Artfact Live! June Auction Results Roundup

(Boston, MA) – Artfact’s staff highlights key sales from the more than 160 auctions hosted on Artfact Live! in June 2009. All sales and prices have been confirmed by Artfact’s Auction House Partners.

Winter Associates, “Fine Art & Americana” –June 1, 2009
Jane Peterson (American, 1876-1965), Mediterranean Town Square
Price Realized: $11,500
An oil on board by 20th century American artist Jane Peterson was the top selling lot in Winter Associates “Fine Art & Americana” sale. Peterson, who painted alongside Louis Comfort Tiffany and John Singer Sargent, was known for her bright, Post-Impressionistic street and harbor scenes. Outselling the next highest lot by $2,000, her “Mediterranean Town Square” sold to an Artfact Live! bidder for $11,500.
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/jane-peterson-american,-1876-1965-,-oil-on-artis-1-c-7641e0c9b8

Michann’s Auctions, “Fine Asian Art Auction” – June 8, 2009
Four Chinese Porcelain Vases, Signed Wang Xi Liang.
Price Realized: $22,500
Competition was fierce as several online bidders vied for this group of miniature Famille Rose vases by Republic Period potter Wang Xi Liang. The vases, which were finely painted with a variety of indoor and outdoor scenes, sold well above their $1,000-$2,000 pre-auction price estimate when the hammer finally came down at $22,500.
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/four-chinese-porcelain-vases,-signed-wang-xi-lian-6-c-0769891580

Koller Auctions, “Fine Furniture & Decorations” –June 18, 2009
Pair of Important Lidded Vases with Bronze Mounts
Price Realized: CHF 17,000 (USD $15,676)
This pair of Louis XVI style vases sold well above their pre-auction price estimate of CHF 8,000-14,000 (USD $ 7,377.03- 12909.80) as bidding aggressively alternated between the floor and Artfact Live! Composed of cut green glass (probably Bohemian) overlaid with bronze, this elegant pair of tall, cylindrical vases ultimately sold to an Artfact Live! bidder for CHF 17,000 (USD $15,676).
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/pair-of-important-lidded-vases-with-bronze-mounts-380-c-b7c8530457

Noel Barrett Antiques and Auctions, “Toys of Summer: Part 2” –June 20, 2009
Plank Hot Air Powered Praxinoscope
Price Realized: $8,050
Described as one of the ”scarcest pre-cinema toys,” this hot air powered praxinoscope generated considerable interest among online bidders. Invented by Emile Reynaud (French, 1844-1918) the praxinoscope was a precursor to moving pictures. This example, made by renown German steam toy builder Ernst Plank, runs on a spirit filled hot air engine that turns a painted tin drum in which animation strips would be inserted. A succession of narrow mirrors would then allow the images to be viewed in succession, creating the illusion of motion. Selling to an Artfact Live! Bidder for $8,050 (including buyer’s premium), this rare toy achieved the second highest price for a praxinoscope on record and is the top selling example of Plank’s work at auction.
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/plank-hot-air-powered-praxinoscope-3-p-edc7a3ec64

Freeman’s, “Fine American & European Paintings” –June 21, 2009
Walter Elmer Schofield, (American 1867-1944), “Cornish Harbour”
Price Realized: $31,000
Known for his Impressionistic landscapes painted en plein air, Walter Elmer Schofield’s “Cornish Harbour” sold to an Artfact Live! bidder for an impressive $31,000 (including buyer’s premium). Born in Pennsylvania, Schofield (American 1867-1944) studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Academie Julian in Paris before settling in the Cornish artist’s colony of St. Ives. With “Cornish Harbour” Schofield captures the essence of this bustling seaside town.
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/walter-elmer-schofield,-american-1867-1944-,-co-113-c-99ce20aefc

Note: Auction lot details and enlarged lot images available at http://www.artfact.com with free registration.

About Artfact:
Founded in 1989, Artfact is the largest global marketplace of fine and decorative arts, antiques, collectibles, and estate auctions. On January 1, 2009, Artfact launched Artfact Live!, its proprietary live auction bidding platform, enabling users to bid real time on auctions being held around the world by its prestigious auction house partners. Currently, over 1,000 fine auctioneers actively list their catalogues with Artfact.com and its U.K. sister site Invaluable.com, reaching the Artfact community of more than 10 million knowledgeable collectors and dealers worldwide. Artfact's industry leading database includes more than 50 million complete auction results totaling more than $190 billion in value, including information on more than 500,000 international artists. In 2006, Artfact merged with RFC Systems, the leading provider of enterprise software developed specifically for the fine art and antique auction house industry. RFC helps prestigious auction houses around the world manage their businesses by automating their day-to-day operations.

Editor’s Notes:
- Additional background information available.
- Interviews with Doug Ellinger, VP Marketing, dellinger@artfact.com, (617) 746-9882
- Complimentary media subscriptions to the Artfact database available.