OF ARTWORKS
Prepared for
Ourbest Clientelius Max
By
(Mr) Gayle B. Tate
G.B. Tate & Sons Fine Art
Laramie, Wyoming
This document is for the evaluation
ARTIST:
Birger Sandzen (American, 1871 - 1954)
TITLE:
"Night Poplars in Moonlight"
DESCRIPTION: Oil on canvas,
Circa 1920, 24 X 32 Inches, Signed lower right corner.
Titled, signed and noted "Lindsborg,
Kans" on the stretcher
CONDITION: In excellent
condition
FRAMING:Framed in original
frame
 |
1. This appraisal
is submitted, using images and information supplied by Ourbest Clientius
Max, without direct inspection of the subject painting.
2. The
work of Birger Sandzen appears regularly in the art marketplace through
galleries and auction houses. This evaluation of the subject painting is
made primarily from its relationship to similar works sold at auction. The
findings for auction results for the artist are listed in Appendix “A” of
this report.
3. The prices shown in Appendix “A” include the buyer's
premium charged by the vendor. Typically, auction houses charge 10 - 20%
commission, plus add-on fees for photography, insurance, storage,
transportation and other services normal to their
business.
4. The
specific comparable images of paintings by Sandzen, chosen from the
hundreds we researched, are included in this report for the reasons of,
first, similarities; second, paintings specifically contrasted with
the subject painting to show the different color and style relationships
typical of the artist; and third, to show how value is affected by
size.
5. There was a significant break in Sandzen's career,
when his use of color and style made significant shifts. These
shifts also make significant effects on the artist's prices in the
marketplace. This time period was in the late 1920's and early
1930's, when the artist moved to using less color in his work and more
carefully applied strokes. The era, especially of the early '20's,
is the most desirable for his work, and later works bringing lower
prices.
6. The most popular subject matter for the artist are
the brilliant and colorful setting sun paintings from Kansas and Colorado.
Color is the prime determiner of the value for Sandzen's work, with
the earlier works from the 1920's being the most colorful of all of works
done during the artist's career. The subject painting, while having
strong colors in the blues and greens, has very little dramatic contrast
(being a night scene), and the more subtle color of the subject painting
is against it for its value.
7. Size is
also a factor in the artist's work. Of course with all other aspects
being equal, the larger sizes bring higher prices in the marketplace.
The large size of the subject painting is a plus factor for its
value.
8. The composition of the subject painting is unusual
for the artist. There is virtually no identifying landscape
composition to offer clues to the painting's place of
execution. The background suggests a mountainous terrain,
typical of the Colorado and Utah scenes, but the execution leaves plenty
of room for conjecture. Also, the manner in which the composition was cut
off, with no real landscape showing, is
unusual.
9. The
drama for the subject painting is created mostly in the fact that this is
a night scene. The lighting is subtle, but expected with the chosen
time for the work. The overall effect is striking and this work must
be considered a major effort by the artist.
10.
Provenance of the subject painting places it back to the home town
of the artist, Lindsborg, Kansas. The history places the painting
from a gallery in McPherson, Kansas
in 1922 or '23. Support for its date has been provided by family
members of the owners, who have recalled the painting as far back as the
1930's.
11. The condition of the painting is excellent, indicating good care and conservation.
EVALUATION OF THE SUBJECT ARTWORK:
Birger Sandzen: "Night Poplars in Moonlight" $40,000 - 60,000 USD
CERTIFICATION
This appraisal for Ourbest Clientelius Max is executed without direct inspection
of the subject work of art. The results are based on information submitted
to us by Mr. Max. I certify that the information contained in this
appraisal has been thoroughly researched and is a true, accurate and
complete record of my findings. A copy of this report is retained at the
offices of G.B. Tate & Sons.
Certified on this
day...
July 28, 2004
Gayle B. Tate
(Seal)
_____________________
(Mr) Gayle B. Tate
G.B. Tate
& Sons Fine Art
414 South 19th Street
Laramie, Wyoming
82070
(307) 399-3316
On the internet at:
www.gbtate.com
Email: gbt@gbtate.com
The titles of each individual work, as listed below
Birger Sandzen
(American, 1871 -
1954)
Comparable Paintings to the Subject Artwork
Early Fall, Oil on canvas, 22" x 28",
1942, Signed Lower Right
Auction House: John Moran Auctioneers 06/20/2006 Lot: 62
Low Est.: $60,000
High Est.: $80,000
Sales Price $46,000
Smoky Hill River, Oil/Board, 1948, 16" x 20", Signed Lower Right
Auction House: Christie's Los Angeles 06/14/2006 Lot: 76
Low Est.: $20,000
High Est.: $30,000
Sales Price: $33,600
Typical Smokey River Scene, Oil/Board, 20" x 16", Signed
Auction House: Auction in Santa Fe, 08/11/2005 Lot: 401
Low Est.: $25,000
High Est.: $30,000
Sales Price: -not sold-
Early Moonrise, Logan, 1937, Oil/Board, Utah, 20" x 24", Signed
Auction House: Ivey-Selkirk, 12/04/2004 Lot: 114
Low Est.: $30,000
High Est.: $50,000
Sales Price: $50,000
Landscape 1, Oil/Canvas, 1919, 24" x 34", Signed
Auction House: Sotheby's New York, 12/03/2003 Lot: 154
Low Est.: $40,000
High Est.: $60,000
Sales Price: $66,000
Mountain Farm-Eldora, Colorado, Oil on canvas, 1945, 25" x 30", Signed
Created: Auction House: John Moran Auctioneers, 11/14/2000 Lot: 71
Low Est.: $30,000
High Est.: $40,000
Sales Price: $44,000
Wild Horse Creek, Graham County, Kansas, Oil/Panel, 24" x 34", Signed
Auction House: Sotheby's New York, 05/21/2003 Lot: 174
Low Est.: $50,000
High Est.: $70,000
Sales Price: $48,000
Landscape 2, Oil/Canvas, 1919, 24" x 34", Signed
Auction House: Sotheby's New York, 12/03/2003 Lot: 154
Low Est.: $40,000
High Est.: $60,000
Sales Price: $66,000
Pines and Junipers, Manitou, Colo, Oil on canvas, 1925, 24" x 20", Signed
Auction House: Santa Fe Art Auction, 11/13/2004 Lot: 172
Low Est.: $80,000
High Est.: $100,000
Sales Price: $83,375
Aspens-Manitou, Colorado, Oil on canvas, 1921, 22" x 26", Signed
Auction House: John Moran Auctioneers, 02/12/2002 Lot: 79
Low Est.: $40,000
High Est.: $60,000
Sales Price: $49,500
Standard Biographical
References and resources used in research, and quoted in this appraisal
are:
Malletıs Index: Mallettıs Index of Artists, an
International Bibliography, by Daniel Trowbridge Mallett,
1948
Fielding: Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors
and Engravers by Mantle Fielding, 1974, revised and expanded
1989
Davenport: Davenportıs Art Reference and Price Guide by
R.J. Davenport, published yearly, 1987 to present.
