As I am writing this, it is a beautiful day here in Maine. As many of you know, it tends to be a little brisk up here in Maine most of the year, but this is one of those spectacular days, the temperatures are in the low 90s, the sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky. Late summer in Maine is picturesque, the goldenrod has bloomed, the black-eyed-Susans are blooming, and there is just a hint of change of color in some of the trees driving to work.

End of August is also the time for our fantastic end of summer sale for the Fine Art, Asian and Antiques division. This year Tony, Katya, Bill, Megan and the rest of the team have put together an extraordinary auction featuring over $6 million of items to tempt you.

This $6 million summer sale, now in its 35th year, is a signature event for the company and is one of the largest summer auctions in North America.

Day one hits the ground running with 450 lots of paintings and bronzes. Key works on canvas include a Gloucester Doorway by Abbott Fuller Graves (estimated at $20,000-40,000); William Glacken’s “Rockport, Mass. 1936 No. 3” (estimated at $175,000-250,000) and 25 paintings by Waldo Peirce. For those interested in “heavy metal,” Julia’s is offering Edgar Degas’ “Danseuse Agrafant L’epaullette De Son Corsage” (#64D). To our knowledge, this bronze has never been offered at auction and is estimated at $150,000-250,000. Other highlights include Carl Rungius’ “Big Horn Ram,” (estimated at $125,000-175,000) and works by Kolbe, and Hartmann, among others.

Auction days two and three include over 1,300 lots of fine antiques, furniture, and accessories. On offer are almost a dozen clocks, with the finest being a Chippendale block-and-shell carved Goddard Townsend mahogany tall case clock by Thomas Claggett, estimated at $70,000-150,000. Antique furniture highlights include a number of Chippendale items like a magnificent cherry highboy, estimated at $10,000-15,000. Painted furniture is also well represented in this sale, with a decorated dowry chest, perhaps the most eye-catching example. Clients looking for more modern furniture will be delighted with our George Nakashima selections, including a set of six chairs and a dining table, estimated at $8,000-12,000.

Buyers looking for the finest folk art and posters will delight in our broad selection of these items. Folk art highlights include portraits of Captain and Mrs. Nathanial Holmes by William M. Prior estimated at $10,000-20,000 for the pair, and a recently discovered ship portrait by Fitz Henry Lane estimated at $150,000-200,000. Exceptional posters include a rare Peugeot broadside by Rene Vincent, estimated at $8,000-10,000, and a poster of Georgia Graves by Paul Colin, estimated at $3,000-5,000.

This auction offers many remarkable items from famous Americans. One highlight is an archive of documents from Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean (estimated at $40,000-50,000.) Other historical lots include a collection of World War II letters to and from “Dutch” Van Kirk, the Navigator of the Enola Gay (estimated at $30,000-50,000) and a series of General George Custer memorabilia lots.

Also of great historical interest is the estate collection of John W. Armiger, Jr. This outstanding offering of early American flags, political ephemera, militaria, and folk art is in itself a museum of the origins of our country. An extraordinary example from this collection is a 13 star American flag, conservatively estimated at $20,000-30,000.

The fourth and final day of Julia’s annual summer auction is dedicated to over 850 lots of Asian Art. Julia’s is pleased to present another series of remarkable items from the collection of a Renowned Taiwanese Diplomatic Family. One exceptional item from this estate is a rare Zitan carved canopy bed, estimated at $60,000-80,000. Other day four Asian furniture highlights include a Kang table, estimated at $60,000-80,000 and a carved dragon Huali table, estimated at $8,000-10,000.

The Firearms team is rapidly putting their auction together. Our new Sporting & Collector Firearms Auction is now being put to bed and it is an overwhelming success. We have approximately 740 lots that are coming to auction with a low estimate of $2 million. The 2-day Extraordinary Firearms auction continues to build with approximately 1,300 lots and more than $16 million offered in that sale. Visit our selected highlights to see some of the amazing items coming to auction.

For those of you who have never been to Maine, I encourage you to partake in our August auction and enjoy all that Maine has to offer from the lakes to the oceans, the mountains, and all the scenic byways. It’s a wonderful time to see Maine.

Until next time,

Mark