Brunk Auctions
Live Auction

American & Southern | May 30, 2025

Fri, May 30, 2025 10:00AM EDT
  2025-05-30 10:00:00 2025-05-30 10:00:00 America/New_York Brunk Auctions Brunk Auctions : American & Southern | May 30, 2025 https://live.brunkauctions.com/auctions/brunk/american-southern-may-30-2025-17404
The month of May ends with our Premier Auction of American furniture, paintings, and decorative arts. Important artists include A.T. Bricher, Worthington Whittredge, Winfred Rembert, Andrew Melrose, Gunnar Widforss, and others. Of Southern interest is a museum exhibited W. A. Walker, a double sided panel by Key West folk artist Mario Sanchez, two works by Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, Southern pottery from the Ackland Art Museum, and more. A Connecticut Queen Ann bonnet top high chest, Tiffany, Arts & Crafts and mixed metal silver, weathervanes, and many other categories round out the sale.
Brunk Auctions support@brunkauctions.com
Lot 1035

John Kane

Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000
Starting Bid
$10,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$100 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$3,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

(Scottish/America, 1860-1934)

The Schenley Mansion, 1928, signed and dated lower right "John Kane 1928", oil on canvas, 18-1/4 x 36-1/4 in.; carved gilt wood frame, 24-1/2 x 42-1/4 in.

Provenance: Valentine Collection (per MOMA label verso); Michael L. Laughlin Estate, Aiken, South Carolina

Exhibited: Museum of Modern Art (presumably), n.d., label verso "Museum of Modern Art /loan//38.1270/Valentine"

Note: The Schenley Mansion was built in the Stanton Heights region of Pittsburgh in 1830, by a prominent lawyer named William Croghan Jr. The 22 room, Greek Revival "Picnic House" was intended as a home for his only daughter Mary Elizabeth Croghan. Mary Elizabeth, at boarding school in New York, eloped in 1842 at age 16, marrying the British Captain Croghan. She scandalized not just Pittsburgh society, but British society as well, and never returned to live full time in the mansion on the hill. The home found use in the Civil War as Fort Schenley, and was ultimately torn down by a later owner in 1955. Prior to demolition, the ballroom and foyer were moved to the University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning. They are rumored to be haunted, and are a favorite attraction at that skyscraper in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh. 

Available payment options

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Amex
  • Diners
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • Union Pay

Purchased items will be available for pick up or shipping from our Asheville, North Carolina auction facility within ten business days of the auction, or will be assessed a storage fee of $5.00 per day, per item. Purchaser agrees that packing and shipping is done at the purchaser's risk and that the purchaser will pay in advance all packing expenses, materials, carrier fees and insurance charges. At our discretion, items will either be packed by an agent such as a packaging store or Brunk Auctions. Please allow two weeks for shipping after payment is received. Shipment of large items is the responsibility of the purchaser. We are happy to provide names of carriers and shippers if a purchaser so requests. Brunk Auctions will have no liability for any loss or damage to shipped items.

Valentine Collection (per MOMA label verso); Michael L. Laughlin Estate, Aiken, South Carolina

original canvas and stretchers, highly textured canvas as made, tiny spots of retouch, crackle; frame with abrasions and cracking Note - Brunk Auctions makes every effort to offer accurate and thorough information, but encourages prospective bidders to inspect items in person whenever possible. Condition statements are provided as a courtesy for general guidance and should not be considered complete or definitive. They do not represent a warranty or assumption of liability by Brunk Auctions. Certain condition issues may not be specifically noted in the report but may be visible in the accompanying photographs, which are considered part of the overall condition report. Please refer to our Terms of Sale for complete information and contact us for additional photos or information as needed.