Bonhams' Period Art & Design auction, the first of its 2013 sales held in San Francisco, saw dramatic results, as collectors returned refreshed following the Christmas break.
Held on January 20, the sale achieved a total of $516,688. It was highlighted by an "after Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco)" oil on canvas, entitled Saint Dominic in Prayer, which sold for an impressive $15,000 - a 900% increase on its $1,500 high estimate.
 Sotheby's forthcoming auction of an important El Greco work may have spurred bids |
Depicting the robed Saint Dominic beneath a clouded sky, the original work is currently housed in the Toledo Cathedral, Spain. The high bids seen in the sale may have been spurred by the appearance of a rare El Greco work at Sotheby's on January 29, which will be sold from the collection of esteemed art dealer Giancarlo Baroni.
 Wootton is best known as a pioneer of painting sporting subjects |
Also selling well was another European artwork, this time a John Wootton oil painting entitled An extensive river landscape with figures and a wagon on a track. Consigned from the property of a luxury hotel, the piece achieved a 129.1% increase on its $6,000 high estimate, selling for $13,750.
The most impressive result among the furniture offered was seen by a mid-19th century Louis Philippe marble-top dressing stand, which beat its estimate by 757.1% to realise $6,000. It was consigned from the James S Clayton Trust.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has some magnificent items of antique furniture for sale, including a spectacular John Linnell demi-lune commode.
