Turner Auctions + Appraisals Presents The Reed Applegate Collection On October 21

Online Auction Features Over 120 Lots of California Contemporary Art

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, September 28, 2023 – Turner Auctions + Appraisals is pleased to present The Applegate Collection, on Saturday, October 21, 2023. Featuring over 120 lots of California Contemporary Art from noted Northern California collector Reed Applegate, the sale includes diverse artworks – paintings, works on paper, mixed media, ceramics, and sculpture – by Bay Area artists. 

The auction offers a wide range of artworks from David Gilhooly, including numerous prints, some mixed media, and several sculptures. Other artists represented are Roland Petersen, Avery Palmer, Dan Corbin, Paul Wonner, Mel Romeo, Richard Diebenkorn, Raymond Jennings Saunders, Theophilus Brown, Michael Mulcahy, Tony Natsoulas, and others. The sale also showcases many works by women artists, including Janet Turner, Karen Shapiro, Maija Peeples-Bright, Julie Bozzi, Mary Snowden, Lynn Criswell, Chunhong Chang, and others, plus German artist Käthe Kollwitz. Completing this auction is a very large oil and acrylic painting by Ira Yeager from an East Coast collector. 

Turner Auctions + Appraisals begins its online auction on Saturday afternoon, October 21, 2023, at 2:30 pm PDT; sale items are available for preview and bidding now. The online auction will be featured live on multiple platforms:  LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Bidsquare, and Turner Auctions + Appraisals’ free mobile app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Apps (“Turner Auctions”). All are easily accessed through ‘Upcoming Auctions’ at the company’s website:  www.turnerauctionsonline.com/upcoming-auctions.

Note that Turner Auctions also presents a separate auction on Saturday, October 21, at 10:30 am PDT. The morning sale offers over 150 lots from the personal collection from the Estate of Marian Hymel, a long-time Northern California dealer of Early American antiques.

About Reed Applegate & His Collection

Harold Reed Applegate (1943-2022) was born in Chico, California, and lived there his entire life, most of it in the house built by his parents. His home was just a short walk to Chico State University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965. There he studied under Professor Janet Turner (1914-1988), a renowned printmaker, whose initial donation of 400 prints in 1976 helped launch the museum at Chico State named in her honor. Although Mr. Applegate was a painter, he kept all his art to himself; his passion lay in the works of others, and he became an avid collector for nearly 60 years. 

After graduating from college, Mr. Applegate worked as a graphic designer for various local newspapers. Then, when new resources became available, he became a collector full-time. His focus was on Northern California contemporary art, a geographic area he defined as between San Jose, the Pacific Ocean, and the borders of Nevada and Oregon. In fact, over 90% of his collection was sourced from Bay Area artists. Most of his acquisitions were made through the years at Bay Area art shows, where he became friends with the artists. 

Mr. Applegate’s stamp collecting as a boy perhaps foretold the enthusiasms that followed. His later collecting interests began in 1964 as a college student with the acquisition of a Käthe Kollwitz print and continued unabated until he passed away. He was a founding member of the Museum of Northern California Art (monca), donating over 100 works from his collection to help launch the museum. His generosity was shared with other public institutions as well, including sizeable donations to Sacramento’s Crocker Museum and the Janet Turner Print Museum, where the exhibit “Northern California Horizons: The Reed Applegate Collection” is now underway through October 14. According to Museum Curator Dr. Rachel Skokowski in the exhibit catalog, “…After graduating from Chico State in 1965, Reed Applegate was at the epicenter of this exciting artistic moment. He continually looked to new horizons as a collector, taking chances on what were then emerging artists. Today, these artists form a ‘who’s who’ of Northern California art…” 

His patronage extended to other areas of the arts as well: he was a longtime and active supporter of the North State Symphony, Chico Community Ballet, and numerous art openings; and endower of scholarships for Chico State studio art students. 

Over his lifetime, Mr. Applegate amassed more than 500 works of contemporary art. An avid walker who was frugal, sociable, and with a magnificent eye, he was regular presence at the Janet Turner Print Museum, at Chico State where he volunteered as a print researcher for the Turner Museum, and at his local Starbucks on his walks around town.

