Since we will be posting various articles on artwork in the next several weeks, we decided to list the paintings we sold at our auction house during the last three months we owned the business. If you are wondering why we chose this particular timeframe, it is because these were the only art records we could find on our computer. Organizing computer files has never been our forte.
This list will give you a good idea as to type of artwork, artist ranking (listed or not listed), subject matter in some cases, size, age and the going price at auction. Although we were certainly not known as an art auction by any means, most of these paintings brought excellent money for what they are. This goes to show that if you have a good item and people know you have it because you targeted the right audience, a good item can sell itself.
You don't need a fancy building or all the other trappings that go along with maintaining the "right" appearance - you just need the item.
Is this a foolproof strategy? Of course not. If it were, Christie's and Sotheby's would move to cheaper neighborhoods. However, in our case, it did show that we were able to compete at some other level. Once you realize this, it gives you the needed confidence to go after better quality merchandise. Word of mouth is the best advertising there is and it is free. People tell other people about a high-end item that sold and before you know it, someone else brings a high-end item. This helps to build up your reputation as a "player" or at least a "semi-player."
Again, you won't be a Christie's or a Sotheby's but you can most certainly increase you average price per item and that will go a long way toward increasing your bottom line. At the same time, you cannot lose site of your particular niche in the industry. Never put all your eggs in one basket as the saying goes.
Always take care of your core audience, the audience that got you where you are. As long as you strive to supplement your existing niche with some better offerings and don't do anything to damage the successful niche you already have - you have found the best of both worlds.
A legend of certain terms and abbreviations used to describe the artwork that appears here in this list:
Listed: Today this term is considered subjective. Now an artist can be considered "listed" if the artist submits his own biographical information to one of the respected art sites. In the past, the term "listed" was based solely on the documented sales records of an artist as reported by outside sources such as exhibition galleries or auction houses. In other words, an artist could not control his or her own fate. Davenport's Art Reference, Who's Who, Ask Art, Art Price and Art Net are some of the respected sites or reference guides used to determine the importance, or lack of importance, of an artist. These venues provide information such as artist's full name, biographical data, birth/death, nationality, specialties such as oil or watercolor, subject matters, high and low auction prices and other pertinent information. It is a much sought after distinction for an artist to be able to claim that he or she is "listed".
SLL: Signature Lower Left Corner of Painting or Signed Lower Left Corner of Painting
SLR: Signature Lower Right Corner of Painting or Signed Lower Right Corner of Painting
Attributed To: Believed to be painted by a particular artist but auction house will not guarantee it as such. Buyer beware.
?:
Artist is deceased but year of death is unknown
A more complete list of terms and abbreviations will appear in one of our other artwork articles.
List of Paintings
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Board Shore Scene with 3 Birds, 2 Palm Trees and Wharf, SLR, Al Black, 22-1/2" by 34-3/4"
$9,500.00
Large Oil on Canvas Outstanding Genre Scene Children in Costume for Halloween by Listed Artist Sebastiano Panunzi, Italy 1845-?, SLR, 4 Inch Contemporary Frame, Relined with Some Inpainting, 25" by 34"
$8,000.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Board, Classic Approaching Storm Waterside with Palms by Harold Newton, Listed Artist, SLR, Rare Jumbo Size, 29" by 47-1/4"
$7,500.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Board Orange Sunrise Backwater Scene by Alfred Hair, Rare Color Palette, 24" by 36"
$4,000.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Board Red Sunset Backwater Scene Indian River by Listed Artist R.A. McLendon, 24" by 36"
