William G. Yorke Sold at Auction Prices

WILLIAM GAY YORKE (New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888), Schooner yacht Dauntless leading Cambria., Oil on canvas, 31.5" x 42.5". Framed 36.25" x 47.25".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 Schooner yacht Dauntless leading Cambria. Signed and dated lower left "Wm G. Yorke 1877".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE (New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888), The American ship Caravan assisting the ship Casilda. Circa 1866., Oil on canvas, 26" x 42". Framed 34" x 50.5".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 The American ship Caravan assisting the ship Casilda. Circa 1866.

WILLIAM GAY AND MARY E. YORKE (New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 and c. 1854-1893), The steam/sail yacht Sultana of the New York Yacht Club, circa 1889., Oil on canvas, 24" x 36". Framed 29.5" x 49.5".

WILLIAM GAY AND MARY E. YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 and c. 1854-1893 The steam/sail yacht Sultana of the New York Yacht Club, circa 1889. Signed lower left "Wm. G. Yorke".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE (New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888), Sarah Neumann inbound off the Skerries., Oil on canvas, 24" x 36". Framed.

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 Sarah Neumann inbound off the Skerries. Signed and dated lower left "W. Yorke 1870 L'Pool". Housed in its Liverpool frame with arched moldings at the top.

WILLIAM GAY YORKE (New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888), Dauntless and Mohawk racing, October 26, 1875., Oil on canvas, 25.75" x 36". Framed.

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 Dauntless and Mohawk racing, October 26, 1875.

WILLIAM GAY AND MARY E. YORKE (New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 and c. 1854-1893), Race Day, America's Cup 1885., Oil on canvas, 22" x 30". Framed 29.5" x 37.5".

WILLIAM GAY AND MARY E. YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 and c. 1854-1893 Race Day, America's Cup 1885. Signed lower left "W.G. Yorke".

WILLIAM GAY AND MARY E. YORKE, New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 and c. 1854-1893, Clipper ship Dreadnought., Oil on canvas, 24"...

WILLIAM GAY AND MARY E. YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 and c. 1854-1893 Clipper ship Dreadnought. Indistinctly signed and dated lower left "M.E. W.G. [?] Yorke, 1897". Provenance: Vallejo Gallery, Newport Beach, California, 2003. The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts. This painting is a copy of an 1853 Currier & Ives print by noted marine lithographer Charles Parsons, after Duncan McFarlane's "Dreadnought Off Tuskar Light". A copy of this lithograph is offered in this auction as Lot #363. The painting style is in keeping with other works attributed to William G. Yorke's young wife and assistant, Mary. The original signature on this work is a variation of "W.G. Yorke" that can be read as "M.E. York(e)". This signature is recognized by several experts, including Sam Davidson, and is considered the collaborative work of William G. and Mary. A number of paintings attributed to Mary Yorke in the Kelton Collection are based on printed illustrations, leading to the conclusion that after William G. Yorke was blinded by an accident in 1882, she created paintings based on known prints. Dreadnought was built for the Red Line's Atlantic packet service and became one of the most famous ships of her age. In her nine years on this run she made 31 voyages between New York and Liverpool, and she still holds the transatlantic merchant sailing record from Sandy Hook to Queenstown. Much of Dreadnought's fame derives from a remarkable passage in 1863 when she lost her rudder in a gale. After two jury-rigged rudders were also lost, Captain Samuels ordered his second officer to sail the clipper stern first to Fayal in the Azores, some 350 miles away. Sailing backwards, the ship covered 183 miles in two days before the seas calmed and a third jury-rigged rudder was hung successfully. In 1864 Dreadnought left the Atlantic run and made her first voyage to San Francisco. She completed three voyages in the Cape Horn trade, calling at Honolulu and Callao on the return passages. On her fourth voyage to San Francisco in 1869, she went aground at Cape Penas on the northeast coast of Terra del Fuego. Although the crew survived, Dreadnought broke up on the rocks and was lost. Oil on canvas, 24" x 30". Framed 33.75" x 40".

WILLIAM GAY AND MARY E. YORKE, New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 and c. 1854-1893, Schooner George Bailey off Sandy Hook., Oil o...

