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Western theme

Western theme prevalent in John Moran auction Feb. 23

‘Good Company’ by Bill Anton (b. 1957) hails from the Estate of Phoebe Hearst Cooke, and is offered with a $15,000 to $20,000 estimate. John Moran Auctioneers image
‘Good Company’ by Bill Anton (b. 1957) hails from the Estate of https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/43733959_bill-anton-1957-chicago-il, and is offered with a $15,000 to $20,000 estimate. John Moran Auctioneers image

 

MONROVIA, Calif. – John Moran Auctioneers’ Feb. 23 decorative arts auction is shaping up to be a stunning, eclectic event, with Western decorative arts, paintings and bronzes to be offered alongside Native American art, Continental furnishings, examples of mid-century modern design, and an impressive selection of Arts & Crafts furnishings.

Boasting over 300 lots, the February catalog is also the first of three sales set to feature an important collection of contemporary paintings and bronzes from the Estate of Phoebe Hearst Cooke.

Moran’s will offer a large collection of Contemporary Western art and bronzes from the estate Phoebe Hearst Cooke (1927-2012) rancher, equestrian and long-time patron of the arts. Likely molded both by the Hearst family’s long-held passion for art collection as well as by the ranches and sprawling acreage on which she grew up, Cooke’s love for collecting manifested in the acquisition of paintings and bronzes largely featuring cowboy, horse and cattle herding subjects. Cooke acquired the majority of her pieces directly from the producing artists themselves.

Chicago-based painter Bill Anton’s Good Company, a glowing nocturnal work (above) depicting a lone cowboy and his horse has been assigned a $15,000 to $20,000 estimate.

Two large-scale bronze sculptures from the Phoebe Hearst Cooke estate are sure to create a stir when offered at the block – one, titled Canyon Shadow by Mehl Lawson (b. 1942 Bonita, Calif.), depicts a cowboy and his mount descending a rocky incline. Measuring in at 41 inches high, the patinated bronze (below) is expected to bring $8,000 to $10,000 at Moran’s sale.

 

This large bronze sculpture by Mehl Lawson (b. 1942 Bonita, Calif.) titled ‘Canyon Shadow’ is one of many bronzes from the Phoebe Hearst Cooke Estate to be sold in Moran’s February auction. John Moran Auctioneers image
This large bronze sculpture by Mehl Lawson (b. 1942 Bonita, Calif.) titled ‘Canyon Shadow’ is one of many bronzes from the Phoebe Hearst Cooke Estate to be sold in Moran’s February auction. John Moran Auctioneers image

 

One of the expected top lots of the evening is a finely finished hall chair originally crafted for the entry hall of the famous Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene-made Robert R. Blacker house, located in Pasadena, Calif. Examples by Greene & Greene rarely enter the market. As such, the chair is being offered at Moran’s February auction with a $50,000 to $70,000 estimate.

LiveAuctioneers.com will facilitate absentee and Internet live bidding.

For questions regarding this or any upcoming auction events, or to inquire about consignment, please contact John Moran Auctioneers directly via email: info@johnmoran.com or telephone: 626-793-1833.

 

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.