The Floridant - World Record Established: Million-Dollar Bilibin Screen Sells at Shapiro Auctions

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BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y. - Floridant -- The auction achieved remarkable results across various categories, culminating in a new world record for a work by Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (1876-1942), a renowned Russian illustrator and member of the World of Art group.

The highlight of the sale was Bilibin's monumental three-panel painted screen, Tsarevich Ivan, The Firebird, and the Gray Wolf (circa 1924). This magnificent work sold for an impressive $1,062,500, which is more than 15 times its original estimate. The piece generated lively international bidding, thanks to Shapiro Auctions' targeted global marketing and specialist outreach. Originally owned by the prominent Alexandrian patron Georges Cordahi, this exquisitely illustrated screen showcases Bilibin's celebrated blend of Slavic folklore and Art Nouveau aesthetics. It exemplifies Shapiro Auctions' ability to handle culturally significant and academically important works with sophistication and historical rigor.

Equally notable was the strong performance of Norman Rockwell's (1894-1978) rediscovered painting The Sampler (1923), which sold for $456,250. A Saturday Evening Post cover work with hallmark storytelling, The Sampler captures the evolution of American girlhood and social identity in the early 20th century. Thought lost, and listed as "Whereabouts unknown" in Laurie Norton Moffat's Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, The Sampler has remained in the sitter's family to the present day and makes a historically important return to public record, exemplifying Rockwell at a pivotal point in his career.

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Shapiro Auctions is distinguished by its international perspective and expertise across a wide range of categories, a rarity among American auction houses. Committed to offering global market access, Shapiro effectively places iconic American art within a worldwide context. They have successfully auctioned works by artists such as Norman Rockwell, alongside notable pieces from Russian, Polish, Burmese, and Vietnamese-French artists. Highlights include Vietnamese-French modernists like Vu Cao Dam, a distinguished Burmese collection featuring U Ngwe Gaing and U Ba Nyan, and significant Russian works such as Ivan Bilibin's pieces and Pavel Ovchinnikov's 1877 enamel icon. The auction's diversity, covering American realism, Polish modernism, Southeast Asian painting, and rare Russian artifacts, emphasizes Shapiro's unique global reach.

Consignments Now Invited for January Auction

Shapiro Auctions will present its next auction in late January. Consignors are encouraged to contact the auction house now to take advantage of early global marketing opportunities and tailored curatorial promotion.

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To inquire about consigning, contact:
212-717-7500
info@shapiroauctions.com
shapiroauctions.com

Shapiro Auctions, based in Bedford, New York, specializes in fine art and antiques from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Known for scholarly cataloging, international reach, and record-breaking results, Shapiro Auctions provides services to clients worldwide and is recognized for successfully bringing exceptional works to market across cultures and categories.

Press Contact:
Shapiro Auctions
press@shapiroauctions.com
212-717-7500