WILLIAM GAY AND MARY E. YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 and c. 1854-1893 Schooner George Bailey off Sandy Hook. Signed lower left "W.G. Yorke". Painted circa 1890. Provenance: Vallejo Gallery, Newport Beach, California, 2003. The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts. Built at Bath, Maine, George Bailey 's home port was Manasquan, New Jersey. In this painting the ship owner and master Captain Asher Curtis's private signal is flown at the mizzen peak. A smaller pennant with the schooner's initials "G.B." is at the main and name pennant is flown from the spanker topmast. In the days before interstate highways, coastal schooners such as George Bailey were the primary mode of transportation and commerce between cities along the American Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts. Thousands of them were built, more than all other rigs combined. Oil on canvas, 24.25" x 36.25". Framed 31.25" x 43.25".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE, New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888, Ship Pochahontas off the Skerries, circa 1859., Oil on canvas, 26" x 36.25...

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 Ship Pochahontas off the Skerries, circa 1859. Signed and dated lower right "Wm. Yorke L'Pool 1859". Provenance: By descent to Richard Brown Baker, Rhode Island. Northeast Auctions, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Hyland Granby Antiques, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, 2002. The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts. The downeaster Pocahontas is shown inbound to Liverpool off Skerries Reef and Lighthouse, with Carmel Head visible to the extreme left of the composition. She is flying a five-flag Marrayat Code hoist on her mizzen, reading 1st dp, 9, 6, 7, 4, the correct Marrayat signal for Pocahontas . She is listed in Fairburn's Merchant Ships as a "well modeled, fast ship economical in operation. Although not a true clipper ship, she was so fast that she was often branded as one. She was a true downeaster though, a sturdy commodious carrier". Oil on canvas, 26" x 36.25". Framed 30.5" x 40.75".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE, New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888, Ship Bolton off Point Lynas., Oil on canvas, 26.5" x 36.5". Framed 34.25"...

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 Ship Bolton off Point Lynas. Signed and dated lower right "Wm. Yorke, L'Pool 1859". Provenance: Captain William M. Cotter (1820-1859), thence by descent. Northeast Auctions, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Hyland Granby Antiques, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, 2002. The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts. Mounted in its original Liverpool frame, this work shows the Bolton off Point Lynas on the approach to Liverpool. The castellated light tower on the northeast promontory of Anglesey, with Parys Mountain behind, is visible under Bolton 's bowsprit. Records show that Bolton , under the command of Captain William Cotter, arrived at Liverpool from New Orleans, most likely with a cargo of cotton, on February 19, 1859. This would coincide with the date of March 1859 inscribed by the artist at lower right. Bolton was the last of 25 vessels built under the direction of Levi Houghton, founder of Houghton & Sons Shipyard. The ship was named for Houghton's birthplace of Bolton, Massachusetts. Oil on canvas, 26.5" x 36.5". Framed 34.25" x 43.75".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE, New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888, New York Pilot Boat No. 10 Widgeon off Sandy Hook., Oil on canvas, 24" x 3...

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 New York Pilot Boat No. 10 Widgeon off Sandy Hook. Signed and dated lower left "W. York 1872". Provenance: Port & Starboard Gallery, Falmouth, Maine. Hyland Granby Antiques, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, 2000. The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts. The 1872 date seen here is the earliest year known for an American painting by William G. Yorke. Another painting, of the Danish ship Signe , is dated the same year and helps establish 1872 as the year William Gay Yorke came to America. The schooner Widgeon was originally built as a yacht for owner Franklin Osgood of the New York Yacht Club and was one of the fleet of defenders competing in the first defense of the America's Cup on August 8, 1870, although she did not finish (see Lawson's History of the America's Cup p. 53). This painting shows the vessel shortly after commencement of her career as Pilot Boat #10 of the New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Association. A swallowtail pennant flies from the main truck and an American ensign with a canton of circular stars is worn at the main gaff peak. Widgeon is shown off Sandy Hook, New Jersey, the southern entrance to New York Harbor. The high ground behind the sand spit is the Atlantic Highlands. This was the first landfall for vessels making for New York from the Atlantic. Oil on canvas, 24" x 34.25". Framed 33" x 43".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE, New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888, Cutter yacht Melvina racing., Oil on canvas, 20.75" x 27.25". Framed 24" x...

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 Cutter yacht Melvina racing. Signed and dated lower left "Wm. G. Yorke June 187[3]". Provenance: Skinner, Inc., Boston, February 2003. Acquired from the above at that sale by Richard Kelton. Reminiscent in style to J.E. Buttersworth, this strong painting of the cutter yacht Melvina was executed well before Yorke's 1882 accident. The signature is in a straight line with the date "June 187[3]", suggesting the work to be pure William Gay Yorke. From the Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts. Oil on canvas, 20.75" x 27.25". Framed 24" x 30.75".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE, New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888, Schooner yacht Dauntless leading Cambria., Oil on canvas, 31.5" x 42.5". F...

