Lot # : 52 - Arthur Hammer "Accordionist" Painting
Online Only Auction
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High Bid: 0.00 USD
Time Remaining: 4h 11m - Wednesday 04:19 PM
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Date(s)
8/12/2024 - 8/21/2024
Information
Lot # | 52 |
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Group - Category | Art - Paintings |
Lead | Arthur Hammer "Accordionist" Painting |
Description |
"Portrait of a Woman who doesn't play the accordion playing the accordion". oil on hardboard. Frame measures 35" x 29". Signed & dated "2/2000"on back
Arthur Hammer (1932-2012) was a self taught artist, who was strongly influenced by the works of portrait artist Alice Neel, Marsden Hartley, and German Expressionist, Max Beckmann.
He was a 40 year resident of Long Island City, Queens, when it was known as an artists' colony. There, he rented a 3 story brownstone, which was said to be the home of the first Queensborough President. Because he had 3 floors and 17 ft. high ceilings he was able to paint and hang his painting throughout the house. His home became a modern day Salon where he would have numerous parties inviting friends and patrons, which is how he often sold his work. He had a very eclectic and loyal following of patrons, whom he would regale with stories of his life, past and present. Although self taught, he made a living as an artist, and commanded healthy prices for his works. In the last 7 years of his life he exclusively supported himself through the sales of his paintings.
Arthur Hammer began his life as an actor, and moved to NYC from Cleveland, Ohio at the age of 18 to take acting classes. He had some success in small parts on soap operas, sitcoms (CPO Sharkey), made-for-TV movies such as Rage of Angles, starring Jaclyn Smith, as well as commercials.
His biggest success as an actor came in 1979, at the Winter Garden Theater, where he played a supporting role, as the reporter, in the production of Zoot Suit.
Without any formal training, he picked up his first brush in 1961, at the age of 29. Even while he was acting, he continued to paint. His first one man show came in 1963 at The Gallery of Four Walls. In the late 1960’s, while living in Greenwich Village, he also began to build chess sets from industrial parts. His set appears in a book published by the Museum of Modern Art by F. Lanier, entitled Chess Sets. One set remains in existence, with his daughter Deirdre Hammer.
In the mid 80’s Arthur Hammer gave up his acting career to devote himself exclusively to his art, and the business of art. He continued to paint on a daily basis. In the mid 90s, after working for several art dealers and learning "the art of selling art", he opened his own gallery on West 26th Street, where he concentrated on selling the works of the WPA, as well as well as acquiring the estate of, and promoting, the works of Leon Bibel.
After spending many years successfully selling the work of other artists, in 2005, Arthur Hammer closed his gallery on West 26th Street, and devoted himself to painting everyday and selling his own works, which sustained him through 2012, when he passed away after fighting prostate cancer for almost 20 years.
Since his passing in 2012, several paintings have been acquired by various museums. Although he is self taught, museums have often commented that his works tend to surpass both outsider art, and/or Art Brute, which are often associated with artists' who live life on the fringe of society, which he did not.
His favorite thing to paint were portraits. He was known amongst his piers as "the poor man's Alice Neel". At the time of his passing, over 80 portraits of friends and patrons were part of his estate. Portraits as a general rule are the hardest paintings for an artist to sell, unless they are commissioned, his were not.
The museums who have acquired his works include: The Georgia Museum of Art, 2017, acquired his painting, "Domino Dark", part of a series of paintings based on the Brooklyn Domino sugar factory. A similar, lighter version, of the painting was also acquired by The Queens Museum in 2013.
In 2016, four of his paintings were acquired by The Leslie Lohman Museum in New York City. These paintings included the portraits "Jack and Harvey", "Johnny in Gray", "Andrew", and "Costa". In March 2017, the Leslie Lohman Museum opened a new building and had a 50 year retrospective of the museum and it's history. In that show, the painting of "Jack & Harvey" was prominently featured.
In 2014, four of the artists paintings were acquired by the American Museum of Visionary Art. It is the largest museum dedicated to self-taught artists, and is located near the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD. In 2015, one of the paintings, El Martillo, which was recently appraised at $12,000, became the featured painting of the museums Big Hope show. Also acquired by AMVA were "Louisa Conchetta", "Johnny in an Antique Chair", and a "Self-Portrait of the Artist in Blue".
Shortly after his passing, in 2013, the Queens Museum of Art, in Flushing, Queens acquired two if his Queens inspired works entitled "Along the #7 Line", and "Domino Sugar Factory".
One painting during the artists lifetime, was acquired by The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA, entitled Bash Bish Falls.
Also, to date, three of his pieces have been sold at auction, and his auction prices can be seen on Ask Art.
During his lifetime, Arthur Hammer sold hundreds of paintings to friends, and loyal patrons. Many of his patrons acquired several of his paintings throughout the years, and now boast of their own “Arthur Hammer collections”. His clients have included, doctors’, and lawyers’, and musicians, such as Sting (Perplexity of a Monkey), as well as those in the movie industry, such as the executive producer of the X files, Bob Goodwin, and his wife Shelia, who were good friends of the artist.
Arthur Hammer was passionate about life and passionate about art. His sprit, and his zest for life are strongly reflected in his work. He was recently invited to have his ashes placed at the historic Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY, and they are in possession of two of his paintings.