Benezit:
“Dictionnaire Critique et Documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs,
Dessinateurs et Graveurs”, by Emmanuel-Charles Benezit (a French
publication in 10 Volumes) 1976.
Thieme - Becker:
“Allgemeines Lexicon der Bildenden Kunstler von der Antike bis sur
Gegenwart”, Leipzig, 1934 (a German publication in 40 volumes).
12.
Other occasional biographical references, which we do not commonly use,
are detailed in full in the body of the appraisal.
13. Sources for
determining the Price Evaluation (including Davenport, Benezit
and Johnson & Greutzner, above) of the works of art
are:
Franklin & James: Auction Price Guide, published
Bi-Annually
Falkıs: Auction Price Guide, published
Annually
Hislopıs Art Price Index: Auction Price Guide,
published Annually
Meyerıs Price Guide to Antiques and Fine
Art: Auction Price Guide, published Bi-Annually
Fine
Art: (Susan Theran) Auction Price Guide to the Art Marketplace,
published Bi-annually from 1987 to 1996
Art at Auction in
America: Auction Price Guide, published Annually from circa 1990 to
1995
AskArt: Online auction, gallery and research resource
on the internet
ArtNet: Online auction, gallery and research
resource on the internet
Fine Art Investment Services:
Online auction, gallery and research resource on the
internet
ADEC (Artprice): Online auction, gallery and
research resource on the internet
Art Library Online: Online
auction, gallery and research resource on the
internet
Traditional Fine Arts Online: Online auction,
gallery and research resource on the internet
iCollector:
Online auction, gallery and research resource on the
internet
The United States Library of Congress: in
Washington, DC
American Art Review: A bi-monthly art
magazine devoted to the art marketplace and museum and gallery
operations
Art and Auction: A bi-monthly art magazine
devoted to the art marketplace and art auction operations
Art
and Antiques: A bi-monthly art magazine devoted to the art marketplace
and art and antiques auction operations
Antiques: A monthly
art magazine devoted to the art and antiques marketplace and gallery
operations
American Artist: A monthly art magazine devoted
to the art marketplace and artist promotions and marketing.
The
Artist: A monthly art magazine devoted to the art marketplace and
artist promotions and marketing.
The Journal of Print World:
Bi-monthly news magazine on the area of fine prints and their
marketplace.
G.B. Tate & Sons has served the art community
continuously since its founding in 1967 by its still current owner and
president, Mr. Gayle B. Tate. It was founded under the name Tate Gallery
in Tallahassee, Florida, and subsequently served in Tampa, Florida and
Asheville, North Carolina. Currently the offices of G.B. Tate & Sons
is located at:
G.B. Tate & Sons
414 S. 19th
ST.
Laramie, Wyoming 82070
(307) 399-3316
Mr.
Tate has acted as art dealer, gallery owner and appraiser since 1967. He
is the author of three privately published brochures on topics in the art
field, including art investments and the dynamics of the art
market.
Mr. Tate served for five years in the United States Air
Force as a commissioned officer, being discharged honorably with the rank
of Captain.
Mr. Tate is a founding member and past president of the
Southeast Professional Art Dealers Association, being certified for
appraisals under this association since 1979.
Mr. Tate is a
founding member and past president of “The Seven”, Alliance of Artists,
Asheville, North Carolina
Mr. Tate has worked for insurance
companies througout the Southeast United States. From 1976-82, on two
different occasions, Mr. Tate worked with the private sector, insurance
companies and the FBI to uncover rings of fraudulent operations, working
in central Florida. Through research and investigations of claims made by
supposed vendors of works of art, he was able to discover their purposes
to create and market fake works of art. In both occasions, the criminals
involved were tried and convicted of fraud charges and subsequently
sentenced to prison
terms.
Mr. Tate remains active in the art business, but retired from art gallery operations and management in 1997. He now works privately in his offices in Laramie, Wyoming.