September 13, 2021 Auction Starting at 5:30 p.m.
September 13, 2021 Auction Starting at 5:30 p.m.
Winter Associates is pleased to be working with the Davis family selling a good number of pieces of the art collection assembled by their parents J. Sanford (Jack) and Helen Davis. They were well-known Connecticut shoreline philanthropists and Jack Davis who had survived his wife passed away at age 97 this past spring. The auction featuring many of their art pieces is September 13th, 2021, at Winter Associates, Inc. Plainville CT gallery. The auction will be streamed live on Invaluable and will also be available on Live Auctioneers.
Featured modern art items from the Davis collection will include two Louise Nevelson sculptures, gifted to the Davis family in 1974 by Lucille Beards (1909-2001). Beards was a good friend of Nevelson and some of Beard’s papers regarding Nevelson are now in the collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. https://www.pafa.org/sites/default/files/media-assets/MS.019_LouiseNevelson.pdf One of the works is titled Animal Form, c. 1951, and the second c. 1959, is untitled.
Other modern sculptures include 2 kinetic and 4 stabile bronze works by Jan Sliwka, a Harry Gordon stone maquette of “Here I Am”, and a four-section forged and welded steel assemblage by Jake Harvey. Both the Gordon and the Harvey are accompanied by handwritten letters from either the artist or the artist’s spouse discussing their work.
There are two Tom Wesselman works, the well-known lithograph “Claire Nude”, and also a colored pencil drawing “Study for Tulip and Smoking Cigarette (Version #2)”. The Wesselmann study eventually became a fully realized sculpture. Other important prints from the Davis collection include two Lee Krasners from the Primary Series, Red Stone and Blue Stone, David Hockney’s Ann Combing her Hair, and Robert Motherwell’s Automatism Elegy (State II Buff). From a few other Connecticut households are a Benton Spruance “Last Stop Beach Haven” discovered in an attic, a dozen Haku Makis gathered by one collector over the years, a few Asa Cheffetz, and many more works by well-known print makers.
Some sculptures suitable for out door display will complement the garden items also offered in the sale. There are two similar standing metal constructs, one marked Lippincott Foundry, H. Gaddy, and the other sculptures suitable for outdoors include Shona stone works in both modern and traditional styles. The selection of garden ornaments from another Connecticut home include classical form figures and columns, iron and cement benches, and a handsome Edwardian frieze.
The Davis family were world travelers and their interest in other cultures is evident in the selection of African tribal art (50 plus lots) and works by 20th C. Mexican and South American artists.
The upcoming auction has wide variety of items including a Rock-Ola juke box, two Pinball machines, and a carousel horse all from a Pennsylvania estate; jewelry that ranges from fine to fun and fascinating with over 30 lots including an 18k squirrel watch pin, an 18k Corum wristwatch, signed silver pieces such as a Margot de Taxco parure enameled set and a Jan Pomianowski bracelet. There is also an assortment of chatelaines, as well as generous lots of ethnic, silver and signed costume pieces.
The auction catalog is available online at www.AuctionsAppraisers.com ten days prior to the sale, Friday, September 3rd. Winter Associates, Inc. is located in central Connecticut at 21 Cooke Street in Plainville, CT. Previews are Friday, September 10th, from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, September 12th, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.; and on Monday, September 13th, from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., or previewers are welcome at other times, please call to schedule an appointment. (860)-793-0288.
Absentee bids can be submitted prior to the sale and bidders are welcome to actively bid during the sale online or by phone bid. Pickup will be by appointment only, please call the office and we will do our best to accommodate you.