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Auction Information
Name | Stunning New York Gallery Fine Art & More Auction |
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Auctioneer |
Light in the Attic Estates
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Type | Online-Only Auction |
Date(s) | 8/12/2024 - 8/21/2024 |
Auction Date/Time Info |
6PM 8/12/24- 9PM 8/21/24. First lot closes at 6pm Wednesday August 21st
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Preview Date/Time | 8/12/24-8/21/24, 10am-4pm. Please call us at 833-877-0145 or email info@lightintheatticestates.com to set up a day/time |
Location |
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Description |
We truly hope you enjoy this unique collection of primarily original works of art, most of which came to us from a now shuttered New York City antique gallery. Works range from classic to contemporary, still life’s, portraits, landscapes and beyond. Artists include Rhoda Sablow, Peter Robert Keil, David Radtke, Lee Reynolds, R.B Newman, Will Moses, Henry Gillette, Arthur Hammer, Johanna Mortez, Ken Treister, Carl Johann Spielter, Roel Dozeman, William Aiken, Rogelio Perez Batista, Jacques Brissot, Manes Litchenberg, Arthur Bairnsfather, Juan De'Prey and others. Auction also includes a stunning Queen Ann Sterling Tea Set, 1950s Singer Featherweight, an awesome box full of WWII Love Letters from 1942-1944, Theodore Alexander Walnut Tub Chairs and more!
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Terms and Conditions
Internet Premium: 13%
Sales Tax : 6.75% - Sales tax applied to invoice total
Valid Credit Card required for bidding approval
Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Cashier’s Check (no personal checks will be accepted)
Payment Instructions: All items will be charged to credit card on file immediately following the auction.
Currency Type: USD
ALL ITEMS SOLD AS IS WHERE IS
Shipping/ Pick up Instructions: Pick up address will be sent with settlement statement shortly after the auction closes. Items must be picked up between 9am and 6pm on the designated pick-up day. Please bring packing supplies and help to load. If you would like shipping, please email us at SHIPPING@LIGHTINTHEATTICESTATES.COM, our shipper will be in touch within a week to coordinate, you can also reach them directly at 828-670-5501
**Please note that items that are not picked up or requested to be shipped after two (2) weeks of the close of auction will be donated or fed to the Sarlacc. ***Storage fee's may apply for items not picked up on the scheduled pick up day.
VEHICLES: State sales tax, property tax and registration fees on vehicles will not be charged and are the responsibility of the Buyer to pay when registering.
ELECTRONICS: All electronics are untested unless otherwise noted. If you'd like to test please schedule a time to preview or if you are unable give us a call and we'll do our best to test an item out for you.
FIREARMS: Light in the Attic Estates is a licensed FFL dealer. Firearms sold by Light in the Attic Estates are sold in compliance with state & federal laws. All firearms are sold AS IS and we encourage inspection prior to sale. To purchase a firearm, you must be twenty-one (21) years old, a resident of North Carolina, complete a Federal Firearms 4473 form and have in your possession at time of pick up a valid North Carolina driver’s license, CCW Permits and Pistol Purchase Permits (if applicable).
DISCLAIMER: Descriptive terms, titles, and words used herein are for DESCRIPTIVE PURPOSES ONLY and not intended to convey any specialized and/or technical definition or meaning or specific age, origin or provenance of the described items. Words such as "antique," "vintage," "primitive," and "retro" and the like are only intended to give our potential buyers information as to an item's general age, appearance or origin based on information provided to us by our consignors and Light in the Attic's general industry knowledge. To the extent origin, provenance, authenticity and/or age of any consigned item sold by Light in the Attic Estates is material to Buyer, Buyer may and is encouraged to preview the items in person prior to bidding on them, which items can be viewed at a Light in the Attic Estates physical location. Each Buyer hereby acknowledges and agrees to hold Light in the Attic Estates harmless for any descriptions of items provided on our site or in our auctions.
Light in the Attic Estates reserves the right to revoke or decline any auction bids in its sole discretion, which discretion will be exercised according to commercially reasonable principles. Reasons bids may be revoked or declined include but are not limited to: first time bidders with bids in excess of $2,000; bidders whose payments have previously been declined; and other reasons.
Banana not included
NCAL # 10397
Bid Increments
Your bid must adhere to the bid increment schedule.
Bid Amount | Bid Increment |
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0.00 - 95.00 | 5.00 USD |
95.01 - 240.00 | 10.00 USD |
240.01 - 975.00 | 25.00 USD |
975.01 - 1,450.00 | 50.00 USD |
1,450.01 - 2,400.00 | 100.00 USD |
2,400.01 - 9,750.00 | 250.00 USD |
9,750.01 - 24,000.00 | 1,000.00 USD |
24,000.01 - 97,500.00 | 2,500.00 USD |
97,500.01 - 9,999,999.99 | 10,000.00 USD |
Payment Information
Currency | USD |
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Payment Terms |
Internet Premium: 13%
Sales Tax : 6.75% - Sales tax applied to invoice total
Valid Credit Card required for bidding approval
Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express
Payment Instructions: All items will be charged to credit card on file immediately following end of auction.
Currency Type: USD
ALL ITEMS SOLD AS IS WHERE IS
NCAL # 10397
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Shipping / Pick Up
Shipping/ Pick up Instructions: Pick up address will be sent with settlement statement shortly after the auction closes. Items must be picked up between 9am and 6pm on Friday August 23rd. Please bring packing supplies and help to load. If you would like shipping, please email us at SHIPPING@LIGHTINTHEATTICESTATES.COM, our shipper, Postage Express, will be in touch within a ten business days to coordinate.
While typically done expeditiously, shipping and processing auction purchases can take 2-3 weeks. You can reach our shipper directly at 828-255-9250 or 828-670-5501
Items that are not picked up or requested to be shipped after two weeks of the close of auction will be donated of fed to the sarlacc.