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 Schooner yacht Dauntless leading Cambria. Signed and dated lower left "Wm G. Yorke 1877". Provenance: William Hood Galleries, Delrey Beach, Florida. Purchased from the above by Richard Kelton, April 1998. The schooner Cambria was owned by Lord Ashbury, and after Cambria 's success in the Isle of Wight race against the champion American schooner Sappho Ashbury decided to challenge for the America's Cup. He subsequently exchanged letters with Gordon Bennett, sportsman and owner of the New York Herald , challenging him to a transatlantic race prior to competing for the Cup on behalf of the Royal Thames Yacht Club. In July 1870, Ashbury raced Cambria across the Atlantic from Ireland to New York against Bennett's yacht Dauntless . Cambria won the race by arriving first off Sandy Hook Lightship in 23 days, 5 hours and 17 minutes, which was 1 hour, 43 minutes ahead of Dauntless . From the Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts. Oil on canvas, 31.5" x 42.5". Framed 36.25" x 47.25".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE, New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888, New York Yacht Club schooner Columbia off Governor's Island, circa 1889.,...

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 New York Yacht Club schooner Columbia off Governor's Island, circa 1889. Provenance: A private collection. N.R. Omell Gallery, London. Purchased from the above by Richard Kelton, August 2001. This painting is a companion portrait to the N.Y.Y.C. yacht Sultana , Lot #278 in this sale. Both were likely painted around 1889, and they were featured together in the 1976 Omell catalog. This painting depicts the 1871 America's Cup defender Columbia close hauled on a starboard tack, sailing past Governor's Island in the upper New York Bay. From the Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts. Oil on canvas, 24" x 34". Framed 31.5" x 41.5".

WILLIAM GAY YORKE, New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888, Medium clipper Mary inbound off the Skerries, England., Oil on canvas, 26"...

WILLIAM GAY YORKE New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888 Medium clipper Mary inbound off the Skerries, England. Signed, dated and inscribed lower right "Wm. Yorke, L'pool Dec...1859". Provenance: John McInnis Auctioneers, Amesbury, Massachusetts. Acquired from the above by Richard Kelton, October 2003. Mary was one of only three clipper ships built at Marblehead. She was named for her owner's daughter, Mary Kimball. When launched on December 6, 1854, she was fully rigged and ballasted as she slid down the ways. Her maiden voyage, from Boston to Le Havre, France via New Orleans, commenced a month later, on January 8, 1855, under Captain William Churchill. Between 1855 and 1858 her primary route was Boston - New York - San Francisco - Calcutta. In 1857, under Captain John Bridgeo, Mary made her fastest passage between Boston and San Francisco, of 109 days, and from there to Calcutta in 83 days. Capt. John Bridgeo had been at sea, primarily in the fishing industry, since the age of 13. In 1858, while under his command, Mary struck a reef in the Bahamas. The local wreckers came out to salvage the ship, but Captain Bridgeo and his crew succeeded in getting her off, much against the wreckers' opposition and attempts at bribery. He brought the ship safely into New Orleans, where he received a handsome reward from the vessel's underwriters. Between 1858 and 1862, Mary was back on the transatlantic run, still under Captain Bridgeo. In 1865, she made her final voyage between Boston and San Francisco before being converted into a bulk carrier. In 1867, she was condemned at Callao, Peru, and sold to British interests, who continued to operate her as a bulk carrier until she was abandoned at sea on a voyage from Callao to Cork, Ireland, on December 11, 1869, due to heavy flooding. From the Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts. Oil on canvas, 26" x 36". Framed 34" x 44".

WILLIAM G. YORKE, New York/England/Canada, 1817-1892, Capture of the frigate U.S.S. President, January 15, 1815., Oil on canvas, 28"...

WILLIAM G. YORKE New York/England/Canada, 1817-1892 Capture of the frigate U.S.S. President, January 15, 1815. Signed lower right "W.G. Yorke". Literature: Ships of the World by Lincoln P. Paine (Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, 1997), pp. 403-4. "Capture of the U.S.S. President - Battle report to the Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Crowninshield" by Stephen Decatur, online at www.cronab.demon.co.uk. Provenance: Skinner Auctions, Boston, June 2006. Acquired from the above at that sale. The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts. This work depicts the chase and eventual capture of the American 44-gun frigate U.S.S. President by the British Naval vessels H.M.S. Endymion, Majestic and Pomone on January 15, 1815. The U.S.S. President was one of the U.S. Navy's original six frigates. In January 1815, under the command of Stephen Decatur, President slipped the blockade that had held her in New York Harbor for nearly a year. The Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812, had already been signed, but word had not yet reached New York. During its escape, the President grounded on a sandbar for several hours during the night, damaging her keel and badly straining her hull. Working her way off the bar the following morning, the frigate soon encountered a British squadron led by the 50-gun Endymion, which immediately gave chase. The following account is from Decatur's after-action report to Crowninshield, Secretary of the U.S. Navy: "The Endymion, mounting 50 guns, had now approached us within gun shot, and had commenced a firer with her bow guns, which we returned from our stern." Decatur, realizing he could not outrun the British in his damaged condition, turned for a broadside action and had actually gained the advantage over Endymion until Majestic and Pomone arrived. After a fierce battle where he lost nearly half his crew, Decatur was forced to strike his flag. President was seized as a war prize and taken to England, too badly damaged for further work. She was broken up at Portsmouth in 1817, but not before her lines were taken off by the Admiralty, which were used for a new British warship of the same name. Oil on canvas, 28" x 22". Framed 35.5" x 29.5".

