Garage Sale Seashell Painting Discovered to be Worth Up to $250,000
An anonymous collector found a piece by American surrealist Gertrude Abercrombie for $30, which is now set for auction.
An anonymous art collector discovered a previously unknown painting by American surrealist Gertrude Abercrombie at a Michigan estate sale, where it was priced at just $30. The artwork, titled "Alderman Merriam’s Shells," is now expected to fetch between $150,000 and $250,000 when it is auctioned in New York on October 1.
The painting, which features scattered seashells on a slate-gray background, was found in a hallway of the estate sale in July. The collector recognized the signature "Abercrombie, '51" in the lower-left corner, suspecting it might be by the notable artist.
To verify its authenticity, the buyer took the piece to the Milwaukee Art Museum, which was hosting a retrospective exhibition on Abercrombie's work. While there, the collector found an archival photograph of the 8-by-11-inch painting featured in a 1952 Chicago Tribune review.
Further confirmation came from art historian Susan Weininger of Roosevelt University, who authenticated the piece. The painting was then consigned to Freeman’s Auction, the exhibition’s sponsor.
According to Freeman’s, the artwork was painted during Abercrombie's most productive period in the early 1950s. The artist gave "Alderman Merriam’s Shells" to Dr. John Reynolds of Kalamazoo, Michigan, in exchange for medical services. The painting remained in the Reynolds family for 75 years before appearing at the estate sale.
Zack Wirsum, senior vice president at Freeman’s, described the painting as "mesmerizingly mysterious," characteristic of Abercrombie's finest works. He noted that Abercrombie's art has seen a resurgence in attention, with Thomas Busciglio-Ritter, curator of American art at the Milwaukee Art Museum, attributing this to the "weirdness" and personal nature of her art.
"Alderman Merriam’s Shells" was exhibited between 1952 and 1953 in Chicago, New York, and Milwaukee, often priced between $50 and $150. Abercrombie, who died in 1977 at the age of 68, was known for her prolific work, partly driven by financial concerns.
