Sam Glankoff Sold at Auction Prices


SAM GLANKOFF (Glanckopf) was born October 30, 1894 in New York City and showed artistic aptitude and aspirations at an early age. He received little, if any formal training, and in his early years he "lived" inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There he would commit to memory and paint the works he had seen. This solitary apprenticeship to art was to resonate in his work for the rest of his life. In 1917 at the age of 22, Glankoff went to Cuba as a Conscientious Objector to WW I. The few years in Cuba were the only time during his life in which Glankoff actually sold paintings- as an itinerant painter, on horseback, as a means of earning food and shelter.

Two years after his return to New York, in 1922, Glankoff was persuaded to meet Juliana Force, Director of the Whitney Studio Club and from 1922 until 1928, when the Club disbanded. Glankoff was invited to exhibit both paintings and woodcuts in these important large group shows. Glankoff was repeatedly singled out as the "unknown name" receiving praise in New York Times .

Glankoff worked as head artist for numerous art service studios in the 1920s and 30s, and used his rough and expressive style to illustrate books for publishers such as Horace Liveright, Knopf and Harcourt Brace and literary magazines such as St. Nicholas, Scribners and the New Yorker.
Into the 1940s, Glankoff alternated his personal art with a prolific career as a commercial illustrator and comic strip artist. Glankoff was head artist for True Comics a comic book and nationally syndicated comic strip series featuring historical legends, literary classics and science fiction and he also illustrated a great number of comic-strip-style advertising campaigns for companies like Westinghouse, Billy Brand, Chiquita Banana and Popsicle Pete. During this time, Glankoff continued to paint and hone his skill in woodcuts. As his interest in abstraction developed he became fascinated with water-based pigments. He continued to use these methods and media for the remainder of his artistic life.

In the mid-1950s, Glankoff began designing stuffed animals for Impulse Items, his wife's fledgling toy company. From the 1950s until 1970,
Glankoff designed and fabricated over 200 stuffed animal designs, including the original three-dimensional versions of Babar the Elephant and Dr. Suess' Cat in the Hat. He did little personal artwork during this time.

After his wife's death in 1970, Glankoff abandoned the business and devoted himself entirely to his personal art. He returned to the iconography he had been developing throughout the 1950s, began to join panels of uniform sized handmade Japanese paper together in order to make large works and devised his highly innovative method of transfer painting which captured the spontaneity and gestural qualities of his brushstrokes. Glankoff used this method to create large, multi-colored, multi-layered unique works with luminous, atmospheric and textured surfaces. His highly personal system of signs and symbols, his layered backgrounds of resonating color accomplished by this unique method of transfer painting, all give Glankoff a unique place in the history of contemporary art.

After a lifetime of shunning public attention, in 1981, Glankoff agreed to have his first one-man show at the Graham Gallery in New York at the age of 87 -- only a few months before his death in 1982. Today Glankoff’s work is in numerous private and permanent museum collections such as The Detroit Institute of Arts, The Guggenheim Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.


(Derived from the Catalogue Notes for GLANKOFF, Sam Glankoff (1894-1982 A Retrospective Exhibition.
"Introduction" by Sam Hunter; Essay: "His Life and Art" by Marilyn Kushner; September 16 - November 27, 1984,
Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.)

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    • Sam Glankoff (American, 1894-1982) Monoprint on Handmade Rice Paper, 1982, "Untitled", H 25.5" W 20.5"
      Feb. 16, 2024

      Sam Glankoff (American, 1894-1982) Monoprint on Handmade Rice Paper, 1982, "Untitled", H 25.5" W 20.5"

      Est: $1,500 - $3,000

      Signed and dated lower right, from the printer's proof edition of 35, the full sheet. Frame measures H 32" x W 25.5". Provenance: The Artist; Acquired from the Wendy Snyder 88 Lexington Avenue #9E, New York, New York; Property from a Private Collection, Birmingham, Michigan.

      DuMouchelles
    • SAM GLANKOFF (American, 1894-1982). Still Life, Woodcut. Pencil signed lower right-hand corner. Framed. Not examined out of frame.
      Dec. 14, 2023

      SAM GLANKOFF (American, 1894-1982). Still Life, Woodcut. Pencil signed lower right-hand corner. Framed. Not examined out of frame.

