Nancy Druckman, Senior Vice President and Director, American Folk Art, Sotheby’s, New York.
The Ralph O. Esmerian Collection of American Folk Art is amongst the most important collections of American folk art ever to be offered at auction comprising masterpieces in American folk art including portraiture, carvings, watercolors, weathervanes and pottery. The sale which took place at Sotheby’s in January 2014 brought a record price of just under $13 million.
Ammi Phillip (1788-1865) Girl in a red dress with cat and dog, permanent collection of the American Folk Art Museum, gift of Ralph O. Esmerian
Wilhelm Schimmel (1817-1890) LION Estimated $80,000 — $120,000 sold for $341,000