Georgia O'Keeffe "Black Petunia and White Morning Glory I" sold $4.1 million. Image: Sotheby's

Sotheby’s American paintings, drawings and sculpture sale totaled $31.9 million yesterday, more than double the $15.3 million tally a year ago. The sell-thru rate was less impressive: just 60.7 percent of lots found takers.

Georgia O’Keeffe, the doyenne of American painting, was represented at Sotheby’s by two sublime examples. Both were purchased by a private collector bidding through Robert Simon, a private dealer and consultant. A  1926 black and white canvas with two flowers, Black Petunia and White Morning Glory I, was estimated to sell for $2 million to $3 million and made $4.1 million. It was the sale’s top lot.

The painting bears a label from Steiglitz’s Intimate Gallery, where it was exhibited in 1927. The painting was also included in O’Keeffe solo shows at the Brooklyn Museum in 1927 and MoMA in 1946. A related 1926 painting belongs to the Cleveland Museum.

Another O’Keeffe,  the creamy 1930 topographical Inside Clam Shell, is an abstract painting, resembling a parched mountain range. The painting was estimated to sell for $3 million to $5 million and made $3.4 million on thin bidding. Santa Fe’s Georgia O’Keeffe Museum was said to be interested in the work, but unable to raise funds to bid. O’Keeffe continues to be one of best values at auction.

Dallas-based collector Roger Horchow, of mail-order fame, sold a circa 1913 Marsden Hartley Berlin Series, No. 1, for $1.8 million, towards the low end of the $1.5 million-$2.5 million estimate. There are fourteen works in this abstract group, dubbed the Amerika series by the artist. Many belong to museums.

Horchow also sold an early Stuart Davis, another work inspired by European travels. Davis’ 1929 proto-Pop Cafe, Place des Voges, was estimated to fetch $3 million to $5 million, and sold for $3.4 million. The painting had remained in the collection of Davis’ dealer Edith Halpert (info about my biography on her here) until her death. She loaned the work for dozens of museum shows. Her foundation donated the painting to the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

Five years after Halpert’s death, the museum had temerity to sell the painting, placing the work with dealer Barbara Mathes, who later sold it to Horchow by 1982, according to the Sotheby’s provenance. On behalf of Edith Halpert, and all that she stood for, I’d like to say–and I am keenly aware that I am biased towards all things Halpert– this was not only disrespectful of Halpert’s legacy, but also art historically shortsighted.

Marsden Hartley "Berlin Series, No. 1" sold for $1.8 million. Image: Sotheby's

Stuart Davis "Cafe, Place des Voges" sold for $3.4 million. Image: Sotheby's

Georgia O'Keeffe "Inside Clam Shell" sold for $3.4 million. Image: Sotheby's