      Est: $200 - $300

      SAM GLANKOFF (American, 1894-1982). Still Life, Woodcut. Pencil signed lower right-hand corner. Framed. Not examined out of frame. - Sight: 12.5 x 6.5 inches; Frame: 23 x 19 inches

      Sloans & Kenyon
    • Sam Glankoff (American, 1894-1982) Monoprint on Handmade Rice Paper, 1982, "Untitled", H 25.5" W 20.5"
      Nov. 17, 2023

      Sam Glankoff (American, 1894-1982) Monoprint on Handmade Rice Paper, 1982, "Untitled", H 25.5" W 20.5"

      Est: $2,000 - $4,000

      Signed and dated lower right, from the printer's proof edition of 35, the full sheet. Frame measures H 32" x W 25.5". Provenance: The Artist; Acquired from the Wendy Snyder 88 Lexington Avenue #9E, New York, New York; Property from a Private Collection, Birmingham, Michigan.

      DuMouchelles
    • SAM GLANKOFF (AMERICAN, 1894-1982).
      Jul. 20, 2023

      SAM GLANKOFF (AMERICAN, 1894-1982).

      Est: $100 - $1,000

      Still life. Linocut. Signed lower right. From a Pelham, NY estate. Dimensions: Site: 8.5" h x 6.75" w. Frame: 14.75" h x 11.75" w.

      Clarke Auction Gallery
    • Sam Glankoff (1894-1982): Untitled (Red)
      Nov. 17, 2022

      Sam Glankoff (1894-1982): Untitled (Red)

      Est: $3,000 - $5,000

      Monotype on paper, 1979, signed 'Glankoff' and dated lower right. 47 1/2 x 38 1/2 in. (sheet), 53 x 44 in. (frame).

      STAIR
    • Sam Glankoff, Untitled
      Mar. 11, 2021

      Sam Glankoff, Untitled

      Est: $5,000 - $7,000

      Sam Glankoff Untitled 1975 oil on paper 48.5 h × 38.75 w in (123 × 98 cm) Signed and dated to lower right 'SG Glankoff 75'. Provenance: Prestige Art, Ltd., New York | Acquired from the previous in 1979 by the present owner This work will ship from Rago in Lambertville, New Jersey. Condition of the item is not included in this description. Condition reports are available from Rago upon request. Rago strongly recommends that you review a condition report for each item on which you plan to bid. Email condition@ragoarts.com to request a condition report.

      Rago Arts and Auction Center
    • SAM GLANKOFF (AMERICAN, 1894-1982) #11, 1977 Casein and printers ink on rice paper: 28 x 38 5/8 in.
      Jan. 21, 2021

      SAM GLANKOFF (AMERICAN, 1894-1982) #11, 1977 Casein and printers ink on rice paper: 28 x 38 5/8 in.

      Est: $4,000 - $6,000

      SAM GLANKOFF (AMERICAN, 1894-1982) #11, 1977 Casein and printers ink on rice paper: 28 x 38 5/8 in. Framed; lower right signed and dated: Sam Glankoff 1977; verso: Graham Gallery, New York label

      Potomack Company
    • Sam Glankoff (American, 1894-1982), "#24"
      Dec. 06, 2020

      Sam Glankoff (American, 1894-1982), "#24"

      Est: $3,000 - $5,000

      Sam Glankoff (American, 1894-1982) "#24", 1977 casein and printer's ink on paper signed and dated lower right, verso with "Graham Gallery, New York, N.Y." label. Float-mounted, under plexiglass and presented in a modern giltwood frame. 39-1/2" x 29", framed 43" x 31-1/2" Provenance: Graham Gallery, New York, New York.

      New Orleans Auction Galleries
    • Sam Glankoff, Untitled
      Oct. 17, 2019

      Sam Glankoff, Untitled

      Est: $3,000 - $5,000

      Sam Glankoff Untitled 1975 monotype on paper 48 h × 37.5 w in (122 × 95 cm) Signed and dated to lower right ‘Glankoff 1975'. Provenance: Roger Ramsay Gallery, Chicago | Private Collection condition: Work shows minor undulations as framed. Edges of sheet are irregularly cut as issued by studio. Colors show well with no indications of attenuation. Excellent condition. Framed behind acrylic measuring 56 x 46 x 2 inches.

