Charleston Renaissance Paintings, Rare American Furniture Featured in Brunk Auctions’ June Sale

The latest sale from Brunk Auctions, scheduled for June 27, 2024, spotlights American fine art, decorative art, furniture, and more. The culture of the American South is particularly featured through paintings by Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, Lamar Dodd, and William Aiken Walker, while furniture collectors can consider early materials from North Carolina and Virginia.

Elizabeth O’Neill Verner’s Charleston Rooftop View, a pastel on artist’s board drawing, leads this upcoming American art sale (lot #591; estimate: USD $30,000 – $40,000). Known as a leader of the Charleston Renaissance artistic movement of the mid-20th century, Verner was a self-taught artist who took up drawing to support her family following her husband’s death. She captured the streets and landscape of Charleston. In the available work, a city street appears. The windows of the buildings are accented in green, mirroring the leafy trees dotting the scene. This work comes to auction after decades in a family’s private collection and is new to the market. 

Another notable Southern artist with work in the catalog is William Aiken Walker. Also a Charleston resident, Walker fought on the Confederate side of the American Civil War and was known for his portraits of Black sharecroppers. Several examples of his work will be available in the upcoming event. This includes lot #593, a portrait of a Black hunter (estimate: $5,000 – $7,000). The subject is dressed in animal skins and holds a dead possum by its tail. Work by another Charleston Renaissance artist, Alice Ravenel Huger Smith (lot #592; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000), will be available as well. 

Collectors of fine art can consider several portraits of young children by John George Brown, a genre painter who frequently depicted poor boys and street children. Sculpture lots in the catalog include Reuben Nakian’s Ecstasy, a patinated bronze depiction of a young woman’s head on its side (lot #506; estimate: $2,000 – $4,000).

Notable furniture items in the catalog include a New York classical parcel-gilt mahogany sideboard and cellarette pair (lot #558; estimate: $6,000 – $9,000) and a rare American pilgrim painted and ebonized chest with a lift top (lot #535; estimate: $4,000 – $6,000). 

Additional lots of interest in this sale include: 

• A rare pilgrim chair (lot #536; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000)
• An untitled 1958 painting by Lamar Dodd (lot #609; estimate: $4,000 – $6,000) 
• A Tiffany Studios bronze mirror from circa 1900, featuring the seal of the state of New Jersey (lot #582; estimate: $3,000 – $5,000) 
• A five-piece sterling silver tea service (lot #567; estimate: $2,000 – $3,000)
• A Virginia carved and painted pine hanging box (lot #620; estimate: $1,000 – $2,000) 

Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Brunk Auctions has been conducting sales of fine and decorative arts for over 30 years. Auctions are held in the company’s North Carolina sale room and attract a global audience. Founded by Robert Brunk in 1983, the auction house now employs a full-time staff of nearly 30 specialists with over 100 years of combined experience. Bob brought to bear his experience as an anthropologist, writer, and professional woodworker, an unmistakable combination of skills that continue to illuminate catalog entries and elucidate auction-goers. He is now a valued consultant and continues as auctioneer. Andrew Brunk joined his father in 2005. His curatorial experience has brought additional focus on research and connoisseurship. Andrew Brunk’s experience as the head of the American furniture department at one of the world’s largest auction houses has allowed Brunk Auctions to continually align itself with the best in the business. The firm values connoisseurship, customer service, transparency, and stellar results for both buyers and sellers.

Brunk Auctions’ American & Southern Auction this month will begin at 10:00 AM EDT on June 27, 2024. To browse the complete catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare. 

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