Clementine Hunter Abstract Portrait, ca. 1960
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GUEST:
This is a painting, one of three, purchased by my parents in Southeast Louisiana in the very early 1970s. I am told it is a Clementine Hunter, who was a regional artist that lived in Southeast Louisiana. This is the piece I wound up with, and was one of the first artworks I rescued from the house prior to Hurricane Katrina.
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm.
GUEST:
It is my understanding that they purchased the three paintings together at an arts fair, I think, at some place like Madewood Plantation, or possibly somewhere nearby.
APPRAISER:
And do you know what they paid for them?
GUEST:
I have no idea, sir.
APPRAISER:
Well, it's a very interesting artwork, and it represents a piece from the very early part of her career. And she is well-known as a really great African American folk art painter. She was born about 1887, and she claimed to be 100 years old. But record-keeping from that time period was a little murky. She was born on Hidden Hill Plantation in Louisiana. At about 16, she moved to another plantation called Melrose. It was there that the owner of the plantation encouraged the arts. They had artists-in-residence, and she was encouraged to start painting. We're, and I think our audience is, familiar with her rural folk art scenes from plantation life. And those are also sought after. But when these come to market, these are very highly desirable pieces from her early period. Now, it's an oil on canvas that's mounted to Masonite.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
Would you have any idea of the value in today's marketplace?
GUEST:
Uh, I am no appraiser of art, and my wife is far more educated in it than I am. But my personal appraisal would be somewhere between $2,000 and $5,000.
APPRAISER:
You know, I think in today's marketplace, because her works are so desirable, and this represents a very rare part of her body of work, I would up that a little bit. And I would say probably in the $4,000 to $6,000 range for a retail price. I would feel very comfortable with that.
GUEST:
Outstanding.
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