This Season’s Successes: Winter-Spring 2021 Auctions in Review
Swann is so proud to have not only made it through the heart of the pandemic but also to have done so with grace, professionalism and more than just a modicum of success. Throughout it all we were able to keep our focus and continue providing the wonderful services we are known for, in addition to carving out new and exciting niches in brand-new collecting areas.
Nicholas D. Lowry, Swann Galleries President & Principal Auctioneer
This season, Swann established two new sales, beginning in February with The Artists of the WPA, organized by Modern & Post-War Art Director, Harold Porcher, followed by an offering dedicated to the accomplishments of women in their field in July, curated by Senior Early Printed Books Specialist, Devon Eastland. Special collections on offer were the Dick McDonough Collection of Golf Illustration in our January Illustration Art sale; selections from a Noteworthy Collection of American Historical Prints was included in our April sale of Printed & Manuscript Americana; in May we presented Selections from the Letterform Archive in tandem with our annual Graphic Design auction; and the season was capped off by the Feminist Collection of Harriet Lyons featured in our June Contemporary Art sale. Below we share highlights from this season.
The Dick McDonough Collection of Golf Illustration
Related Reading: An Interview with Dick McDonough — Collector & Connoisseur of Golf Illustrations
Records & Results: ‘Saturday Evening Post’ Covers Pop in Swann Winter 2021 Illustration Art Sale
The Artists of the WPA
Related Reading: The Artists of the WPA: The Promise of a New Deal
Records & Results: First Auction of Artists of the WPA at Swann Establishes Four Records
Fine Books & Autographs
Related Reading: The Voice & Hand of Frederick Douglass
Records & Results: New Auction Record for Frederick Douglass Autograph Set in Winter 2021 Sale of Fine Books & Autographs
19th & 20th Century Art
Printed & Manuscript African Americana
Records & Results: Spring 2021 sale of Printed & Manuscript African Americana Brings $1M
Printed & Manuscript Americana
Related Reading: Selections From a Noteworthy Collection of American Historical Prints
African American Art
Records & Results: 13 Auction Records in Spring 2021 Sale of African American Art
Selections from Letterform Archive
Fine Photographs
Related Reading: American Street Photography of the 1940s–50s
Contemporary Art
Related Reading: Collectors on Collecting: The Feminist Collection of Harriet Lyons
Records & Results: May & June 2021 Fine Art Sales Roundup for Swann Galleries
Focus on Women
Related Reading: Devon Eastland on Caroline Schimmel & the Challenges of Creating Diverse Collections Driven by Women
Records & Results: First Sale Dedicated to the Accomplishments of Women at Swann Exceeds High Estimate
LGBTQ+ Art, Material Culture & History
Related Reading: Artist Profile: Tom of Finland
Records & Results: LGBTQ+ Art, Material Culture & History Auction Bests Itself for the Third Year in a Row
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