Remington bronze ‘Bronco Buster’ rides to $138,500
A 23 1/2-inch tall bronze by Frederic S. Remington, “The Bronco Buster,” signed and stamped by the Roman Bronze works, walked away with top lot honors, during a recent Fine Art and Antiques Auction offered by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries.
THOMASTON, Maine — Strong results at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ Summer Fine Art and Antiques Auction Aug. 23-24 helped close Maine’s unofficial antiques week with a bang.
Owner and auctioneer Kaja Veilleux said, “The action we saw at this sale was extremely encouraging across all categories, even in furniture. It was wonderful to see aggressive competition for many of the great items we offered.”
Leading the sale was an original, 23 1/2-inch tall bronze by Frederic S. Remington,
“The Bronco Buster,” signed and stamped by the Roman Bronze works. After a heated bidding battle, this sculpture achieved $138,500. All quoted prices include 15 percent buyer’s premium.
A Native American treaty from upstate New York, the Canajorie Patent Treaty between settlers and the Mohawk tribes dated May 27, 1766, also generated strong interest, ultimately bringing $57,500.
When a circa 1890-1910 Sioux beaded deer hide pictorial vest came to the block, bidders, who occupied every available phone line, drove the selling price to $34,500.
More than 260 paintings and drawings, ranging from Old Masters pieces to contemporary Maine works, were offered, including “The Courting of a Hound,” an oil on canvas work by John Frederick Herring Sr. (UK, 1795-1865) that fetched $34,500; “A Story of the Sea,” an oil on canvas painting by Alfred Wordsworth Thompson (NY/MD/NJ, 1840-1896) that brought $29,900; “Guardian of the Forest” by Heywood Hardy (UK, 1843-1933) that reached $26,450; and “Colgate Gardens on the Hudson” by George Henry Smillie (NY/CA, 1840-1921) that achieved $17,250.
A group of early religious art also fared well. Top lot in this category was a French or Northern Italian late Gothic limestone figure of Mother Mary holding the Bible that rocketed to $23,000.
Other key results include: a French Romanesque stone bas relief portrait of an enthroned St. Peter that brought $13,800; an 18th century Asian bronze sculpture depicting Shiva, probably from the Mekong Delta region, that sold for $16,100; and a 16th or 17th century Spanish bas relief carved wooden tabernacle of a Standing Madonna with Child that fetched $10,925.
Furniture appeared to enjoy a resurgence in interest. An 18th century Boston Chippendale secretary-desk reached $17,825; an 18th century Chippendale oxbow front four-drawer chest in figured mahogany sold for $8,050; and an early Italian carved walnut credenza that fetched $5,750.
Fine decorative arts and luxury goods also attracted heated bidding, including a circa 1890 French gilded bronze mantel clock and garnitures with cloisonné decoration that brought $29,900; a 17-inch tall Meissen figure of Count Bruhl’s tailor astride a goat that sold for $16,100; and a Hermes Birkin handbag in Veau Courchevel leather that fetched $7,475.
For more information on Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, and its past and future events, visit www.thomastonauction.com.
