Highlights and Sales Results--Couer d' Alene Western Art Auction 2012

Shirt Worn by Chief Joseph Sold for 877,500 at Auction

Scout's Report by Howard Terpning Sold for 977,000 at Auction

A Life of Cultivation by Scott Tallman Powers--Winner of the Collector's Choice Award

The 2012 Couer d'Alene auction realized total sales of over 17.4 Million  up from last year's 16.9 Million.

Top sales prices included Howard Terpning's "Scout's Report" which sold for 977,000, Frank Tenney-Johnson's "Cowboys Roping the Bear" which sold for 921,000, and a shirt worn by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe (and documented in the earliest known photo of him and a painting that hangs in the Smithsonian and was used for a U.S. postage stamp), which sold for 877,500.

Although there were many sales (90% of all lots sold),  and overall sales were up over last year, we didn't see the way over estimates sales on Terpning paintings that we did at the last big auction in Scottsdale. Can't complain about the almost 1 Million hammer price on "Scout's Report", though.

There were many wonderful paintings, and some very good buys to be had. One of my collectors walked away with a painting well below what he was prepared to pay for it.

Auctions are a funny thing.--sometimes there are two or more collectors who want the same painting and prices can go wild, other times if collectors intent on buying paintings by a particular artist don't attend, or buy something else during the auction, and use up their art budget, you may find a treasure for less than you would expect.
 
The Collector's Choice Award for the 2012 event went to Scott Tallman Powers for his new painting "A Life of Cultivation", which sold for 22,230..

Antoine Blanchard Painting Prices Up at Auction--Authenticate Antoine Blanchard Paintings

There has been a nice increase in auction prices realized on Antoine Blanchard paintings recently. At first I wasn't sure if this was just an International trend with auctions in the UK, but the recent US auction prices for Blanchard paintings have been markedly higher, too.

Personally I think it is well deserved, as Antoine Blanchard's impressionist Paris street scenes are beautiful and would make an excellent addition to a fine art collection, and they are some of my favorite works of art.

It is very important, however, to authenticate an Antoine Blanchard painting especially in light of the recent increase in prices. There have been quite a few "copies" on the market. I have seen some dubious "Blanchard" paintings being offered on ebay recently, for example.

A true Antoine Blanchard was painted by artist Marcel Masson--Antoine Blanchard being the pseudonym he used.

If you are considering an acquisition of an Antoine Blanchard painting, make sure that the painting has a strong provenance, or history, with appropriate documentation. The Blanchard painting we have available shown above was purchased in 1982 from the Walter Findlay Art Gallery . Entitled “Arc de Triomphe et Rond Point des Champs Elysees en 1900”, it is listed as #88157 on the "certificate d'authenticite" from one Andre Larde, who noted that the painting was registered as Painting No. 23 in Blanchard's inventory book, as well as on the Guarantee from the Gallery.

If there is any doubt about a painting, a collector would be wise to have the painting authenticated by an expert. Rehs will authenticate for a modest fee ($300) and also include the painting, if authenticated, in their Blanchard catalog of works. at www.antoineblanchard.org. 

There are beautiful Blanchard treasures to be owned and appreciated, but protect yourself and make sure you have an authentic Antoine Blanchard painting.

For more information on the Antoine Blanchard painting shown above, or to buy or sell an authentic Blanchard painting contact J Watson Fine Art at 661 476-7558 or e-mail info@jwatsonfineart.com. For more information about Antoine Blanchard, you can also visit www.jwatsonfineart.com/blanchard.