An 18th Century Wood Carved Relief of the Goddess Minerva well exceeded estimates at Cowan’s auction over the weekend. Estimated at $300-500, bidders for the carving blew the price past that, finally arriving at $58,750. This finely carved relief depicts Minerva standing on a plinth, surrounded by foliage, all housed in a glass frame with the inscription J. Bozanico sculpteur die Roi/ex Turin on verso.

Also at Cowan’s, a pair of 19th Century Portraits Attributed to Gilbert Stuart sold for nearly 10 times it’s original estimate of $1,000-2,000, and realized $10,575. The two portraits depict Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Schermerhorn.

A New York sea captain, Mr. Schermerhorn became a successful merchant in the newly independent United States. Born in 1756 in the colonies, he died in 1826, likely not long after this portrait was painted.