Blessed

High sales and an outstanding sell-through rate produce big numbers for the Scottsdale Art Auction.

The universe seemed to be aligning against the Scottsdale Art Auction. Due to the pandemic, the auction was rescheduled twice. The stock market was all over the place. Oil prices were way down. Even the weather wasn’t cooperating—it was 109 degrees the day before the sale.

William R. Leigh (1866-1955), Pony Express, oil on canvas, 28 x 22” Estimate: $600/900,000 SOLD: $680,200

But you can’t keep Western art down, even amid blistering heat.

On June 13, two months after it was originally scheduled to take place, the Scottsdale Art Auction sold nearly $10.5 million in art, with a sell-through rate of 91 percent. “The sale certainly came with challenges—we had to reschedule it twice and at one point didn’t know if we would be able to have bidders in the room—but we ended up in great shape,” says auction partner Brad Richardson. “We are pleased with the results, and overall we just feel very blessed.”

Maynard Dixon (1875-1946), Trail Herd, oil on canvas, 30 x 36” Estimate: $400/600,000 SOLD: $409,500

Richardson adds: “There are some lessons about the market that we can take away from this. One is that the overall market for Western art is broader and possibly deeper than we anticipated,” he says. “I do think it helps that we had additional time to market the sale, which helped us meet new buyers, as well as the online component of the sale, which helped make the sale possible during the pandemic.”

The top lot was William R. Leigh’s Pony Express (est. $600/900,000) that sold for $680,200, followed by a Maynard Dixon painting, Neolithic Afternoon (est. $500/700,000), that sold for $526,500. The auction had an array of Dixon pieces that altogether sold for $1.4 million, which included the piece Trail Herd that sold for $409,500, just beating its low estimate of $400,000.

Frederic Remington (1861-1909), The Cheyenne, bronze, Cast No. 11, 20 x 24” Estimate: $400/600,000 SOLD: $438,750

Other top lots were Frederic Remington’s bronze, Cast No. 11 of The Cheyenne (est. $400/600,000), which sold for $438,750; a rare Charles M. Russell bronze, Where the Best Riders Quit (est. $300/500,000) that sold for $321,750; John Clymer’s Thundering Herd (est. $300/400,000) that sold for $321,750; and G. Harvey’s Street Cars Along the Avenue (est. $150/250,000) that exceeded estimates when it sold for $257,400.

Works by Taos Society of Artists members also performed well, with Ernest L. Blumenschein’s Rock of Fire-Morning, Ghost Ranch nearly hitting its high estimate at $350,000 when it sold for $315,900. Joining Blumenschein’s piece in the top 10 lots was Joseph Henry Sharp’s February Chinook, Crow Reservation, which sold above its $150,000 high estimate when it closed at $193,050.

Allan Houser (1914-1994), Lament, bronze, ed. 6 of 8, 65” Estimate: $60/90,000 SOLD: $105,300 Artist World Auction Record

Living artists had a number of noteworthy lots, including Logan Maxwell Hagege’s Wherever the Wind Might Go, which soared past its $90,000 high estimate when it finished at $122,850. Other artists performing well were Martin Grelle, Mark Maggiori, Glenn Dean and Fred Fellows, whose bronze Riding Out a Bad Investment more than doubled its high estimate when it sold at $87,750. Phoenix artist Ed Mell also had a string of hits, including Chihuahua Burro, a small work that sold for $35,100, five times over its high estimate.

One major record that was set was Allan Houser’s bronze Lament, which closed over estimates at $105,300, nearly $20,000 over his previous auction world record.

Ernest L. Blumenschein (1874-1960), Rock of Fire-Morning, Ghost Ranch, oil on canvas, 24 x 27” Estimate: $250/350,000 SOLD: $315,900

Richardson, a week after the sale, said there was still significant interest in auction pieces and the sales total was likely to go up further, as was the sell-through rate. “We’re still selling, which is always fun,” he added.

Top 10 Lots: Scottsdale Art Auction, June 13, 2020 (including buyer’s premium)

Artist • Title • Low /High Estimate • SOLD
William R. Leigh • Pony Express • $600/900,000 • $680,200
Maynard Dixon • Neolithic Afternoon • $500/700,000 • $526,500
Frederic Remington • The Cheyenne • $400/600,000 • $438,750
Maynard Dixon • Trail Herd • $400/600,000 • $409,500
Charles M. Russell • Where the Best of Riders Quit • $300/500,000 • $321,750
John Clymer • Thundering Hoofs • $300/400,000 • $321,750
Ernest L. Blumenschein • Rock of Fire-Morning, Ghost Ranch • $250/350,000 • $315,900
Thomas Moran • Castle Rock • $250/450,000 • $257,400
G. Harvey • Street Cars Along the Avenue • $150/250,000 • $257,400
Joseph Henry Sharp • February Chinook, Crow Reservation • $100/150,000 • $193,050