Good Weekend At The Sales

[capt-zero]

Went out this weekend looking for some jewelry or watches. I did find a pair of 14k earrings for 9.5 grams, so I'm not complaining. What I did find, may go down on my list of all time greats. Anyone who has followed my posts knows that I collect antique engravings. I found three beautiful botanicals for a dollar each.

The two upper ones are by Sydney Edwards and published respectively in 1790 and 1810. The real find is the one on the bottom, published by Von Houtteano (ca.1850) and is fairly rare. The kicker is that it is an obvious trial proof. These are so rare as to be considered almost one-offs. Needless to say I'm thrilled.

The above were great finds, but the find that is making my month, is that , at the same sale I found the engravings; I also found this: .

This is an original oil on canvas by Julius Stockfleth. Look him up online and you can see why I'm so excited. His most recent piece at auction went for $26,000 or there abouts. I have an aquaintance who just happens to be a local expert on Stockfleth and will authenticate it for me this week. I'm not sure if I have any more clean underwear left.

 

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[treasurekidd]

Holy crap, Capt! Wow, I hope that it's truly an original!! That's an amazing find, I hope you make a bundle on it. Please let us know what the results are, and good luck auctioning it!!!

 

[capt-zero]

It's definately an original oil on canvas and has a lot of age, the question on whether it's a work of Stockfleth's is the real question. The fact that he didn't sign about a third or more of his paintings is a problem. The fellow I know is an expert on Stockfleth, and can clear up the matter quickly. The indications are very good though.

 

[SEANO]

You'll have lots of cash for underwear.
Super finds!

 

[maipenrai]

Will be waiting for the results!

 

[diggummup]

Nice finds. Art is my weakest subject. I hope you score big time.

 

[capt-zero]

Unfortunately, the friend of mine I need to confer with, is out for the week assessing an estate. I hate deferred gratification. Believe it or not, I am weak on art also. However, I live in Texas, and there are a number of well known local artists who were quite prolific and have many unknown works out there. I spent the last several years studying their work in my spare time in the hopes that I might stumble upon one. Stockfleth is one of those. Also there is Robert woods, Amado Pena, and Micheal Ibarra. So there are several styles and themes I have burned into my brain. I've figured that as long as I didn't spend much for the painting, and I also liked the painting, I could buy a lot of them and needed only one to make it worthwhile. The real problem lies in that sometimes, like with this painting, I like the work so much I almost hope that it isn't a special work and I can keep it.

 

[randazzo1]

Way to go! That is a great find. Also looks like a really nice painting. Congrats!

 

[capt-zero]

Well, I really hate to make this post. Embarassed actually. My painting did not turn out to be a Stockfleth. Details in the manufacture of the stretcher are techniques only used in the last 120 years or so, and there is no indication at all of the stretcher having been replaced at some point. All of that being said, my friend did like the painting quite a bit, and will be happy to place it in his upcoming auction. Age estimate on the painting are somewhere between 80 to 100 years old. After comparing it to several other paintings of the scene, we both agree that it is a picture of Galveston harbor on a summer morning looking towards Pelican Island. I have a lot of dissapointment that it is not by Stockfleth, but as I mentioned earlier, I very much like the painting and now have to decide whether to keep it or auction it. Estimated value is somewhere in the low four figures. All in all it was a great buy for $12. If I add the two Curtis botanicals and the Horto Van Houteanno lithograph for $3 more it still ranks as one of my best buys.

 

[diggummup]

Anytime I can make four figures off a $12 deal, I call it a success.
Five figures would have been a tremendous success!

 

[AC1955]

Very, very nice finds. You never know what you're going to come across...

I'm not into art very much (you'd never guess this from my walls, though), but i do like the botanicals.

Again, nice finds.

Anita