Page 216 - Bonhams Chinese Paintings June 2015

7383

Fernando Amorsolo Property from the Collection of
Harold M. Bixby (1890-1965)
7383
FERNANDO AMORSOLO Y CUETO (1892-1972) 7384
Tagatay Fernando Amorsolo Y Cueto (1892-1972)
Oil on canvas, framed, at the lower left signed F. Amorsolo, titled Lavandera, 1958
TAGATAY and dated 1932. Oil on canvas, framed, signed at the lower right F. Amorsolo and
11 1/4 x 19in (28.5 x 48.3cm) sight dated 1958.
$20,000 - 30,000 17 5/8 x 13 5/8in (44.8 x 34.7cm) sight
$15,000 - 25,000
Provenance
purchased from the Estate of Max Nixon, Professor of Art, University Provenance
of Oregon collection of Harold M. Bixby (1890-1965), thereafter by descent
acquired from J. Assenheim & Son, New York

Harold M. Bixby was an aviation pioneer. After helping Charles
Lindbergh to finance an aircraft capable of making the first crossing of
the Atlantic, Bixby coined the name “Spirit of St. Louis” for this plane.
Bixby went on to work for Pan American Airways (Pan Am) from 1933
until 1955, working closely with the China National Air Corporation,
a subsidiary of Pan Am, to negotiate passenger and airmail routes in
China, and ultimately bring the “China Clipper” service to the Orient.
Bixby first went to Manila on August 14, 1933 on the first survey flight
(Shanghai to Hong Kong, and Hong Kong to Manila, 17 hours flying
time) with China National Air Corporation. His involvement with Manila
spanned the years 1933 through 1938. The Bixby family ultimately
established a residence in Baguio in August 1937 (when the family
was forced to flee Shanghai by the Japanese invasion) and returned
to the United States in the spring of 1938. Bixby became familiar with
Amorsolo’s work during his sojourn in Manila.

Bixby purchased the current lot from J. Assenheim & Son Gallery in
New York City in the 1950’s, near the end of his career with Pan Am.

END OF SALE

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