James Tucker's Paintings at Friday Night Auction

One of James Tucker's paintings from his Ocracoke series that I was not high bidder on.

The late James Tucker from Greensboro was a dear friend of ours, and on Friday night some of his paintings were sold at Leland Little's Auction.  Laura and I went over to Hillsborough for the auction, and I was lucky to be high bidder on two of the paintings from his Ocracoke series. 

I was high bidder on this one.

And this one.

But I was outbid on this one.

There was a nice modernistic wood sculpture that just seemed to have my name on it, and luckily by the end of the auction it did. 

I took this home with me.

I really liked a photograph that sold for over $1000.  I'm not sure who the lucky high bidder was. 

A very captivating photograph from the 1930s.

Leland Little's auction is one of the best in the southeast, and we are lucky it is near us over in Hillsborough.

Neon Bands From The Inward Eye

"Neon Bands From The Inward Eye" silk screen by Richard Anuszkiewicz.

Last week I attended Leland Little's Auction and Estate Sale in Hillsborough, NC.  Most of the pieces that drew my interest sold for more than I was prepared to pay, but I did manage to get this colorful Op Art piece by Richard Anuszkiewicz. 


Considered a major force in the Op Art movement, Anuszkiewicz is concerned with the optical changes that occur when different high-intensity colors are applied to the same geometric configurations.  In 1964, Life magazine called him the "New Wizard of Op".  As for Op Art, I can take it or leave it, but this silk screen had just the vibrant yellows and corals that I was looking for to brighten up our back entrance and to coordinate with the accent colors of the adjacent kitchen.

'Neon Bands" at home in our back entryway.

Leland Little Winter Estate Catalogued Auction

On  Friday night my friend Virginia from Greensboro and I attended the Leland Little Auction in Hillsborough. The sale featured the personal collection of Joseph D. Rowand, founder of Somerhill Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC and a large collection of rare and fine wine.
There were a number of Maude Gatewood pieces offered and one that I particularly liked.

Maude Gatewood oil on canvas abstract.

I was outbid on a wonderful still life by Lucy Spencer.  It sold for $1600.

Lucy Spencer still life.

 There was a  reception with wine and hors d'oeuvres prior to the auction.

Wine and cheese.

Virginia at the Friday night auction.

I went back on Saturday where the auction continued with over 700 lots of fine and decorative arts offered. This session featured multi-estate national and international level collections.  Art Deco items from James and Virginia Tucker's collection were among the items sold on Saturday. 

The auction in progress.

I was the successful bidder of one item on Saturday.  Check my blog tomorrow for a description of this.

Art Deco Auction Items

Art Deco 1920s book ends.

 Last weekend Leland Little Auctions in Hillsborough auctioned part of the James and Virginia Tucker art deco collection.  I was unable to attend the auction, but I was able to bid for some items by telephone.  These are the items I won.  I'm glad to get them not only because I like art deco style, but because they come from the collection of my dear friends, the Tuckers.

 

Art deco perfume atomizer.  I love the art deco design on this.

1920s powder box.

Isadora Duncan dancer flower frog. 

Isadora Duncan was a dancer in the early twentieth century credited by some as the founder of modern dance.  Duncan's fondness for flowing scarves was the cause of her death in an automobile accident in Nice, France when her silk scarf, draped around her neck, became entangled around the open-spoked wheels and rear axle of the car in which she was riding, breaking her neck.

1930s art deco flower frog.

 I can't wait to use the flower frogs in a flower arrangement.  I must go and get some flowers.