Florida Art & Antiques Auction

When Alfred R. Frankel first moved to Hollywood, Florida, from Brooklyn, New York, in 1949, he discovered a tropical state that was still relatively undiscovered and untouched. He describes the “tropical flowers, hibiscus, coconut palms… football on Friday nights next to full tomato fields, submarine races at Dania Beach–all of this sank into my subconscious, and I was happy.” Nurturing a passion for art, Frankel would eventually become a leading collector of Floridian art and décor. In January, Blackwell Auctions will present over 400 lots in the Florida Art & Antiques Auction, many of which were sourced from Frankel’s collection. 

Driven to support the artists and creators of Florida, Frankel would go on to document their stories in several history books. A leading lot of this auction, a salt-glazed pitcher from the 1850s, is one of only two known surviving examples; the other, owned by the state of Florida, is discussed in one of Frankel’s books. The pitcher was made by Turnley & Odom Pottery, a firm that was only in operation for a year before closing during the Civil War. 

Also available in this auction is a sunset landscape painting by Sam Newton. One of the creators that Frankel worked to support, Newton belonged to a group of African-American artists called the Florida Highwaymen. Predominantly self-taught and self-supported artists, they painted idyllic landscape and nature scenes, particularly focusing on the Florida coastline and marshes. The Newton painting available in this sale shows a river in the twilight, palm trees waving and white birds flying in the distance. Beyond the fine art, the presented lots include neon and leaded glass signs, historic photographs, and painted coconuts. View the complete listings and register to bid on Bidsquare.