While in past years the annual March in Montana auction has hundreds of attendees, this year the sale was conducted all through remote bidding. With all the challenges the art community has faced these last few months, creative solutions have surfaced with many successful results. Events went forward as scheduled from March 19 through March 21.
William Standing (1904-1951), The Last Chase, oil on canvas, 38 x 69” Estimate: $25/35,000 SOLD: $118,000“With safety for our employees as our primary concern, we were able to conduct the sale entirely through online and telephone bidding,” say auction officials. “Faced with a very fluid environment in the week leading up to the sale, we added a third online platform and enjoyed over 1,000 registered online participants, more than double previous years.”
Telephone bidding also greatly surpassed typical volume, keeping limited staff quite busy. In addition, the auction decided to waive the 3 percent surcharge fee for online bidding, allowing everyone to participate without added charges. This resulted in a success of more than $1.8 million in sales, second highest in the auction’s history.
Thomas Molesworth (1890-1977), Pair of Straight Legged Club Chairs, ca. 1945, 31 x 29” Estimate: $30/50,000 SOLD: $64,900The top lot was a large oil painting by Montana artist William Standing, with a sale that brought in way more than the estimate price of $25,000 to $35,000. The Last Chase, depicting Native Americans on horseback chasing buffalo across the desert landscape, sold for $118,000.
“It’s a historically significant piece,” says managing partner Ron Nicklas. “William Standing was a popular artist at the turn of the century. Funny story, the painting actually came off the wall of a bar in Montana that was torn down in the early ’70s.”
Edward Bohlin (1895-1980), silver parade saddle, 14” Estimate: $30/40,000 SOLD: $38,350Another highlight was a pair of straight-legged club chairs made by renowned furniture maker Thomas Molesworth. “The chairs were so nicely done and we do really well with Molesworth furniture,” says Nicklas. “They wound up selling for more than double the estimate price [$30,000 to $50,000].” The red leather seated chairs with patterned pillows sold for $64,900.
This year’s sale also showed the continued popularity of weavings, with more than 60 rugs and blankets offered, many of which sold for more than their estimated price. Native beadwork was a big part of the auction as well.
Additional top-selling works by Western artists include Moonlight Ambush by Andy Thomas selling for $41,300, The Race by Philip R. Goodwin selling for $38,350, and a beautifully intricate silver parade saddle by Edward Bohlin, also selling for $38,350.
Andy Thomas, Moonlight Ambush, oil on canvas, 26 x 38” Estimate: $40/50,000 SOLD: $41,300
The saddle is a sight to behold with an engraved floral pattern and trademark Bohlin-made raised silver buffalo head on the horn cap. It also includes a matching martingale, headstall with Bohlin marked bit and tapaderos with silver horse and star embellishments.
While March in Montana was quite pleased with the turnout of remote participants, they look forward to seeing friends again at the next auction in 2021.
Top 10 Lots: March in Montana, March 19-21, 2020 (including buyer’s premium)
Artist • Title • Low /High Estimate • SOLD
William Standing • The Last Chase • $25/35,000 • $118,000
Thomas Molesworth • Pair of Straight Legged Club Chairs • $30/50,000 • $64,900
Andy Thomas • Moonlight Ambush • $40/50,000 • $41,300
Philip R. Goodwin • The Race • $30/50,000 • $38,350
Edward Bohlin • Silver Parade Saddle • $30/40,000 • $38,350
Edgar Paxson • Marcus Daly Ranch, Hamilton • $30/50,000 • $35,400
Edgar Paxson • West Bound • $20/30,000 • $29,500
Olaf Wieghorst • Objection • $15/25,000 • $29,500
Andy Thomas • Grizzly Rules • $40/60,000 • $26,550
Frederic Remington • Coming Through the Rye • $2/3,000 • $23,600
Powered by Froala Editor
