The first lot on the block the third day of Eldred’s three-day Americana & Paintings Auction, “Sunset on the Marshes” by Arthur Hoeber, brought on a rapid-fire flurry of bidding, eventually selling for $10,030, nearly three times its pre-sale estimate. It was an exciting start to what proved to be a consistently strong sale for the company, particularly in the area of American paintings.

Other highlights of the sale, conducted July 30 through August 1, include Jasper Cropsey’s “Interior of an English Cathedral”, which brought $24,780, “Sunset Over the Coast” by William Trost Richards, which sold for $15,340, and a view of the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston by John Joseph Enneking, which went for $12,100. Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr. paintings, always a staple in Eldred’s summertime auctions, also did well, with five works selling between $5,900 and $29,500. An early Hawaiian painting by Brother Frank Herold depicting the eruption of Kilauea brought $27,830.

The Morgan Rank Collection of Folk Art and Musical Instruments, a one-of-a-kind group of unique handcrafted pieces acquired over thirty years by the noted antiques and folk art dealer from East Hampton, was the centerpiece of the auction’s second day. Receiving quite a bit of pre-sale press, bidder interest was also bolstered by the presence of Morgan Rank himself at the auction exhibit. The debonair Mr. Rank regaled customers with tales of scouring the American countryside to find items to add to his collection and his personal recollections of artist Willem de Kooning, author Kurt Vonnegut and other celebrities who spent time at his Long Island gallery. Going into the sale with high expectations, auction results did not disappoint. A spectacular Tramp Art secretary sold for $7,670, a set of Amish or Mennonite life-size figures brought a combined $15,427, and a pair of African American scarecrow figures netted $5,015. The second part of the collection, comprised almost entirely of musical instruments, will be offered in Eldred’s Fall Americana Auction, scheduled for November 21 and 22.

Selling for far above their pre-sale estimates were a still life by Herman Maril (American, 1908-1986), a Maryland-based artist with ties to the Provincetown Art Colony, which brought $8,850, and a signed print of Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” framed with a letter from Mrs. Hopper, which brought $5,310 on a $300/$500 pre-sale estimate.

Other standout lots include a rare set of eleven brass bushel measures, marked “Borough of Warrington” and “1854”, bringing in $14,100. It is extraordinarily unusual to find such a large set of these measures, which historically were used by municipal governments to calculate a volume of grain or other dry goods in the agricultural industry. A circa 1760 Connecticut Queen Anne Lowboy from a private collection on Cape Cod sold for $16,520 and a Revolutionary War-era needlework sampler brought $8,260.  

The Robert C. Eldred Co. will conduct its annual Summer Asian Week auctions beginning August 12 and continuing through August 16. Sales include Japanese Art and the Prints of Paul Jacoulet, and Asian Art. The auctions will take place at the company’s main facility located at 1483 Route 6A, in East Dennis, Massachusetts. Interested bidders can visit www.eldreds.com for a complete sale listing and to register to bid via phone, absentee bid or online. Those wishing to bid live in the audience may register at the offices the day of the auction.

Eldred’s, New England's oldest established antiques and fine arts auction house, holds approximately 25 auctions per year encompassing Americana, paintings, Asian art, European decorative art, maritime antiques and collectibles. It was recently named one of the top auction houses in North America by Blouin Art Info.

For more information about the 2014 Summer Americana & Paintings Auction, the Morgan Rank Collection of Folk Art and Musical Instruments, or the Asian Art Week auctions, please call (508) 385-3116.