Rosenak Offerings Buoy Folk Art Auction

by Marty Steiner

Slotin Folk Art Auction sales are somewhat predictable. There is a quality catalog, ample preview time, and an incredible mix of Outsider art, both by "masters" and newly discovered artists.

The two-day sales are well structured with canes and walking sticks followed by pottery and then a quality array of two-dimensional works. The first day emphasizes the more established artists that usually bring consistent prices. Newer artists and more moderately valued items make up much of the second day's offering. In spite of this predictability, these sales also bring a string of surprises, and each sale takes on its own personality.

Slotin's March 18-19 sale in Buford, Georgia, had its unique flavor. A number of lots came from Chuck and Jan Rosenak, authors of three major reference works, including Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century American Folk Art and Artists. Many of the offered items are illustrated in their published works. Additional items were consigned by Florence and Jules Laffal, publishers of Folk Art Finder.

Only one quilt was offered, compared with the usual group of eight or more, and wire sculpture was absent. No carved African-American furniture was included, perhaps due to the relatively poor performance of this material in Slotin's November 1999 sale. There were no hooked rugs, no Haitian voodoo flags, and only three Howard Finster clock cases.

Works by masters in the field continue to bring strong prices. All three Lanier Meaders pots met or exceeded their low estimates. These works were mint 1970's examples from the Rosenak collection. An outstanding grape decorated bean pot with lid brought $1980 (including buyer's premium), a six-tooth-grin face jug brought $1320, and a toothless-grin face jug fetched $1430.

Three of the four B.B. Craig jugs exceeded their high estimates. A snake jug went at $632.50 (est. $200/300), a face pitcher brought $495 (est. $300/400), and a double-handled face jug with blue glaze and glass runs sold for $1650 (est. $600/800). At $357.50, only a face wig stand failed to make its low estimate of $400. All in all, 20 of the 27 pottery lots met or exceeded presale low estimates.

A small group of Black dolls caught my eye. Mary Merrill's doll of fabric and stockings, from the Rosenak collection and listed in Contemporary Folk Art: A Collector's Guide, brought $165. Four other lots of fabric dolls ranged in price from $38.50 to $82.50. There is a lot of room for growth in this highly collectible art form.

Three Depression-era ashtray butlers of cutout wood did well with prices ranging from $170.50 for a black arched-back cat with an ashtray on its raised tail to $198 for a Black butler in a Philip Morris style uniform. A Black barmaid with bikini top and miniskirt fetched $187 (est. $200/300).

Rustic crafts included two chairs and four framed Denton botanical prints. A late 19th-century high-backed twig rocker with arms sold for $275 (est. $300/500), and a folksy random-twig armchair exceeded its high estimate by bringing $412.50 (est. $200/300). Two styles of twig frames were offered. Random-patterned frames brought $110, and the more formal structured frames brought $99 and $110. All four frames were estimated at $100/200.

Two lots of Steve Ashby erotic art with significant provenance drew strong bidding and met presale estimates. Woman and Centaur, a functioning motion toy, drew a few giggles and $3300. His Pissing Woman, complete with a pill bottle water reservoir, brought $4400.

Man Holding Pelican, a single offering from Elijah Pierce of carved wood with paint and glitter, fell somewhat short at $1320 (est. $2000/3000).

Four Howard Finster lots that exceeded their high estimates included two from 1978 in artist decorated and woodburned frames: Vision of Hosea, #1143, at $4070 (est. $2000/3000) and Cold Lava, #1195, at $2530 (est. $1000/2000). Two 1981 Finster works in woodburned frames that were both estimated at $1000/2000, The Landmarkers and Visions of Vanahus, sold for $2475 and $2420 respectively.

Other Finster offerings included three clock cases that brought from $357.50 to $660, three angels in flight that brought from $522.50 to $1320, four cutout board Coke bottles that brought from $385 to $935, and a 1982 painted pink gourd at $385.

Slotin, who deals exclusively with self-taught artists, anonymous works, and southern folk pottery and crafts, has three major sales events each year. The fall auction with nearly 800 lots is scheduled for November 18-19.

Folk Fest, the annual show in Atlanta with 80 dealers that Slotin promotes, is scheduled for August 18-20. A new twist this year will be a 50-lot "Masterpiece" auction during the opening night preview.

Another new event staged by Slotin will be an antique folk art and Americana auction on October 19 during the shows in Nashville, Tennessee. The site has yet to be announced.

For more information, call (770) 932-1000.