The holiday season resonates with Filipinos deeply as it brings together the two things that they especially hold dear– faith and family. There is a palpable feeling of excitement in the air as everyone energes to celebrate life and hope. So what better way to celebrate the return of mirth into our lives than being able to spend precious time under the tree to revel in our wish list of important Philippine and international art, rare hardwood antique furniture and ecclesiastical objects, fine decor, and valuable collectibles!
Under The Tree: The Wish List is set to take place on Saturday, 27 November 2021, simultaneously at 2pm at Salcedo’s NEX Tower sale room and online as well via salcedoauctions.com. The auction lineup includes important Philippine Art by National Artists BenCab, Victorio Edades, J. Elizalde Navarro, Arturo Luz, and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, together with key pieces by leading modernists Romulo Olazo, Juvenal Sansó, Romeo Tabuena, Lao Lianben, and Nena Saguil.
Major highlights include a very rare early work by Edades, considered to be the Father of Modern Philippine Art. The ravishing 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. In 1978, Edades, who had two years before received the highest state honor, being made a National Artist, started reacquiring his paintings, seeing that he had not many left in his personal collection. Upon finding out that his contemporary Alcuaz owned My Sweetheart, a portrait of his American wife Jean, he immediately sent a telegram followed by a letter asking for it back in exchange for any painting by him that he owned of Alcuaz’s choosing. Alcuaz’s family believes that the portrait of the unknown dark haired Caucasian beauty in the early post-impressionist style of the artist which they are offering through Salcedo Auctions is the painting for which My Sweetheart was very kindly exchanged by Alcuaz – a worthy replacement considering its superlative quality and sterling period, and a lasting testament to Edades’ devotion to his beloved wife.
VICTORIO EDADES, Untitled (The Muse), 1930’s, Oil on canvas.
Two other key art pieces in the sale are a large and elegant monochromatic BenCab acrylic on canvas painting depicting two of the master’s iconic Sabel muses, and a rare 1961 Barcelona period work by Alcuaz entitled Night in Marantz, a surrealist landscape that shows the strong influence of his Spanish abstractionist contemporaries Saura and Tapies.
BENCAB, Untitled (Two Sabels), 2004, Acrylic on canvas
FEDERICO AGUILAR ALCUAZ, Night in Marantz, 1961, Oil on canvas
As in all major sales of Philippine collectibles, exquisitely crafted antique hardwood furniture and ecclesiastical pieces are on offer, among these: a pair of 19th century Ilocos 4-post comodas, an 18th century pair of molave altar / retablo columns, as well as an imposing retablo minór. Sure to gain the attention of history aficionados is the only known to exist that shows Antonio Luna together with the supposed object of his admiration, the mestiza Nellie Boustead. The latter, who is also thought to be the subject of the world-record breaking La Pintura by Félix Resurrección Hidalgo (sold at Salcedo in 2019) was also said to have been admired by National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, whom Luna reputedly challenged to a duel in defense of his affection.
A lot of 2 rare Ilocos 4-post comodas, 3rd quarter, 19th century, Kamagong, narra, bone / kamagong / lanite inlays, silver mounts
A pair of molave altar / retablo columns, Late 18th century, Bohol
An imposing retablo minór, 1st quarter, 20th century, Pampanga
The only photograph known to exist featuring both Antonio Luna and Nellie Boustead, 1888-1890, Paris
Celebrating the end of a year filled with record-breaking sales, Salcedo Auctions expresses its gratitude for the public’s strong support and its continued growth by giving back in the spirit of the Season through its collaboration with the social enterprise Bid for the Future (BFF), which is working with Lamana PH to offer Ishinomaki stools painted by some of the country’s leading contemporary visual artists to empower local communities and protect the environment through their support of the conservation efforts of the Masungi Georeserve.
ERIC PARAS, Cavoo, 2021, Larch
RYAN VILLAMAEL, frag-ments, 2021, Tanguile/ Meranti
See these works together with the 240 lots on offer at the Under The Tree: The Wish List auction, which takes place live and online on Saturday, 27 November 2021 at 2pm. Click this link to view the catalogue, and also register to bid.
