An original oil on canvas painting by the renowned Russian artist Boris Israelevich Anisfeld sold for $93,225, making it the top lot at a three-day multi-estate sale held Jan. 21-23 by Philip Weiss Auctions.

OCEANSIDE, N.Y. – An original oil on canvas painting by the renowned Russian artist Boris Israelevich Anisfeld sold for $93,225 at a three-day multi-estate sale held Jan. 21-23 by Philip Weiss Auctions, making it the top lot in a sale that saw hundreds of mostly fresh-to-the-market items change hands.

Overall, the sale grossed a little over $500,000. A healthy in-house crowd was complemented by brisk Internet bidding, via Proxibid.

The work, from Anisfeld’s “Horses of St. Mark” series, came from a Queens estate and had not been on the market since the owner purchased it more than 60 years ago. The painting was
signed and dated (1914).

Boris Anisfeld (1879-1973) was a sculptor, lithographer, painter, illustrator, set designer and long-time teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago. From 1901-1909, he studied at the Odessa School of Art in the Ukraine and at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Petrograd. His influences were the realist painter and sculptor Ilya Repin and the impressionist Igor Grabar. Anisfeld is highly collectible.

The auction kicked off on Friday afternoon, Jan. 21, with a session dedicated mainly to antique advertising, coin-operated machines, a collection of shoe-related trade cards, catalogs and more. The Jan. 22 session featured Hollywood memorabilia, rock ‘n’ roll items and more. The last day of the sale, Jan. 23, had important paintings, period furniture, Hummels and more.

Following are additional highlights from the auction (all prices quoted include a 13-percent buyer’s premium):

The original, two-piece costume worn by Bob Keeshan for the iconic kids’ television program “Captain Kangaroo” from the 1950s and ’60s soared to $9,323.

• The original, two-piece costume worn by Bob Keeshan for the iconic kids’ television program “Captain Kangaroo” from the 1950s and ’60s soared to $9,323. The coat had large pockets, reminiscent of a kangaroo’s pouches, and all buttons were present. The interior tag was from the Eaves Costume Co., but Keeshan’s name was incorrectly spelled (“R. Keishan”).

The real estate contract signed by Elvis Presley and both of his parents (Vernon and Gladys) when the legendary signer purchased his first home in Memphis. Tenn., garnered $9,605.

• The real estate contract signed by Elvis Presley and both of his parents (Vernon and Gladys) when the legendary signer purchased his first home in Memphis. Tenn., in 1956 (not Graceland), garnered $9,605. The contract was for the property located at 1034 Audubon Drive. Presley was able to buy the home with money made from his hit record That’s Alright Mama.

An artist's proof copy of a concert poster for Janis Joplin in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1968 brought $8,193.

• A mint condition, artist’s proof copy of a concert poster for Janis Joplin at the Aerodome in Schenectady, N.Y. (June 26, 1968) climbed to $8,193. The poster, by Gary Butts, was signed in pencil by Butts on the front and back, with the inscription “1 of approximately 35 pulled from the screen.” The piece said “Live In Concert” and “2 Shows” and was 14 inches by 22 inches.

A typed thank-you letter, hand-signed by both John Lennon and Yoko Ono, coasted to $7,910.

• A wonderful typed letter, hand-signed by both John Lennon and Yoko Ono, coasted to $7,910. The letter was addressed to “Mr. Hal Smith, c/o Senator Sam Ervin” and thanked Mr. Smith for arranging a visit to the historic Watergate hearings in Washington, D.C. The lot also included a 6 inch by 8 inch “War Is Over” postcard, signed by Ono and Lennon and dated 1973.

This occupational shaving mug depicting an image of a man laying a brick walkway sold for $4,407.

• Rounding out the day’s top lots, an occupational shaving mug depicting an image of a man laying a brick walkway topped out at $4,407. Above the image was printed the name “Arthur Kaesner.” Occupational shaving mugs date back to the 1870s and were popular through 1920 or so. Each barber shop patron had his own personalized mug, decorated for his profession.

• A pair of works by the Dutch artist Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher (1898-1972) fetched a combined $36,160. One, a lithograph on wove paper titled Up and Down (1947) was signed in pencil by the artist and numbered (9/36). It brought $16,950. The other, titled Day and Night (1938), was a woodcut in black and gray on laid Japan paper, also signed. It breezed to $19,210.

Philip Weiss Auctions has a pair of three-day mega-sales lined up for this spring. The first in scheduled for the weekend of Mar. 4-6. On Friday, Mar. 4, an estate sale, featuring prominent local estates and collections, will be held. Saturday, Mar 5, will focus on trains, toys, dolls and toy soldiers. Sunday will have comics, comic art, animation, Disney and sports memorabilia.

For more information about this auction, call 516.594.0731, e-mail to phil [at] weissauctions [dot] com or visit the Philip Weiss Auctions Web site.

———————————

WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 10th, 2011 at 3:13 pm and is filed under News, Worth Points. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

View all articles by WorthPoint Staff.

Want a picture icon with your comment? Sign up with Gravatar to get one, or connect with your Facebook or Twitter account.