Through Reed Applegate’s prescient vision and generous nature, works of art from his vast collection amassed over six decades can be appreciated publicly in museums by all. Now, upcoming at Turner Auctions + Appraisals, fellow enthusiasts of Northern California contemporary art have a rare opportunity to bid on works from his acclaimed collection to enjoy personally at home.

Here are some highlights of the upcoming online sale (please see online auction and lot details in the online catalog):  

Lot 90:  Artist: Roland Petersen (1926- ). Untitled: Interior/Cityscape. Signed and dated LC: Roland Petersen 1998. Medium: Acrylic on paper. Dimensions: (housing size) 30 1/8 x 37 1/2 inches; (image size) 22 1/4 x 30 inches. Housing: Wood frame with plexiglass. Description: A woman in a red and white swimsuit and straw brim boater hat gazes out the window to the left in the foreground, with another woman in swimming attire at a table with a red and purple checkered patterned tablecloth in the background. Condition: Very good. Estimate $10,000-$15,000. 

Lot 42:  Artist: Dan Corbin (1947- ). Titled: California Sandstone. Signed and dated: (to back) Dan Corbin 95. Medium: Mixed media. Dimensions: 54 1/4 x 15 3/4 x 12 inches. Description: A nude female figure with no head or arms stands with feet together. The body is segmented geometrically, with varying materials making up each. Condition: Very good, soiling/dusty. Estimate $8,000-$10,000. 

Lot 25:  Artist: David Gilhooly (1943-2013). Titled, signed, and dated: (to bottom) Tall Burger, Gilhooly 1988. Medium: Painted bronze. Dimensions: 24 x 10 x 10 inches. Description: A two-foot-tall burger with multiple layers of patties, cheese, and condiments on a black plate with a frog on top. Condition: Very good. Estimate $5,000-$7,000. 

Lot 88:  Artist: Roy De Forest (1930-2007). Untitled: Landscape with Dog and Heart. Signed and Dated UR: A Drawing Roy De Forest 1978. Medium: Mixed media. Dimensions: (housing size) 23 3/4 x31 1/4 inches; (image size) 22 1/2 x 30 inches. Housing: Wood frame with glass. Description: A large heart shape sits upside down in the bottom right corner, above it is a profile of a red-eyed dog, another red form at its mouth, abstract depictions of trees at bottom right of the composition, and abstract hills with trees above it all. Condition: Good. Estimate $2,000-$3,000.

Lot 21:  Artist: Paul Wonner (1920-2008). Untitled: Palm Tree/Glass. Signed LL: Paul Wonner. Medium: Acrylic on paper. Dimensions: (housing size) 41 5/8 x 29 5/8 inches; (image size) 39 5/8 x 27 5/8 inches. Housing: Metal frame with glass. Description: From a dark gray and black foreground extends a palm tree silhouette emerging from a wine glass, against a bright pink sky. Condition: Good. Estimate $6,000-$8,000. 

Lot 20:  Artist: Mel Ramos (1935-2018). Titled: Verna Burger. Signed and dated LR: M Ramos 65. Medium: Offset lithograph. Dimensions: (housing size) 35 7/8 x 30 3/4 inches; (image size) 19 x 14 inches. Housing: Wood frame with white matting. Description: A nude woman wearing a pearl necklace seated on a giant hamburger with bun. Condition: Good. Estimate $3,000-$5,000. 

Lot 53:  Artist: Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993). Untitled: Seated Woman on Sofa. Signed and dated LR: RD 65. Numbered LL: 85/100. Medium: Lithograph. Dimensions: (housing size) 28 3/4 x 23 3/8 inches; (image size) 24 x 19 1/8 inches. Housing: Wood frame with glass. Description: A woman with short hair seated on a couch, her leg lifted to take off a shoe. Condition: Very good. Estimate $1,000-$2,000. 

Lot 91:  Artist: Maija Peeples-Bright (1942-). Titled: (to back) It’s a Sealabration. Signed LR: Maija Peeples. Medium: oil on canvas. Dimensions: (housing size) 46 x 65 inches; (image size) 45 1/4 x 64 1/4 inches. Housing: Wood frame. Description: An abstract depiction of trees filled with sea lions, a yellow pillar filled with cheetahs, a sky filled with zebras, a blue, red, and green field to the bottom, each filled with floral patterns, all thickly painted, some areas with large drops of paint with a point to each. Condition: Good, a few losses to pointed drops of paint. Estimate $1,000-$2,000. 