$4,000.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Board Shore Scene with Birds and 2 Palm Trees, SLR, James Gibson, 21-1/2" by 28"
$3,900.00
Highwaymen Oil on Masonite by Harold Newton of Coastal Inlet, 24" by 36"
$3,400.00
Highwaymen Oil on Board by Same Newton, Sunset with Shore Birds, 24" by 36"
$2,600.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Oceanscape with Fishing Shack and Sailboat by Samuel Newton, Great Cloud Work and Sunlit Shadows, 24" by 36"
$2,500.00
Highwaymen Oil on Soft Board by Charles Wheeler of Royal Poinciana Tree, 20" by 24"
$2,200.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Backwater Scene, Possibly Indian River, by Al Black, Jumbo 24" by 48"
$2,100.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Oceanscape with Palm Trees and Crashing Waves by Sam Newton, 22" by 36"
$2,000.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Backwater Scene with Flock of Birds by Alfred Hair, 24" by 36"
$2,000.00
19th Century Oil on Canvas by Listed Artist Charles Karel Ferdinand Venneman, Belgium 1802-1875, Romantic Genre Scene of Couple in Tavern, SLL, 11-5/8" by 9-3/4" - Couple Smiling in This Version
$2,000.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Board by Lemuel Newton, Shore Scene with Palm Tree, 24" by 36"
$2,000.00
Major Investment Quality Oil on Canvas Genre Scene of a Shoeshine Boy and His Dog by Listed Artist Leon Joseph Voirin, French 1833-1887, 18" by 12"
$2,000.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Oceanside Scene with Palm Trees and Birds by Sam Newton, 24" by 36"
$1,800.00
Oil on Canvas Listed Artist Richard Dey De Ribcowsky, California 1880-1936, Venetian Canal Scene, SLR and Dated 1915, Known for Landscapes and Seascapes, 20" by 30"
$1,700.00
Oil on Canvas Listed Artist George William Whitaker, Rhode Island/New York 1840-1916, Superior Tonalist Landscape, SLR, Relined, Known as the Dean of Provincetown Painters, 20" by 22"
$1,500.00
Highwaymen Oil on Canvas by Mary Anne Carroll Dated 1966, Florida River Scene, 24" by 36"
$1,400.00
Highwaymen Oil on Canvas Panel by Charles Wheeler, Waterside Chapel with Figure, 20" by 24"
$1,300.00
Highwaymen Oil on Canvas by Al Black, 18" by 24"
$1,300.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Riverscape with Palm Trees by Livingston Roberts, 24" by 18"
$1,200.00
Large Etching by Listed Artist Louis Icart, New York 1888-1950, Beautiful Woman in Flowing Dress, Copyright 1936, SLR, Windmill Stamp LL, 24" by 20"
$1,200.00
19th Century Oil on Canvas by Listed Artist Charles Karel Ferdinand Venneman, Belgium 1802-1875, Romantic Genre Scene of Couple in Tavern, SLL Under Rabbet, 11-5/8" by 9-3/4" Couple Serious in This Version
$1,200.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Board by Al Black, 24" by 36"
$1,100.00
Highwaymen Oil on Masonite by Al Black with Lone Palm Trees and Birds, 13-1/4" by 20"
$1,000.00
Oil on Canvas Portrait of Woman Seated with Cello Signed Samuel Sidley, Listed Artist, SLR, Britain 1829-1896, Encased in Ornate Wood Frame, 10-1/2" by 6-3/4"
$1,000.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Board by James Gibson, 24" by 30"
$1,000.00
Highwaymen Oil on Wood Panel by James Gibson, Coastal Cove, 19-1/2" by 30"
$1,000.00
Highwaymen Oil on Masonite by Mary Ann Carroll, Dated (19)70, 24" by 48"
$1,000.00
Pair of Highwaymen Oils on Board by Lemuel Newton, Each is 24" by 12"
$900.00
Art Deco Fireplace Screen with Oil on Canvas Still Life Roses by Listed Artist Honora Alary, French 19th/20th Century, SLR Dated 1936, Art Deco Wood Frame with Feet, 12" by 24"
$900.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Board by James Gibson, 24" by 36"
$900.00
Oil on Canvas Laid on Board Genre Scene Young Boy Watering Horses in Pond, SLL Williams, Attributed to Alexander Williams, Irish 1846-1930, Period Oak Frame, 13" by 17"
$800.00
Highwaymen Oil on Masonite Colorful Water Scene with Grass, Palm Trees and Birds by John Maynor, 24" by 36", in Non-standard Ornate Frame, Frame Could be Used on More Appropriate Painting
$800.00
Quality 18th Century Genre Scene Oil on Canvas Three Women and a Boy in Forest Setting, Illegibly SLL, Obvious Old Master Talent, 10" by 8-3/4"
$800.00
Highwaymen Oil on Upson Backwater Scene at Sunset with Herons by Sam Newton, 24" by 18"
$700.00
Oil on Board Black Folk Art, Cotton Picker with Child, by W. (William) Johnson, Georgia Origin, Painter of Black Americana in the 1920s and 1930s
$700.00
Highwaymen Oil on Canvas Panel by Johnny Daniels, Royal Poinciana Tree and Boathouse, 18" by 24"
$700.00
