Loading Spinner
Don’t miss out on items like this!

Sign up to get notified when similar items are available.

Lot 192: John Skolle, (German American, 1903-1988), Geometric Abstraction, 1945, oil on masonite, 16" x 24". STEEL Frame, 20 1/4" x 26 1/2".

Est: $1,500 USD - $2,500 USDSold:
Ripley AuctionsIndianapolis, IN, USJanuary 16, 2021

Item Overview

Description

John Skolle
(German American, 1903-1988)
Geometric Abstraction, 1945
oil on masonite
signed lower left. Biography from Fred R. Kline & Co JOHN SKOLLE (a sketch by his son Philip Skolle; edited by Fred R. Kline) John (Hanns) Skolle—artist, explorer, teacher, writer—was born in 1903 in Plauen, Germany. He was brought up in a circus in Czech Bohemia and the Sudeten region (his father created a school for acrobats in Prague and eventually became a teacher, a painter and a writer). He studied at the KunstAkademie in Leipzig. When he was barely 20, an uncle unexpectedly appeared in his life and played his destiny by tossing a coin in the air. Heads: New York; tails: Brazil. In May 1923 they arrived in New York. His uncle gave him 120 dollars and a piece of advice: "Now, get a job". In Brooklyn and Manhattan, where he lived, he studied at the Art Students League, and soon made friends, among them: the poet Hart Crane, the screenwriter Ben Hecht, the photographer Walker Evans with whom he shared an apartment and who became one of his closest friends. He married a French bourgeoise, Elisabeth (Lil) and became the father of a daughter, Anita, in 1927. But the couple parted and John started traveling in Europe and North Africa. In Paris, Amsterdam and on the French Riviera he worked for fashion houses, publishers and magazines and met Picabia, Giacometti, Pascin, Noguchi, Van Dongen, Hilaire Hiler, Picasso and the film-score composer Georges Antheil. Back in the U.S. in 1939, he moved west and worked on ranches in charge of horses before becoming an art teacher. In the West, he had encounters with the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In the 1950s, he went back to the Sahara and crossed part of it with a caravan of Tuareg tribesmen. The account of his trek - Azalaï - was published in 1956, in the U.S., Great Britain and Japan. The book is still available half a century later. In Africa, John Skolle befriended the Hollywood actor Peter Lawford (who was Marilyn Monroe's friend, President Kennedy's brother-in-law and member of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack). They remained good friends after sharing adventures together. In the 60s and 70s, John Skolle mostly traveled to Africa and Central America, where he found inspiration both in art and ethnography. He eventually became Associate Director of the Department of Art at the University of New Mexico. He published a monography on the Seri Indians of Sonora, Mexico and wrote his autobiography in the 1980s -Biography of a Double. John Skolle's paintings were exhibited and collected by many American museums, including: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe, Denver Art Museum, Jonson Gallery at UNM in Albuquerque, Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, Museum of Modern Art in New York, National Gallery in Washington, the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, Santa Barbara Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Princeton University Art Gallery, and at the Bonestell Gallery in New York; and many private collections throughout the world. He was awarded a number of prizes in New Mexico and California for his artistic achievements. The Skolle family archives related to Walker Evans are kept at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and at Yale University, and include paintings and photographs of-and-by John Skolle and Walker Evans, and correspondence between Evans and John or Lil Skolle. Many portraits of Skolle (and his wife and child) made by Walker Evans appear in recent publications along with the detailed account of the whole relationship between Skolle and Evans in New York and Connecticut between 1926 and 1934. Walker Evan's biographers note that Skolle exerted a strong encouraging influence on Evans during depressive periods in the photographer's life and inspired the photographer to develop his talent. Among the many anecdotes that colored Skolle's life, he liked to recount once sleeping with a rattlesnake in his tent and being attacked by sea-eagles in the Sonora Desert of Mexico; and barely surviving a dinner during the Mau Mau uprising in South Africa that served him ground glass and poisonous insects. He died of old age on Christmas Day 1988. He was 86.
16" x 24". STEEL Frame, 20 1/4" x 26 1/2".

Dimensions

16" x 24". STEEL Frame, 20 1/4" x 26 1/2".

