A thoughtfully-curated selection of more than a hundred works of Philippine art, fine antique hardwood furniture and furnishings, and valuable collectibles for the most discerning happens on Saturday, November 26.
Salcedo Auctions’ invites all to “Under the Tree: The Wish List” featuring a thoughtfully-curated selection of over a hundred works of important Philippine art, fine antique hardwood furniture and furnishings, and valuable collectibles that promise to bring festive joy to the most discerning.
The auction house says, “The annual year-end sale is set to take place live and online on Saturday, 26 November 2022 at 2PM. Seasoned and emerging collectors alike are invited to take part in the country’s premier auction during the most wonderful time of the year.”
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Salcedo Auctions elaborates: “This year’s sale is an introspection on the gift of art as a legacy. Art lasts for generations; it is the most suitable gift to be remembered for. With careful attention, Salcedo Auctions’ expert team of specialists assembled distinctive works from the country’s National Artists, pioneering modernists, and sought-after contemporary artists, as well as rare collectibles that will create new and lasting memories.”
“A major highlight is an everyday scene of Quiapo, Manila in the eyes of National Artist Vicente Manansala. His semi-figurative abstraction captures the frenetic movement of people against the backdrop of its heritage shop-houses with their elegant ventanillas, wrought iron balustrades, and capiz shell windows. Displaying soft curved lines and subdued colors, this piece is a sublime example of Manansala’s period of transition towards his more pronounced, transparent cubist style,” the auction house continues.
In a press release, the auction house shares, “Similar to Manansala’s work, most of the auction’s curated pieces form a collection of remarkable early works, created during the artists’ transition towards their distinctive style or form of expression. National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz paints a post-impressionist still life with a subtle color palette rare among his works in “Untitled (Still Life).” Similar phases can be gleaned from notable modernists Manuel Rodriguez, Sr. in “Jones Bridge, Pasig River” rendered in post-impressionist colors; from Oscar Zalameda’s progression towards his signature cubist forms in “European Houses” and from Juvenal Sansó’s early inspirations from the visage of the sea and its coasts.”
Furthermore, Salcedo Auctions says, “Ronald Ventura, who just recently took the contemporary art scene by storm inaugurating the country’s newest art museum The M at BGC and holding ‘Beastmaster’ his successful solo exhibition at Salcedo Private View, is featured in this auction through a piece that he created before gaining widespread critical acclaim in 2004. ‘Untitled (Hand Models)’ is an outwardly quiet and introspective piece that serves as an impressive prelude to the signature techniques and themes that would later define Ventura, and that in many ways continues to today.”
In addition, more works “created during the cusp of their evolving art styles include quite possibly a boceto for one of National Artist Jose Joya’s early 1960s murals; Lee Aguinaldo’s untitled experimentation that prelude his better known “Mandala” and pop-inspired “Galumph” series; and National Artist BenCab’s display of his transition towards a figurative art style with “Introspection No. 1.” The flowing lines and flat planes echo BenCab’s earlier illustrations of marginalized members of society and explorations on the use of flat colored planes that synthesize his “Larawan” series,” continues the auction house.
Completing the line-up are the quintessential works of National Artists Fernando Amorsolo and Cesar Legaspi, and the renowned Malang; as well as subject matters uncharacteristic yet quintessentially by the artist, such as the woodcut ink painting “Untitled (Sabungeros)” by Anita Magsaysay-Ho. Another highlight of the collection is one of the last completed paintings of Justin Nuyda, “Search Mindscape: Break of Dawn” described by the artist’s daughter Ayni Nuyda-Sanchez as his ‘favorite painting’ and quite possibly the only 3×5 ft painting he ever made. In continuing the charitable legacy of the artist, proceeds from the sale of this masterpiece will benefit two non-profit organizations: Search Mindscape Foundation, which seeks to uphold the legacy of Justin Nuyda by fostering collaboration and dialogue in the Philippine contemporary art scene; and the Philippine Cancer Society, which is dedicated to help Filipinos afflicted by the disease through educational materials, lectures, emotional support, and medical assistance, among others. Their work aligns with the philanthropic vision and fulfills the wishes of the late artist to extend support to the art community and to the health care sector – a fitting gesture at this time of the year.
A much anticipated piece is Raffy Napay’s majestic tapestry showcasing his highly technical skill of sewing, stitching, and weaving masterpieces like he would a painting. The auction house explains: “After developing an allergic reaction to oil paint, Raffy Napay replaced the brush with a needle and the paint with a thread as he wove a path for himself in the contemporary art world, upholding the traditional artistic genre of tapestry.”
Other noteworthy pieces include an iconic bench of National Artist Napoleon Abueva; Ramon Orlina’s “Triumvirate” the last remaining piece from his Tower Club collection; an Art Nouveau styled Émile Gallé table lamp; a vintage Bernardaud porcelain dining service for 20; and a 19th century chest of drawers, made of kamagong and from Baliuag, Bulacan. Salcedo Auctions also shares that storage chests were introduced in the Philippines from Europe in the 1800s, and this particular comoda, having drawers instead of two doors, was more unusual and more expensive during that time. “Also of great interest to admirers of ilustrado architecture is a massive pair of Art Deco narra doors, formerly from the Laperal mansion in Bulacan, with its intricate metal work and original sliding mechanism intact,” says the auction house.
Three pairs of pre-colonial earrings called “Panika” were excavated in Mindoro and dating from 800 to 1300 A.D., the ornamental pieces are made of high content gold and are still in “wonderful condition,” describes the auction house.
Meanwhile, another piece of excavated gold jewelry is the 14th century Garuda ring from Butuan; the insignia resembles a Hindu demigod, and “wearing such rings was believed to invoke power and protection,” shares the auction house. Salcedo Auctions adds, “Of course, modern jewelry luxe remains represented in this sale with no less than a solitaire emerald diamond ring from Harry Winston.”
An extremely rare Aston Martin DBS V12, the only one of its kind in the country await car collectors. The auction house offers some trivia: “‘Casino Royale’ was the car of choice in the 2006 adaptation of the James Bond film franchise, its distinctive gray color named after the iconic movie.
This particular model comes from a very limited edition, being one of only 84 cars to have been manufactured with 2+2 seating, and one of only 368 ‘Casino Royale’ cars to have ever rolled out of Aston Martin’s Warwickshire factory from the approximately 2000 DBS V12 units the British luxury sports car marque produced over a five-year period. In mint condition, the automobile also comes with a Swarovski crystal Emotion Control Unit (ECU) key fob, initially developed by Aston Martin for its DB range.”
The Under the Tree: The Wish List live and online auction happens this Saturday, November 26 at 2 P.M. Register to bid and browse the catalog at salcedoauctions.com. The auction preview runs daily from 9AM-5PM at NEX Tower, 6786 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. For inquiries, contact [email protected], +632 8 8230956 | +63 917 591 2191, or follow @salcedoauctions on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Photos courtesy of Salcedo Auctions.
