Tag Archives: Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Heritage Auction to hold historic Pierre-Auguste Renoir auction, September 19, 2013

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My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday.

On September 19, 2013, Heritage Auctions will hold a sale entitled The Unknown Renoir, which will include fascinating memorabilia and personal artifacts. The 143-lot sale will include letters to and from Renoir, personal items, drawings, documents, and original plasters, to name a few. I suspect that some of the estimates will be blown away by enthusiastic bidders.

Original Renoir plaster, Grande Vénus Victorieuse, Heritage lot #89115

Original Renoir plaster, Grande Vénus Victorieuse, Heritage lot #89115

Heritage expects the top lot of the sale to be #89115, an original plaster, which is not copyright protected. Entitled Grande Vénus Victorieuse (Large Victorious Venus), the pre-sale estimate is $900,000 – $1,000,000. Whoever buys this lot will legally be able to cast it in bronze. If it’s done right, it could be quite remunerative, and surely interesting. Several other copyright protected, original plasters will also be in the sale, at significantly lower estimates in the $30,000 – $40,000 price range. They cannot be legally reproduced without permission from the copyright holder.

Lot of 56 original Renoir copper plates, Heritage lot #89109

Lot of 56 original Renoir copper plates, Heritage lot #89109

Another lot that will likely lead to a flood of new Renoir etchings is #89109, 56 original copper plates. New etchings from original plates fall into a gray area. If they’re represented accurately, they’re worth a lot less than with a Renoir signature. The temptation to have a forger sign them will be difficult to resist.

Handwritten letter from Claude Monet to Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Heritage lot #89081

Handwritten letter from Claude Monet to Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Heritage lot #89081

Lot #89081 is a really cool handwritten letter from Claude Monet to Renoir, dated February 16, 1914, thanking Renoir for his condolence note on the death of Monet’s son, Jean Monet, at the age of 46 — pretty amazing letter. My guess is the pre-sale estimate of $7,000 – $9,000 is conservative.

For the complete catalog, click here. You’ll find many of the lots intriguing.

Don’t have any shows for several weeks, so I’m devoting more time to updating my site. I’ve already listed about 10 new Tiffany, Daum, and Gallé vases. Click here to take a look. Then look for my totally redesigned website, with many changes and improvements, coming sooner than later. Can’t wait to show you and get your reaction!

Wonderful Daum Nancy scenic blownout vase, in rare purple variation, just in

Wonderful Daum Nancy scenic blownout vase, in rare purple variation, just in

Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show. Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

Remember that $100,000 Renoir painting I wrote about two weeks ago? There’s more to the story.

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My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday.

Auguste-Pierre Renoir painting Paysage Bords de Seine

If you don’t know the story, you might first want to read my blog post of September 17th. Quoting from my post, “What’s not known is how the painting made its way from Mr. May to the flea market in West Virginia.” And that’s the rub. New information has recently surfaced, forcing the Potomack Co. to cancel the sale of the painting at its auction.

The Baltimore Museum of Art (photo by Lee Sandstead)

Research by a Washington Post reporter turned up evidence showing the painting was on loan from Saidie A. May to the Baltimore Museum of Art. Saidie was the ex-wife of Herbert L. May, who purchased the painting from the Bernheim-Jeune Gallery in Paris in 1926. Saidie loaned the painting to the museum in 1937, where it stayed until it was stolen in November, 1951. The museum uncovered a 60-year old report of the theft and a few days later, the police found the corresponding report. At the time, the painting was valued at $2,500, which was paid for by insurance.

It’s likely now the woman who purchased it at a West Virginia flea market for $7 will not profit, but she probably will try. The Baltimore Museum of Art has a strong case to prove it’s the rightful owner. It’s also possible the insurance company that paid the claim can try to recover the painting, but as of now, the company is not known. The FBI is on the case trying to find out how the painting made its way from the museum to the flea market. Looks like it will be a while until the full story is known and the courts decide the rightful owner. Stay tuned!

The Arlington Park Racetrack Show is coming soon, October 12-14. In the meantime, we started to list some of the great new Galle and Daum glass we just purchased. Click this link to view some of the objects. French glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

I just purchased this fabulous Daum winter scenic rose bowl

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and etchings by Louis Icart.

Virginia woman could earn $100,000 on her $7 purchase of a probably authentic Pierre-Auguste Renoir painting

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My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday.

Auguste-Pierre Renoir painting Paysage Bords de Seine

The Potomack Company of Alexandria, Virginia, will hold an auction on September 29th and 30th, 2012. The star item will be a painting supposedly by Pierre-Auguste Renoir entitled Paysage Bords de Seine. If the public agrees that it is authentic, it should easily sell within or above the estimated range of $75,000 – $100,000. What makes it so interesting is that the owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, paid $7 for it at a flea market in West Virginia in 2010.

According to the researcher at the Potomack Company, the painting was purchased in June, 1925, by a French gallery, Bernheim-Jeune, from Alphonsine Fournaise Papillon, who modeled for Renoir. Then in January, 1926, the gallery sold it to an American named Herbert L. May. What’s not known is how the painting made its way from Mr. May to the flea market in West Virginia. Luckily a black and white photograph of the original painting from the Bernheim-Jeune gallery was available. Careful inspection of the present painting and the photograph showed it was an exact match, including the stock number from the Bernheim-Jeune gallery.

You’ll be able to view the auction catalog at the Potomack Company’s website, The Potomack Company, when it gets closer to the date of the auction. After the sale is over, you’ll be able to do a Google search to see the results, which should be all over the news. My bet is that the final result will exceed $100,000. Good luck to the owner!

No shows in September, but we’ll be back for the Arlington Park Racetrack Show in October. In the meantime, we’ll travel and find great new items. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

I just purchased this fabulous A. Walter Art Deco pate-de-verre working clock

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and Louis Icart etchings. I will be adding more items this week. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com