January Auction: "Not the Audubons"

While our John James Audubon “Birds of America” collection effectively represents the crown jewel of the upcoming January 23rd auction, I wanted to take some time to unpack other pieces in our collection that could become overshadowed by the interest sparked by Audubon. My intention is not to dissuade you from Audubon, rather, it is to shine light on the many other artists featured in the January action.

Primarily, we have Sir William Jackson Hooker and Walter Hood Fitch’s botanicals which feature striking color pallets and detailed intricacy with a soft, warm, and inviting allure. While Hooker provided information and detail to Fitch, Fitch’s expertise in plating yielded the first of many great triumphs in botanical illustration. With an even greater sense of stark contrast, Robert J. Thornton’s botanicals are similarly quite striking.

Personally, I really like lots 21-26, and I think these will go fast.

Brookshaw, De Bry, Gruber, Forster, Herlot, and Storer are all names I want to bring to your attention. Each botanical artist has a very unique style, and I implore you to take a look at our catalogue and see if something catches your eye. While Storer displays flowers in soft pinkish watercolors, Forester uses the same medium but with a greater sense of contrast between bright red and dark to display natural fungi. Despite the same watercolor medium, these pieces evoke very different emotions given that they are from different artists; it is important to remember that pieces feel different in different spaces. This is why I implore you to find what catches your eye and see what is right for your space. Our catalogue can be found here.

If you are interested in animals, we have a great selection that might interest you. Josef Fleischmann’s watercolors are something you will want to look out for if you are interested in natural history. For dogs and bears, check out Fuertes. Additionally, if you are interested in non-Audubon birds, Fuertes, Gould, and Davies all have beautiful pieces as well, like the puffin or Kingfisher, for example. We also have cats in the auction from Mind and Meunier, like the lynx, cheetah, bobcat, and even house cat.

If you are interested in American history and the expansion westward, check out lots 57 through 67. Here you can find themes of romanticism and idealism spread throughout the many artists' work. Much of Gould’s prized work can be found in lots 69-76. For maps and views of NY, we have a multitude of great artists and pieces that may interest you. These can be found from lots 77-153.

For maps of the US and the world, lots 163-180 would be where you would want to look. Lots 154 and 155 are highly unique items, a carved whale by Clark Voorhees, and a decorated French and Indian War map that belonged to Colonel Henry Bouquet.

If you have any questions about the items featured in our upcoming auction, please call or stop by the gallery.