Evening star., 1945-07-22
I he Art
Word
Art Sales Bring
Highest Prices
At Auctions
By Leila Mechlin

Art sales are said to be one of thu
best barometers of economic condi.
tions. If this is so, then according
to report of sales made by the
Parke-Bernet Galleries, during the
season of 1944-5, for us In Americs
prosperity must be just around the
corner. Despite all that might bs
supposed to limit expenditures along
these lines, this famous New York
auction house has announced the
receipt from public sales held be-
tween July /, 1914, through june
80, 1945, to be s6,165 ,920.50-the
largest in the history Of the estab-
lishment, or In the memory of the
senior member of the firm, with
which be has been associated for 45
years. The total for the previous
year was $6,l56,632.50. The advance
is therefore seen to be considerable
Prices, Mr.. Parke reports, were
about the same as the proceeding
year, but sales were much more
numerous. There was also he noted,
evident improvement in taste-the
buyers more personally discriminat-
ing. There was less buying by Euro
pean refugees than in the previous
year but more on the part of Amer
ican collectors. Oddly enough, there
was especial demand for Oriental
art objects, much Of which buying
was done by agents for Chinese ac-
counts. These included porcelains,
potteries, jades and lacquers. In
the field OF painting 1t is interesting
to note that definite trend toward
renewal of popularity for subject
pictures was evidenced-as for ex-
ample in connection with the sale
of the Cornelius Vanderbilt collec-
ton. The demand for paintings by
modernests seemed, at the same
time, to have faded out.
"A mericana in Demand
There was a great demand for
Americana. The extensive Haskell
collection, sold in six parts, brought
a total of s602, ,42S. The William E.
and Cornelius Vanderbilt collection
brought total Of 1928, 1875.
Objects sold included not only
paintings and prints and objects of
art, such as fine silver, furniture,
rugs, ETC., but also books and manu-
scripts. Among the last was the
collection assembled by the late
Frank ]. Hogan of Washington,
which brought s285,828. This COM
prised chiefly English and American
literature in rare editions. On the
other hand, British 18th century
portraits, French furniture and
works of art from the collection OF
the late Edward T. Stokesbury
brought sl92,575. 1t was, it will be
recalled, in the Stokesbury mansion,
near Philadelphia, that the Metro
politan Museums greatest treasures
of art were hidden away during the
years that damage by enemy action
might have occurred. ~
Is aoU. ,i1s
Top Bidding
Among the paintings sold, two by
Millet brought exceptionally high
prices, the o"Water Carrier" selling
for $4,000, and the even more IA
NOUS "Sower" selling for s26,000.
The Madonna and Child" by Fra
Filippe Lippi, also brought 10000.
On the other hand, a silver banquet
ing service, English design ana make,
was sold for sac, 500. "The Vernon
Children" a charming canvas by
Romney, went for s22, 900; none OF
which prices approach those current
when the Mellon and Widener coll
lections were assembled, nor Tor that
matter when, something over year
ago, the Merry Lutte Player" by
Franz Hols, was bought in these
same galleries for $127,0 900. Indica-
tive of current evaluation are the
following:
sl4.500 for 1.-THE Messenger of
Love-" by Fragonard.
$4,000 for q portrait of Con-
stantyn Huygens, by Van Dyck.
$l2,500 for THE Knitting Lesson"
by Millet.
sl2,50o for "The Alteration Of the
Magi," a Brussels Gothic silver
woven tapestry.
$ti,5oo for Portrait of Rembrandt's
Father" by Rembrandt.
$1,000 for Ladies OF the First
Empire" by Boldini.
sil 900 for Madonna and Child"
BY Perugino.
slo,5o0 for q Beauvias tapestry en-
titled "Chinese Dancing"
$4,000 for a collection Of forty-two
l7th and 18th century enamel mini
atures.
$4,000 for an important Royal
Beauvais tapestry salon suite.
$4,000 for EN- Foret,' by Bonheur.
Early American Silper
Early American and Georgian sill
yer which 80 years ago was held in
comparatively little esteem. during
the past winter brought fantastic
prices, all of which, to those best in
formed, seems indicative Of improve
ment In taste and increase in know
ledge.
No new records were made by
prints, such as may be recalled in
the past. However, for an etching
of Christ and the Virgin En-
throned," by Schongauer. $500 was
paid, and Landscape With Cottage
and Hay Barn." an etching by Rem
brandt, brought the same amount;
no more, no less.
The manuscript of Martins "Old
Mother Hubbard and Her Dog"
brought more than both Of these
etchings put together, selling for
s3250. A diamond necklace brought
$500 more than q portrait by Van
Dyck.
The Parke- Bernet Galleries are to
New York what Christie's Is to Lon
don and those who have not attend
ed sales In either have missed a
unique experience and one Of great
interest. The stage is set as for a
drama and often dramatic moments
feature these sales. There may be
rivalry among bidders. Breathless