Thrilling Bidding

Numerous auction records and a 99 percent sell-through rate brings nearly $15 million to the Scottsdale Art Auction

Western art is continuing to prove its strength within American art with another stellar sale at the Scottsdale Art Auction in Arizona on April 8 and 9. The annual sale not only achieved nearly $15 million in sales, but accomplished a 99 percent sell-through rate. Frank Tenney Johnson (1874-1939), The Rimrock Wrangler. Oil on canvas, 28 x 36 in. Estimate: $400/600,000 SOLD: $585,000

“We are very, very pleased. It’s always fun when we have so little left. This year we had just five unsold pieces out of 445 lots. It’s our second year with a 99 percent sell-through rate,” says Brad Richardson, one of the three partners of the sale. “I think it shows the strength of the Western market and also that the market is very healthy. As usual, some bidders walked away with some great deals and some sellers walked away with record prices for their works.”Frank Tenney Johnson (1874-1939), Packing In. Oil on board, 24 x 18 in. Estimate: $250/350,000 SOLD: $315,900

Edgar Payne (1883-1947), Arizona Indians. Oil on canvas, 35 x 30 in. Estimate: $300/500,000 SOLD: $438,750

The top lot was by living Western painter Howard Terpning, whose 65-inch-wide painting The Shaman and His Magic Feathers, estimated at $750,000 to $1.25 million, sold for $1.5 million. Competitive bidding drove the piece up in price quickly until it ended as the fourth best auction sale for the Arizona artist. Scottsdale Art Auction holds three of the top four auction prices for Terpning.

Frank Tenney Johnson had two works in the top 10: The Rimrock Wrangler (est. $400/600,000), which sold for $585,000, and Packing In (est. $250/350,000), which sold for $315,900. Edgar Payne’s Arizona Indians (est. $300/500,000) also performed strongly when it sold for $438,750. G. Harvey had 18 works available, all of which sold, generating more than $1.2 million in sales. The top Harvey work was At the Mission Well (est. $150/250,000) that sold for $292,500. Thomas Moran (1837-1926), Solitude, Coconino Forest, Arizona. Oil on canvas, 20 x 30 in. Estimate: $400/600,000 SOLD: $374,400

Other noteworthy lots were Charles M. Russell’s watercolor and gouache work Cavalry Mounts for the Braves (est. $150/250,000) that sold for $222,0000, and Henry Shrady’s iconic Buffalo bronze (est. $75/125,000) that sold for nearly $199,000. In addition, impressive works from Eanger Irving Couse, Philip R. Goodwin, John Clymer, Gerard Curtis Delano and Henry Farny. Taos Society of Artists painter Joseph Henry Sharp also had a piece that excited bidders: his Indian Couple in Interior topped out at $257,000, well over its $175,000 high estimate. —

Top 10 sales
Scottsdale Art Auction, April 8-9, 2022 (including buyer’s premium)
Artist Title Low/High ESt. SOLD
Howard Terpning The Shaman and His Magic Feathers $750/1,250,000 $1,506,000
Frank Tenney Johnson The Rimrock Wrangler $400/600,000 $585,000
Edgar Payne Arizona Indians $300/500,000 $438,750
Thomas Moran Solitude, Coconino Forest, Arizona $400/600,000 $374,400
Frank Tenney Johnson Packing In $250/350,000 $315,900
William R. Leigh In Pursuit $400/600,000 $310,000
G. Harvey At the Mission Well $150/250,000 $292,500
Kyle Polzin Strength & Pride $45/65,000 $257,400
Joseph Henry Sharp Indian Couple in Interior $125/175,000 $257,400
G. Harvey Genteel Times $125/200,000 $245,700