassel motif and typical Philadelphia acanthus leaves carved on knees ending in ball claw feet, went for $26,400; and a Chippendale carved mahogany lowboy attributed to Philadelphia maker Thomas Affleck (circa 1770), with a rectangular top and highly carved cabriole legs, breezed to $26,400.

A watercolor and gouache on paper by Charles Marion Russell (Am., 1864-1926), titled Elk in the Rockies, signed lower left and with the original date of purchase (May 12, 1887) written on the baxck, reached $28,800; and a fire screen attributed to Wilhelm Hunt Diederich (Am./Eur., 1884-1953), with a salamander king having an arched top and bowed body, chalked up $21,600.

A Federal mahogany inlaid work table with a canted top over a conforming case, probably made in Salem, Mass., circa 1800-1810, knocked down at $15,600; a mahogany candle stand with shaped molded top over one drawer on a turned shaft, fetched $8,400; and a Margolis plum pudding mahogany miniature chest on chest in two parts, with a signed base, rose to $6,000.

A pair of Chippendale cherry side chairs (also attributed to Chapin), each having a shell carved crest over pierce-carved splat, with crossed bars over fully upholstered seats, circa 1780, went for $21,600; while a Chippendale cherry dressing table, made circa 1760-1780 in southeastern Connecticut, with a rectangular top over one long drawer over three short drawers, hit $12,000.

An oil on canvas painting by Edward Lamson Henry (N.Y./S.C., 1841-1919), titled The Home of Dudley Sanford, signed lower right and dated 1865, measuring 16 inches by 27 inches, realized $19,200. Also, an oil on canvas by Kyra (Gaither) Markham (Ill./Vt., 1891-1967), titled Country Auction in the Fall, signed lower right and dated 1947, 20 inches by 24 inches, brought $13,200.

Nadeau’s Auction Gallery’s next sale is slated for Saturday, May 30th, also in the Windsor gallery. Featured will be fine outdoor teak furniture, Woodard, iron urns, American gold coins, Persian rugs, oak and mahogany pieces, silver, estate jewelry, original artwork, and a major collection of Hollywood autographs and photos, which will be sold in multiple lots.

Nadeau’s Auction Gallery is always accepting quality consignments for its bigger sales, held throughout the year, and its general auctions, held every four weeks. To consign an item or a collection, you may call them at (860) 246-244, or e-mail them at heather@nadeausauction.com.

For prices realized and more information about Nadeau’s Auction Gallery and their upcoming auction scheduled for May 30th, please visit www.NadeausAuction.com. Updates are posted often.

- 30 -