The Makati auction house brings many interesting stories under the gavel at a live and online auction on November 27, 2021.
Salcedo Auctions celebrates the end of the year with a “wish list” of important Philippine and international art, rare hardwood antique furniture, and ecclesiastical objects, fine décor, and valuable collectibles.
Called Under The Tree: The Wish List, the show takes place on Saturday, November 27, 2pm at Salcedo’s NEX Tower sale room and online via salcedoauctions.com.
The auction includes important Philippine Art by National Artists BenCab, Victorio Edades, J. Elizalde Navarro, Arturo Luz, and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz. Pieces by modernists Romulo Olazo, Juvenal Sansó, Romeo Tabuena, Lao Lianben, and Nena Saguil are also included.
Major highlights include a rare early work by Edades, considered to be the “Father of Modern Philippine Art.” The circa 1930s oil on canvas painting of an unidentified young lady, which brings to mind the polished Art Deco portraits of Tamara de Lempicka, is offered by the family of fellow National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.
Two years after receiving the highest state honor, Edades started reacquiring his paintings in 1978, seeing as he had not many left in his own collection.
Edades found that Alcuaz owned his “My Sweetheart,” a portrait of the former’s wife Jean. He immediately corresponded with Alcuaz asking for it back in exchange for any painting by him that he owned.
Alcuaz’s family believes that the portrait of the artist which they are offering through Salcedo Auctions is the painting for which “My Sweetheart” was kindly exchanged by Alcuaz. It was a worthy replacement considering its quality and sterling period, and a lasting testament to Edades’ devotion to his beloved wife.
Another key art piece in the sale is a large and elegant monochromatic BenCab painting depicting his Sabel muses. A rare 1961 Barcelona period work by Alcuaz titled ‘Night in Marantz,’ which shows the strong influence of his Spanish abstractionist contemporaries Saura and Tapies, is also included.
Rare curiosities
As in all major sales of Philippine collectibles, antique hardwood furniture and ecclesiastical pieces are on offer. Among these are a pair of 19th century Ilocos four-post comoda, an 18th century pair of molave altar/retablo columns as well as an imposing retablo minór.
One shows Antonio Luna together with the supposed object of his admiration, the mestiza Nellie Boustead—the only known one of its kind. She is also thought to be the subject of the world-record breaking “La Pintura” by Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo (sold at Salcedo in 2019) was also said to have been admired by National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
No holiday sale is ever complete without valuable timepieces. This is why Salcedo Private View, the auction house’s private sale arm, is also mounting simultaneously Under the Tree: The Watch List, which showcases coveted examples of haute horlogerie by leading brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, and IWC.
Salcedo Auctions also gives back through its collaboration with the social enterprise Bid for the Future (BFF). This works with Lamana PH to offer Ishinomaki stools painted by some of the country’s leading contemporary visual artists.
The goal is to empower local communities and protect the environment through their support of the conservation efforts of the Masungi Georeserve.
The online catalogue, bid registration, and the online auction portal is accessed via salcedoauctions.com. For inquiries, email [email protected] or call +632 8 8230956, +63 9171075581.
Banner Photo: Victorio Edades, ‘Untitled (The Muse)’
