11-12-16  Slotin Folk Art auction:

 "The Strange, The Unusual, The Vanishing America!  1,121 Lots of the BEST in Self-Taught Art, Outsider Art, Southern Folk Pottery, European Art Brut, African American Quilts and Decorative Arts, International Art, Antique & Anonymous Works, Religious Banners, Circus Items, Native American, WPA-era Paintings and New Discoveries."

Angie and Josh are huge Folk Art fans!  They have been collecting it for over 10 years now and have quite the collection---paintings, woodworkings, metal pieces, --- you name it, they're collecting it.  So when an auction like Slotin's is happening, you can bet they're going to be there!  They've even attended it via internet when they didn't live close enough to go to it.  But now they're back here near Buford and can easily attend.  Ken and I decided to go and check it out with them.  It was quite the impressive auction!!!  As Josh said---there are probably more Folk Art pieces here at the auction then in any museum.  Can't say that Ken and I are nearly as enthusiastic about Folk Art as they are, but it is fascinating to be around those who are so enthusiastic.  Plus Slotin treats their audience with lots of great free food and drink!  For lunch they had Jim 'n Nick's bar b q, and for dinner they brought in Mellow Mushroom pizza.  Yummmmmm!!!!!!
 There was also a snack table with lots of desserts and such.  Behind it is a Lifetime collection of Herbert Albin Wood Mosaic Furniture---14 hand made pieces which sold for a mere $850!  Estimated value $2000-$4000. 

 some of the many pieces of Folk Art.

More pieces of art.

 This piece named Noah's Ark is by Carl McKenzie.  Not all that old --- 1985---carved and painted figures and animals attached to board.  It was estimated to go for $2,000-$3,000.  Sold for $4,320.

 Hell---by Leroy Almon was made in 1989.  It's another carved and painted wood-relief plaque with jewelled eyes.  Estimated to go for $1000-$2000 went for $2,040.

 This is a 2 day auction with lots of people on the phones and online as well as those here.  We only made it there the one day, but stayed for quite awhile that day.  Angie and Josh had a few pieces they were hoping to be able to pick up "cheaply".  Turns out the stuff they had earmarked went high.  But they did get 2 paintings and a game cloth at good prices.

 I thought this chair was pretty ingenious.  It was by Daniel Mack (Tool Chair) and was estimated at $1000-$2000 but only went for $720.

 they even had painted glasses by Amos Ferguson.  Estimated for $200-$300 and went for $720!

 Ned Cartledge's Patriotism Bull was estimated at $600-$900 and went for $960.

 Not what I'd consider Folk Art.  Old Western Carnival Side Show Sign --- Buffalo Bill Cody.  Estimated at $2000-$3000 went for $1320.

 I did like this one quite a bit---Snowy Farm by Mattie Lou O'Kelley.  Way out of my league though with an estimated value of $10,000-$15,000!  It went for $10,200.

 lots of wooden pieces. The Cyrpus Bell Tower by Howard Finster is a wood burned board construction with paper lining and hand written notes in ink and marker.  Estimated value---$6000-$10,000.  Went for $8,520.

 These wooden carved and painted animals were by Minnie and Garland Adkins.  The horse was estimated to go for $800-$1200 and went for $600.  The large fox---$800-$1200 went for $960, the small red fox estimated for $100-$200 went for $300.  The Pair of Dalmations by Pucho Odio are painted wood estimated at $1000-$2000 and went for $5,520!

 It was a well run auction.  There were 2 auctioneers taking turns calling it.

 some of the pieces were straight out bizaar!  Like the Two-Headed Dragon Beast at the bottom of this picture.  It was made of melted plastic buckets and other mixed media and was estimated at $800-$1200 and went for $360.

 I rather liked this one, but it went up for bid the next day don't know that I'd really call it Folk art, either.  It was valued at $800-$1200 and went for $300.

 I find something about this one interesting, too.  It's by Wilson Bigaud and titled Haitian Woman with Her Chickens.  Estimated for $500-$800 and went for $600.

 The walls were covered with artworks.  Figure most of them were valued over $500---there was a lot of money on those walls!

 cute---Rabbits by Marco Raugei.  Estimated at $200-$300 -- went for $720.

 Angie and Josh were hoping to get one of these, but they went for $2400 and $1920. 

 Play WPA plaster food from the  1930's!  Estimated for $500-$800!!  Went for $960!!!!

 the dog to the lower right---Toto by Jimmy Lee Sudduth was estimated at $1000-$1500 and went for $840.  Not good considering Angie and Josh have a very large alligator painted by him.  But there was a smaller alligator made by him for sale here that did go for $1020, well above the estimated $500-800 price.  That does bode well for their painting.

 pottery---most of them were valued at $200-$300.

 one of the pieces they got--- White Spanish House by Sanford Darling.  Estimated value $1000-$1500 which they got for $150---good deal for them!

Blue Figure with Dog, by Mary T. Smith was estimated to go for $1000-$2000 and went for $1020.

 Crueltys of Slavery by Leroy Almon is a carved and painted wood-relief plaque estimated at $1000-$2000 and went for $3430.

 Carved wooden Howling Coyote by Leroy Archuleta estimated at $2000-$3000 went for $720.

 James Harold Jennings Whirligig With Self-Portrait, Birds and Girls was estimated at $800-$1200 and went for $600.

 mellow mushroom time!  Although this was after about 20 boxes of pizza were already eaten.

 After the last piece they earmarked was auctioned off, we headed out. 

 The outside of the historic Buford Hall where the auction was held.  Apparently they have these Folk Art Auctions here twice a year. 

 I wish I had taken pictures of a couple of the graphite on found paper drawings that went for over $10,000.  Or the pencil and crayon on cardboard that Bill Traylor (1854-1947) created.  One was estimated at $60,000-$70,000 and went for $73,200!  Another of his was estimated for $25,000-$35,000 and went for $27,600.  Literally they looked like something a 5 year old could do! Wonder what he would think if he knew the value of those pieces now!?  Every item sold!  Most sold for estimated value or higher.  A few went cheap.  There were worldwide online bidders, phone bidders, and even a few bus loads of people from out of state there in person along with us locals.

It was a very interesting day!  Quite different then anything I've ever done before.  I wish I had anticipated the uniqueness of this experience and brought my DSLR camera.  My fall back camera (my phone) doesn't take very good indoor photos.  Next time I'll know.