Artist or Maker

Medium

oil on masonite

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Professional in house shipping services are available for items. Shipping costs will include packaging, handling, and insurance. Shipping costs are in addition to the auction purchase amount. A low bid purchase price does not mean shipping costs will be any less. The minimum cost for shipping is $20.00 for the total order. If you are not prepared to pay for our shipping, do not bid. Some items may require a third-party shipper. Please let the office know if you would like to pick up your winning bid or arrange your own shipping.

Successful bidders will receive a final invoice within 3-4 business days after the auction giving you payment and shipping details, if applicable, pertaining to the item(s) you have purchased. After payment is made your purchase will be shipped and tracking will be sent by email. Tracking information will need to be obtained by third party shipper for larger items purchased. It is the buyers responsibility to confirm shipping & billing address provided on invoices.

Auction Details

Art & Antiques Featuring The Raymond Leppard Estate

by
Ripley Auctions
January 16, 2021, 11:00 AM EST

2764 E 55th Pl, Indianapolis, IN, 46220, US

Terms

Buyer's Premium

25.0%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$0$99$10
$100$199$20
$200$499$25
$500$999$50
$1,000$2,999$100
$3,000$4,999$200
$5,000$9,999$500
$10,000$29,999$1,000
$30,000+$2,500

Terms and Conditions

The offering and sale of property by Ripley Auctions is subject to the following conditions of sale, as modified or supplemented by other written provisions and/or in announcements made by the auctioneer, prior to or at the time of the sale.
BUYER'S PREMIUM: Live Internet bidder's will pay a 25% buyer's premium.
PAYMENT: Payments are accepted by Cash, Check, Money Order, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX, Bank Wire Transfer. CC payments of more than $5k may require advance approval. The full purchase price plus all applicable taxes and fees is expected before removal or shipping of any of the items. Guaranteed payment may be required for removal of goods for new or out-of-town bidders.

All property shall be paid for and removal arranged by the purchaser at his/her expense within ten (10) days of sale and, if not so removed, may be sold by the Company, or sent by the Company to a public warehouse, at the sole risk and charge of the purchaser(s), and the Company may prohibit the purchaser from participating, directly or indirectly, as a bidder or purchaser in any future sale or sales. The Company will not be responsible for any loss, damage, theft, or otherwise responsible for any goods left in the Company's possession after ten (10) days. If the foregoing conditions or any applicable provisions of law are not complied with, in addition to other remedies available to the Company and the Consignor (including without limitation the right to hold the purchaser(s) liable for the bid price) the Company, at its option, may either cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages all payments made by the purchaser(s), or resell the property. In such event, the purchaser(s) shall remain liable for any deficiency in the original purchase price and will also be responsible for all costs, including warehousing, the expense of the ultimate sale, and the Company's commission at its regular rates together with all related and incidental charges, including legal fees.
INVALUABLE LIVE BIDDING: Please register to bid well in advance of the start time. Click HERE.
ABSENTEE and PHONE BIDDING: By bidding or buying at an auction, whether in person, through a representative, by written bid, online bid, telephone bid or other absentee bid, all bidders and purchasers agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions of Sale. You are obligated to know what you are bidding on prior to submitting any bids. If you have any questions regarding condition, attribution, dimension, etc… please ask for assistance prior to bidding.
GUARANTEE: Most items in our auction are estate consigned. All items should be considered "as-is". We make every effort to accurately describe each lot using complete descriptions and detailed photographs. You must email or call us with any questions prior to bidding. Any concerns regarding lots not being as described, must be brought to our attention within 48 hours of your receipt of the item. All sizes, weights and ages of lots are approximate. We encourage you to visit and inspect all lots during preview and/or carefully examine all additional images provided with the online catalog and ask for more information, when needed. It is your responsibility to know what you are bidding on prior to placing any bids. Please note that any lot listed with "attributed" or "style" cannot be guaranteed to be the work of the noted artist or period.

SHIPPING: Successful bidders will receive a final invoice within 72 hours (3 business days) after the auction giving you payment and shipping details, if applicable, pertaining to the item(s) you have purchased. After payment is made your purchase will be shipped, and tracking will be sent by email. Tracking information will need to be obtained by third party shipper for larger items purchased. The minimum shipping cost is $20.00 for the total order.