William G. (and Mary) Yorke, (1817-1892 New York, NY), "Pocahontas off a Lee Shore," circa 1880s, Oil on canvas laid to canvas under Pl

Signed and indistinctly dated lower left: W.G. Yorke / 188?

WILLIAM GAY YORKE, (BRITISH/CANADIAN 1817-CIRCA 1888), THE AMERICAN BARQUE SEA FLOWER BOUND FOR LIVERPOOL, SIGNALING FOR A PILOT OFF...

WILLIAM GAY YORKE (british/canadian 1817-circa 1888) THE AMERICAN BARQUE SEA FLOWER BOUND FOR LIVERPOOL, SIGNALING FOR A PILOT OFF THE SKERRIES Signed, located and dated 'Wm York L.pool March 1860' bottom right, oil on canvas 27 1/4 x 36 1/2 in. (69.2 x 92.7cm) provenance: Private Collection, United Kingdom.

WILLIAM G. YORKE (US/UK, 1817-1892) - Gaff Rigged Sloop "Julia G.", 19th c, oil on canvas, in the original water gilt cove molded frame, OS: 29" x 34", SS: 21 1/4" x 26 1/4". Cleaned and relined, retouched, repaired L...

WILLIAM G. YORKE (US/UK, 1817-1892) - Gaff Rigged Sloop "Julia G.", 19th c, oil on canvas, in the original water gilt cove molded frame, OS: 29" x 34", SS: 21 1/4" x 26 1/4". Cleaned and relined, retouched, repaired L-shaped tear in the sails.

WILLIAM GAY YORKE (ANGLO/ AMERICAN 1817-C.1888). THE AMERICAN SHIP "SEA FLOWER" SIGNALING FOR A PILOT.

Depicted bound for Liverpool and off the Skerries, the pilot schooner No. 11 approaching the Sea Flower's bow. Oil on canvas, 27 1/4 x 36 1/2 inches. Signed "Wm. York L'pool" and dated March 1860, l.r.

Eliza Mallory Painting

Mid 19th C. unsigned, oil on canvas scene of the American ship Eliza Mallory under full sail. Attributed to William G. Yorke (American 1817-1892). The Eliza Mallory was built at Mystic in 1851-52 for the Hurlburt line of New York, wrecked in Florida in 1859. The rear of the painting has a mark on the stretcher indicating "built by Chas. Mallory Mystic Conn. 1852." Original, un-restored condition. 24"x35".

William Gay Yorke (1817- c. 1888) , The Atlantic Cup Race oil on canvas

oil on canvas

WILLIAM GAY YORKE (BRITISH 1817-C.1888). THE

WILLIAM GAY YORKE (BRITISH 1817-C.1888). THE SANDBAGGER "ORIENT" OFF OWL'S HEAD, BROOKLYN, CIRCA 1885. Owl's Head was a Brooklyn promintory often used as the start or finish point for races in New York harbor, depending on which way the wind was blowing. Fort Lafayette and Fort Hamilton are in the background. Oil on canvas, 20 x 26 1/4 inches.

WILLIAM G. YORKE 1817-CIRCA 1888

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF CLAIRE AND HUGH VANDERBILT, SR. THE GEM signed and dated Wm. G. Yorke, 1879, l.l. Relined originally. Appears to retain its original stretchers. oil on canvas

WILLIAM G. YORKE (ANGLO/AMERICAN 1817-C.1892). AMERICAN ONE-MASTED SLOOP JULIA G. Signed l.l., oil on canvas. 22 x 26 inches.

WILLIAM G. YORKE (ANGLO/AMERICAN 1817-C.1892). A MERCHANT SHIP IN A TIGHT FIX. Signed l.l., oil on canvas. 19 x 24 inches.