The folk art session on Wednesday morning was poorly attended, and the offerings were uneven in quality. Only objects of real merit and those with reasonable estimates found buyers. The most sustained competition was provoked by a collection of 27 carved and painted wooden birds, including a big robin with a worm in its mouth, two hummingbirds, several finches, an owl, a bluebird, and others. The birds were carved in South Dakota around 1900 and consigned to Sotheby's by the artist's son. A few paintings brought respectable prices.
Outsider art is still on a bumpy road at auction.
Eighteenth-century decorations brought strong prices. Any piece of furniture with an Israel Sack provenance soared. Albert Sack said it is easy to explain this strong market for Americana. People are educated today.