On September 12, John Moran Auctioneers presented its annual Art of the American Westsale in Monrovia, California. The sale saw a number of high results for some living contemporary artists and also several more historic artists. And while this particular sale didn’t have any six- or seven-figure sales, it does show there is strength in the market for high-quality, mid-tier works.
G. Russell Case, Skies of Autumn, 2022, oil on linen laid to Gatorboard, 20 x 24” Estimate: $5/7,000 SOLD: $5,000
The top lot of the sale was Thomas Kinkade’s Half Dome, an original oil of the famous mountain in Yosemite National Park. The piece was estimated at $3,000 to $5,000, but sold for $11,250, more than double the high estimate. Kinkade, known for his vast empire of stores and reproductions of magical places, was quite fond of Western subject matter, which shows in this stunning little piece.
Thomas Kinkade (1958-2012), Half Dome, oil on canvas laid to Masonite, 8 x 10” Estimate: $3/5,000 SOLD: $11,250
Edward Borein, whose market for small etchings, drawings and watercolors is incredibly strong, saw decent results for Cowboy with Blue Shirt on Bucking Bronc, a watercolor on paper. It was estimated at $4,000 to $6,000 and sold for $5,850.
Native American sculptor Allan Houser had two bronze pieces that performed over estimates: Standing Cloaked Figured (est. $1/1,500) sold for $3,750 and Grandmother Relief (est. $2/3,000) sold for $3,750 as well.
Edward Borein (1872-1945), Cowboy with Blue Shirt on Bucking Bronc, watercolor on paper, 7¼ x 5¾” Estimate: $4/6,000 SOLD: $5,850
Another standout in the sale was a Margaret Tafoya vase measuring just 9 inches tall. Tafoya is recognized as one of the greatest pueblo potters, and her family still today has many generations of pottery artists. The vase was estimated at $2,000 to $3,000, but went well over those prices before landing at $8,450.
Maynard Dixon (1875-1946), The Education of Egbert: The Making of a Man in the School of Experience, ca. 1940, nine drawings of individual characters, plus typed manuscript for this Western screenplay. Estimate: $7/9,000 SOLD: $7,500
For more information about John Moran’s sales, visit www.johnmoran.com. —
John Moran Auctioneers’ Art of the American West, September 12, 2023 (including buyer’s premiums)
Artist Title Low /High Estimate SOLD
Thomas Kinkade Half Dome $3/5,000 $11,250
Martin Grelle Rancher with Cattle After… $15/25,000 $9,375
Margaret Tafoya Carved Santa Clara vase $2/3,000 $8,450
Maynard Dixon The Education of Egbert… $7/9,000 $7,500
Edward Borein Cowboy with Blue Shirt… $4/6,000 $5,850
G. Russell Case Skies of Autumn $5/7,000 $5,000
Alson Skinner Clark California Pioneers $7/9,000 $4,600
Allan Houser Standing Cloaked Figure $1/1,500 $3,750
Allan Houser Grandmother’s Relief $2/3,000 $3,750
Pablo Milan Abstract Native Americans… $800/1,200 $3,250
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