Scottsdale Art Auction enhanced its reputation as the Southwest’s largest auction house by posting a record breaking $16.4 million dollars in sales on March 31, 2012. With nearly 600 bidders in attendance as well as a host of phone and absentee bids, the action was fast and furious throughout the day.

Two works by modern master Howard Terpning were the top lots in the sale. Captured Ponies set a new record for the artist at $1.9 million dollars, while Mystic Power of the War Shield followed closely at $1.7 million. Among other contemporary Western artists, G. Harvey’s Men With A Dream sold for $172,500, Ron Riddick’s Blessing Dance attained a record $109,250 against an estimate of $30-40,000 and Clyde Aspevig’s Canadian Rockies sold for $109,250.

Works by masters of the American West sold extremely well. The Great Spirit, a monumental canvas by William Robinson Leigh, hammered down at $862,500, while a Charles M. Russell oil, Indian Scout on Horseback, sold for $690,000. Frank Tenney Johnson’s nocturne, When All’s Quiet, achieved $575,000 and the hammer fell after spirited bidding on Herman Herzog’s In the Yosemite Valley at $207,000. Tom Lovell’s evocative masterpiece, Marking the Crossing, topped $400,000 and, among New Mexico painters, Leon Gaspard’s Russia, 1919 sold for $230,000 against an estimate of $100-150,000.

In the category of sporting and wildlife art, A Northwest Day, by Frank Benson, attained $575,000, while Bob Kuhn’s patient lions, Game Watchers sold for $230,000. Ken Carlson’s wolves in the snow, entitled The Pack, estimated at $35-45,000, fell just shy of $70,000.

With 90% of the 392 lots sold, Scottsdale Art Auction set the pace for the Western art market in 2012.

We are already actively seeking consignments for our next auction which will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2013. Mark your calendars!