James Bard's The Schooner Norma was among the star lots of an American folk art auction at Christie's, achieving $200,000.
The sale took place in New York on January 22.
 The Norma was built in Nyack, New York in 1852 |
Bard was a New York-based marine artist who produced hundreds of ship paintings over the course of his career.
Christie's comments: "Of the 459 known Bard paintings only nineteen are of sailing vessels, each built in the Nyack, New York area���including the Norma built in 1852�Ǫ
"Bard's work can be divided into three distinct stylistic periods; the earliest when he worked with his twin brother John through 1849, a period of mostly na?�ve watercolor portraits; and the latest from 1870 until his retirement in 1890, a period of watercolor images of great precision.
"Norma comes from the middle period, a unique, large, and exuberant oil."
The work has passed down through the family of its original owner. This is the first time it has come up for sale.
An 18th century wooden bust of Benjamin Franklin sold for $175,000 - up 483.3% on a $30,000 estimate.
The lot was made in Philadelphia and could possibly have stood above one of the doors to the city's Independence Hall - although this is not known for certain.
Busts of Franklin were a popular architectural feature of the time.
A 19th century Angel Gabriel weathervane sold for $1.3m in Sotheby's January 23 folk art sale.
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