Solid Showing

Three iconic Frederic Remington bronzes lead Bonhams’ March 17 sale of California and Western artwork.

On March 17, Bonhams hosted its California & Western Art auction at its showroom in Los Angeles to robust bidding from buyers in-house, on the phone and online. The day’s action resulted in more than $2.6 million in sales, with a number of lots hitting or exceeding presale estimates. Scot Levitt, director of fine arts at the auction house, says given the California stay-at-home orders that were about to go into place, the sale performed well and there were multiple people vying for many works.

Frederic Remington (1861-1909), The Broncho Buster, modeled in 1895, bronze with brownish-black patina, 23¾” Estimate: $300/500,000 SOLD $437,575Among the star lots of the auction were three iconic Frederic Remington bronzes coming to market from the estate of Barron Hilton, who was the chairman, president and CEO of Hilton Hotels Corporation. The pieces—The Broncho Buster, The Rattlesnake and The Cheyenne—are considered to be the stars of Remington’s three-dimensional oeuvre and all capture the action of the West. The works, which had resided in Hilton’s living room in his home in Beverly Hills, California, all sold within presale estimates after enthusiastic bidding.

Frederic Remington (1861-1909), The Cheyenne, modeled in 1901, bronze with brownish-black patina, 20” Estimate: $60/80,000 SOLD $75,075

“For the Remingtons, there were about a half dozen to a dozen bidders,” says Levitt. “That was nice to see and a good sign to me.” Leading the pack was the highest achieving lot of the day, The Broncho Buster (est. $300/50,000), which sold for $437,575. The other two works also landed in the top 10 lots, with The Rattlesnake (est. $150/250,000) at $150,075 and The Cheyenne (est. $60/80,000) at $75,075.

Frederic Remington (1861-1909), The Rattlesnake, modeled in 1904 and cast in 1913, bronze with dark brown patina, 24¾” Estimate: $150/250,000 SOLD $150,075

The sale also set a new artist world auction record for Elmer Wachtel with his painting The California Coast. The work, which depicts the coastline from a mountain view, achieved $168,825 against a presale estimate of $100,000 to $120,000. “The previous record was about $77,000, so that more than doubled the previous record,” shares Levitt.

Elmer Wachtel (1864-1929), The California Coast, oil on canvas, 40 x 60”. Artist World Auction Record. Estimate: $100/120,000 SOLD $168,825Most commonly recognized for his Western landscapes, Edgar Payne was represented in this sale by the coastal scene Santa Cruz Island (est. $12/16,000), which shattered expectations when it sold for $56,325. Levitt adds, “People often like something that is different. Something well painted, but a little different [than the usual output].” Other standouts from the sale included Arthur Grover Rider’s Bringing in the Boat, which outsold its estimate of $80,000 to $120,000, when it achieved for $187,575, and a small painting by William Wendt titled San Juan Capistrano Road (est. $30/50,000) brought $81,325.

Top 10 Lots - Bonham’s, California & Western Art, March 17 (including buyer’s premium)
Artist • Title • Low /High Estimate • SOLD
Frederic Remington • The Broncho Buster • $300/500,000 • $437,575
Joseph Raphael • Tulip Field • $150/250,000 • $187,575
Arthur Grover • Rider Bringing in the Boat • $80/120,000 • $187,575
Elmer Wachtel • The California Coast • $100/120,000 • $168,825
Frederic Remington • The Rattlesnake • $150/250,000 • $150,075
William Wendt • San Juan Capistrano Road • $30/50,000 • $81,325
Joseph Kleitsch • Geraniums in Bloom (Laguna Beach) • $60/80,000 $75,075
Frederic Remington • The Cheyenne • $60/80,000 • $75,075
Edgar Payne • Santa Cruz Island • $12/16,000 • $56,325
August Gay • The Canneries, Monterey • $30/50,000 • $43,825