Americana Week January 2024 Recap

NEW YORK JANUARY 2024 SALES

Although the total number of lots decreased this year, sales were up by more than 30% as Americana week garnered more public attention, particularly for Martin Johnson Heade’s Cattleya Orchid with Two Brazilian Hummingbirds.

More than 25% of those who took lots home were new buyers.

THE NUMBERS

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

Landscape Painting: The American West and The Hudson River School

From Thomas Moran to Martin Johnson Heade, these high-value works sold at auction well above their estimates. These American artists have transformed the country’s natural wonders into transcendent masterpieces, serving as a powerful testament to their impact on America’s artistic and cultural identity.

Native North American Art

A hidden treasure in American art, Native North American art has been entering the spotlight over the past few years. With the heightened media coverage and the recently updated guidelines to the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), art institutions have been progressively reconsidering how the works of Indigenous artists can be best represented. As auction houses continue to feature historical and contemporary Native North American art, there is great scrutiny around how the works highlighted here can give voice to indigenous narratives and celebrate the artistic traditions of the indigenous peoples. While some works did not achieve their estimates, many works significantly exceeded their high estimate due to their rich provenance and history.

PORTRAITS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON

A selection of stylized portraits of President George Washington remained highly sought-after in Americana Week. A rare “Vaughan” type, auctioned during Christie’s sales, was conservatively estimated and supported by provenance from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, leaving room for bids that exceeded the work’s high estimate. While the portraits offered by Christie’s sold above its high estimates, Sotheby’s portraits did not generate the same level of enthusiasm, perhaps in part due to their optimistic presale estimates. These mixed results provide opportunities to examine the prediction of sales for the future.

DECORATIVE ARTS: SILVER AND BRONZE

Western bronzes and ornate silvers continue to capture collectors’ eyes for their craftsmanship and the prestige of well-known makers. Auction houses have practiced conservatively estimating the sale price of decorative arts, resulting in collectors taking home high-quality works within or above the works’ projected estimates.

AMERICAN FURNITURE

Among the highlights of American furniture was a tambour desk and bookcase crafted by the sophisticated hands of the Seymour’s, renowned for their innovative and historical designs. Similarly, a card table adorned with American Rococo designs was reminiscent of a similar style currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Both pieces achieved above their high estimates, reflecting collectors’ response to works with notable attributions, strong provenance, and ties to renowned makers.

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