      Wright
    • Sam Glankoff, Untitled
      Oct. 17, 2019

      Sam Glankoff, Untitled

      Est: $3,000 - $5,000

      Sam Glankoff Untitled 1980 water soluble printing ink and casein on Japanese handmade paper 39 h × 48.5 w in (99 × 123 cm) Signed and dated to lower right ‘Glankoff 1980'. This work is unique. Provenance: James Graham Gallery, New York | Collection of Martina Yamin condition: Framed behind acrylic measuring 42 x 52 inches. Good condition. Not examined out of frame.

      Wright
    • SAM GLANKOFF (1894-1982): UNTITLED
      Jun. 12, 2016

      SAM GLANKOFF (1894-1982): UNTITLED

      Est: $700 - $900

      SAM GLANKOFF (1894-1982): UNTITLED Linocut in colors on hand-made paper, signed 'Glanckoff' in pencil, with full margins. 10 1/2 x 8 1/4 in. (sheet), 15 x 12 in. (frame).

      STAIR
    • SAM GLANKOFF Untitled.
      May. 12, 2015

      SAM GLANKOFF Untitled.

      Est: $2,000 - $3,000

      SAM GLANKOFF Untitled. Ink and casein on handmade Japan paper, 1972. 590x700 mm; 23 1/4x27 1/2 inches. Signed and dated twice in pencil, lower right recto. Glankoff (1894-1982) pioneered the innovative technique called "print-painting," whereby he printed multiple wood panels layered with paint to paper in the manner of a monotype.

      Swann Auction Galleries
    • GLANKOFF, SAM. 1894-1982.- 6 "Greatnik Dolls", felt, corduroy, linen and polyester, ranging from 16 1/2 to 18 inches tall, all with original tags and labels. New York, Impulse Items, 1966.
      Dec. 11, 2013

      GLANKOFF, SAM. 1894-1982.- 6 "Greatnik Dolls", felt, corduroy, linen and polyester, ranging from 16 1/2 to 18 inches tall, all with original tags and labels. New York, Impulse Items, 1966.

      Est: $1,000 - $1,500

      6 "Greatnik Dolls", felt, corduroy, linen and polyester, ranging from 16 1/2 to 18 inches tall, all with original tags and labels. New York, Impulse Items, 1966. Provenance : Clare Booth Luce (donation tags). A complete set of Greatnik dolls, comprising Einstein, Freud, Beethoven, Van Gogh, Abraham Lincoln, and Shakespeare. "Greatniks" was a sophisticated adult stuffed toy line whose name was inspired by the launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik. Glankoff, a New York based abstract expressionist artist, designed, fabricated, and manufactured over 200 stuffed toys for the New York based company, including the first stuffed Babar dolls.

      Bonhams
    • Apr. 23, 2013

      Est: -

      Sam Glankoff (1894-1982) Untitled, PP 2067 signed and dated 'Glankoff 73' (lower right) ink and casein on Japanese handmade paper 23¾ x 43 in. (60.3 x 109.2 cm.) Executed in 1973.

      Christie's
    • Apr. 23, 2013

      Est: -

      Sam Glankoff (1894-1982) Untitled, PP 4010 signed and dated 'Glankoff 1974' (lower right) ink and casein on Japanese handmade paper 38¾ x 48¼ in. (98.4 x 122.6 cm.) Executed in 1974.

      Christie's
    • SAM GLANKOFF FINE ART INK CASEIN PAPER
      Feb. 21, 2009

      SAM GLANKOFF FINE ART INK CASEIN PAPER

      Est: $400 - $600

      Sam Glankoff (American, 1894-1982) Water soluble painter's ink and casein on handmade Japanese paper. Signed lower right 'Sam Glankoff, 1976.' 41.5H x 51.25"W with frame. 38.5"H x 48.5"W without frame.

      Kamelot Auctions
    • SAM GLANKOFF
      Mar. 10, 2005

      SAM GLANKOFF

      Est: $1,000 - $1,500

      Composition. Color woodcut on Japan paper, circa 1955. 355x277 mm; 14x11 inches, full margins. Signed in pencil, lower right. A very good impression of this scarce print.

      Swann Auction Galleries
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