Record Setter

Freeman’s December 6 sale of American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists sets a house record for the category at $5.2 million

On December 6 Freeman’s hosted its American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists sale to robust bidding and strong interest. Even before the auction opened, collectors were clamoring to preview the fresh, high-quality paintings, which was a sign of the success to come. The auction pulled outstanding numbers, with $5.2 million in total earnings—a record in the auction house’s American art category—as well as a 93 percent sell-through rate for all 114 lots.

“We couldn’t be happier with the results,” says Alasdair Nichol, chairman of Freeman’s. “It was the nicest sale we’ve ever had, and it was the strongest fine art sale we’ve had in 16 years.Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), The Melody Stilled By Cold, 1929. Oil on canvas, 32 x 42 in., signed bottom right: ‘NORMAN/ROCKWELL’. Estimate: $300/500,000 SOLD $519,000

I had a feeling it was going to do well. There was a lot of excitement before the sale, and there was so much fresh material. Just the quality of the sale overall was strong.”

Pennsylvania Impressionism—one of the prime categories for the auction house since it is located in Philadelphia near the heart of the art movement—continued to show its vitality with a 96 percent sell-through rate for the segment. Of particular note were works by Daniel Garber, who was represented by eight paintings in the auction. The top of the Garber paintings was the stunning winter scene The Last of Winter, which achieved $435,000 against an estimate of $250,000 to $400,000. “I thought it might be too many [Garbers for one sale], but everything sold, and we got great prices for them,” says Nichol. “It shows the depth of the market for Garber and the Pennsylvania Impressionists in general.” Daniel Garber (1880-1958), The Last of Winter, executed February 1912, repainted after 1913. Oil on canvas, 42 x 42 in., signed and dated bottom left: ‘DANIEL GARBER 1912’. Estimate: $250/400,000 SOLD: $435,000

Edward Willis Redfield also had success in the auction with his painting At the Crossroads landing within estimate at $187,500. Works by George Stotter also impressed, including The Neighbor’s House selling for the low estimate of $100,000. Particularly notable about the category was that buyers not only came from the immediate area, but there were Pennsylvania Impressionist works that went to new homes all around the country.Rockwell Kent (1882-1971), Wake Up! (also titled Wake Up, America!). Oil on burlap, 337/8 x 44¼ in., copyrighted, signed, inscribed and dated bottom right: ‘© Rockwell Kent UAA 1941’.Estimate: $200/300,000 SOLD: $375,000

A beautiful painting by Mary Elizabeth Price was another standout in the auction. Titled Mille Fleurs, which translates to “A Thousand Flowers,” became the second highest selling piece by the artist at $162,500, besting its estimate of $60,000 to $100,000. “It went to a collector in the Southern states. It was a new collector, who hadn’t bought from us before,” says Nichol.

Outside the impressionist category, collectors were enamored with Norman Rockwell’s The Melody Stilled By Cold (est. $300/500,000). Capitol Boilers & Radiators of Detroit commissioned the painting, which sold for $519,000, for an advertisement image. It was one of the artist’s earliest advertisements, and appeared first in the March 2, 1929, edition of The Saturday Evening Post and a month later in Better Homes & Gardens.Mary Elizabeth Price (1877-1965), Mille Fleurs, (A Thousand Flowers), ca. 1915. Oil with gold ground on canvas, 30 x 50 in., signed in a cartouche bottom left: ‘M. ELIZABETH PRICE’; titled verso. Estimate: $60/100,000 SOLD: $162,500

Rockwell Kent’s timely Wake Up, also titled Wake Up, America!, which was painted as his opposition of fascism, sold to an institution for $375,000. The price, above its $200,000 to $300,000 estimate, was the highest for a sociopolitical work by the artist.

Freeman’s will host its next American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists sale one June 6. —

Top 10 sales
Freeman’s, American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists, December 6, 2020 (including buyer’s premium)
Artist Title Low/High ESt. SOLD

Norman Rockwell The Melody Stilled by Cold $300/500,000 $519,000
Daniel Garber The Last of Winter $250/400,000 $435,000
Rockwell Kent Wake Up, America! $200/300,000 $375,000
Daniel Garber Blue and Gold $150/250,000 $312,500
Daniel Garber Weatherby’s Oak $200/300,000 $300,000
Edward Willis Redfield At the Crossroads $150/250,000 $187,500
Mary Elizabeth Price Mille Fleurs $60/100,000 $162,500
Daniel Garber Winter $100/150,000 $162,500
Daniel Garber McGoldrick’s Farm $100/150,000 $150,000
Daniel Garber Environs of Solebury $70/100,000 $137,500