Lot 98:  Artist: Ira Yeager (1938-2022). Elephant and Monkey with Flowers. Size: 95 1/2 in x 66 in (image). Note: VERY LARGE TO SHIP. Year Created: 1969. Signature: Lower Right. Medium/Ground: Oil and Acrylic on canvas. Condition: Good. Estimate $8,000-$10,000. 

Lot 34:  Artist: Peter Vandenberge (1987- ). Signed, titled, and dated: (to back) P. Vandenberge, Carrot Braque, ’81. Medium: Ceramic. Dimensions: (diameter) 13 7/8. Description: A plate with a scene of a painter with broccoli for a head sits in front of a nude woman with cauliflower for a head, behind them, the painting depicting the woman. Condition: Fair, losses to slip and glaze. Estimate $300-$500. 

Lot 32:  Artist: Tony Natsoulas (1959- ). Titled: Tiffany. Medium: Ceramic sculpture. Dimensions: 30 x 13 3/8 x 14 inches. Description: A bust of a grinning woman in an orange dress and choker, with bright red lips, purple hair, eyes peering to her left. Condition: Good, some glass beads to the choker are loose. Estimate $600-$800. 

Lot 11:  Artist: David Gilhooly (1943-2013) Titled: (verso) Sam’s Dog / JP’s Dog. Signed and dated LR:  David Gilhooly 1987. Medium: Monoprint. Dimensions: (Housing size) 34 x 30 inches; (Sight size) 25 x 21 3/4 inches. Housing: Hinged matting. Description: A silhouette of a dog sitting filled with drops of red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, green, and gray ink. Condition: Good, light smudges, light crinkling to print. Estimate $200-$300. 

Lot 101:  Artist: Wayne Thiebaud (1920-2021). Untitled: Scene with Figures/Buildings. Signed and dated LR: Thiebaud 1959. Numbered LL: 4/12. Medium: Silkscreen. Dimensions: (housing size) 28 3/8 x 38 inches; (image size) 19 5/8 x 29 1/2 inches. Housing: Gold wash wood frame with off-white matting. Description: With an earth-tone green sky and yellow ground, three abstractly portrayed figures stand in a group to the left, another figure to the right, all figures are formed with fields of warm red, cool blues, and muted purple tones, the figure in the center highlighted with fields of white, and buildings beyond. Condition: Good. Estimate $3,000-$5,000. 

Lot 109:  Artist: Avery Palmer (1983- ). Title: Sight Seeing Couple. Signed UL: Avery Palmer. Medium: Oil on board. Dimensions: (housing size) 14 3/8 x 18 3/8 inches; (image size) 11 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches. Housing: Gold-painted wood frame with floral motif and meandering vine to outer most border. Description: A nude woman and man straddle a white form with small wheels and a single human eye. Condition: Very good. Estimate $200-$300. 

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ABOUT TURNER AUCTIONS + APPRAISALS

Based in South San Francisco, Turner Auctions + Appraisals was founded by Stephen Turner to expand and complement the capabilities of Stephen G. Turner Associates, an auction and appraisal consulting firm founded in 2004. Turner Auctions + Appraisals presents online auctions in diverse categories of personal property (www.turnerauctionsonline.com). Among them are Fine Arts, Decorative Arts, Asian Arts, Toys, Jewelry, Militaria, Ethnic Arts, and others. The company offers a range of auction and appraisal services for buyers, sellers, and collectors. Online auctions are held several times a month. Working with leading live and online auction houses on the West Coast since 1991, Turner is a professional appraiser of personal property and seasoned auctioneer. His areas of expertise include fine art, decorative arts, antiques & residential contents. The company welcomes consignments and appraisals.

For more information about the company, please contact:

Stephen Turner, President 

Turner Auctions + Appraisals, 461 Littlefield Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080

415-964-5250 / [email protected] / www.turnerauctionsonline.com

For media inquiries or photos, please contact:  Jill Turner, Rodin & Shelley Associates / 707-944-2433 /  [email protected]