COINS AND RESTRICTED ITEMS: Some items are considered restricted commodities by Fedex and UPS which includes but is not limited to Coins, Currency and Bullion and cannot be insured by these carriers. If the buyer requests one of these carriers then the insurance liability falls upon the buyer. Coins and Currency can be shipped by USPS and can be insured. Ripley Auctions is only responsible for items while in our possession and we will not be responsible for an item after a carrier or third party shipper picks up the item(s). In the unlikely event of a lost or damaged item, it is the sole responsibility of the buyer to contact the carrier and have the insurance claim filed.

REMOVAL: Removal shall be at the expense, liability, and risk of the purchaser. Ripley Auctions shall not be responsible for items not removed within 10 days of the auction. Lots not paid for and/or removed within the time specified may be resold at public or private sale without further notice.
COMPLIANCE WITH TERMS OF SALE: The contract of sale may be considered, "in default", if payments are not received within 10 days of winning bidder's receipt of invoice. Legal action may be pursued against buyers in default on payment. All monies received as deposit or otherwise, will be retained for damages, when applicable.
ADDITION TO OR WITHDRAWAL FROM SALE: Ripley Auctions reserves the right to withdraw from sale any item listed.
DISPUTES BETWEEN BIDDERS: The decision of the auctioneer shall be final and absolute.
PERSONAL PROPERTY AND RISK: After an item is declared "Sold" it becomes the sole responsibility of the successful bidder. Neither Ripley Auctions nor staff shall be liable by reason of any defect in or condition of the premises on which the sale is held.
AGENT FOR SALE OF PROPERTY: Unless otherwise stated, Ripley Auctions is acting only as an agent for the consignor of property offered for sale, at auction or otherwise. The consignor may either be the seller of the Property or an agent for the seller. Ripley Auctions is acting as agent only and is not responsible for acts of its principals.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Ripley Auctions accepts no liability for any failure of the Internet, whether in respect of end-to-end connectivity or any failure by any email to reach its destination within the expected time or at all. The maximum amount of Ripley Auctions liability to the Buyer for breach of our obligations, for negligence or otherwise (to the fullest extent that it is possible to limit such liability at law), shall be the successful Bid Price of an Item provided that the transaction has completed. If there has been no completion, Ripley Auctions accepts no liability to the buyer, to the fullest extent permissible.

Credit Card Payments

You must provide a verified credit card for bidder registration. Your card will NOT be automatically charged after the auction. You may authorize the credit card of your choice after you have received your invoice. Please call with questions prior to bidding. 317-251-5635

Payment Information

Payments are accepted by Cash, Check, Money Order, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX and Bank Wire Transfer. CC payments of more than $5k may require advance approval. The full purchase price plus all applicable taxes and fees is expected before removal or shipping of any of the items.

Shipping Information

Professional in house shipping services are available for items. Shipping costs will include packaging, handling, and insurance. Shipping costs are in addition to the auction purchase amount. A low bid purchase price does not mean shipping costs will be any less. The minimum cost for shipping is $20.00 for the total order. If you are not prepared to pay for our shipping, do not bid. Some items may require a third-party shipper. Please let the office know if you would like to pick up your winning bid or arrange your own shipping.

Successful bidders will receive a final invoice within 3-4 business days after the auction giving you payment and shipping details, if applicable, pertaining to the item(s) you have purchased. After payment is made your purchase will be shipped and tracking will be sent by email. Tracking information will need to be obtained by third party shipper for larger items purchased. It is the buyers responsibility to confirm shipping & billing address provided on invoices.

Buyer's Premium

A buyer's premium of 25% will be added to all lots.

Condition Statement

Most items in our auction are estate consigned. All items should be considered "as-is". We make every effort to accurately describe each lot using complete descriptions and detailed photographs. You may email or call us with any questions prior to bidding. All sizes, weights and ages of lots are approximate. We encourage you to visit and inspect all lots during preview and/or carefully examine all additional images provided with the online catalog and ask for more information, when needed. It is your responsibility to know what you are bidding on prior to placing any bids. Please note that any lot listed with "attributed" or "style" cannot be guaranteed to be the work of the noted artist or period. All sales are final.

Indiana Sales Tax

Indiana residents pay 7% sales tax on all purchases unless you have a retail sales certificate issued by the State of Indiana. We need the number on file at the time of payment to exempt you from sales tax. Items picked up from our gallery may be subject to IN sales tax. Any questions please contact us.