Mask and Wig mural brings in $662,500

Club thrilled with outcome of long awaited Maxfield Parrish auction The Mask and Wig Club auctioned off their famous "Old King Cole" mural for $662, 500 at Christie's in New York on May 23. The money is earmarked for an endowment to help alleviate financial difficulties for the club, according to 1984 College graduate Craig Klofach, president of the Mask and Wig Graduate Club. An anonymous collector from California purchased the significant work by American artist Maxfield Parrish over the phone, out-bidding several buyers on the auction floor, said Klofach. Despite some controversy surrounding Mask and Wig's decision to sell the original, most club members seem to be satisfied with the results of the auction. "It was fantastically successful," said 1982 College graduate Marc Porter, who assisted with the sale. "It went for three times the world record for a Maxfield Parish painting that existed one month ago. Previously no Parrish piece garnered more than $220,000 at an auction." Another Parrish piece, "Daybreak," was auctioned at Sotheby's on Wednesday and pulled in $4 million. It is the American artist's most famous painting. Before the two recent auctions, no major piece of Parrish art had ever been auctioned, according to Klofach. In addition to "Old King Cole," the Mask and Wig club also auctioned off three other pieces of Parrish's art. They include "Very Little Red Riding Hood," "No Gentleman of France" and the club's "Decennial Anniversary Cover." All three works raised the total amount of money to $725,000, which Porter feels is an extraordinary figure. "None of these paintings were commercial," Porter explained. "They are extremely early and much bigger than most consumers desire. It is great that it sold so successfully." The Mask and Wig Club plans to use the interest from the newly earned money to keep up the maintenance and insurance on its South Quince Street clubhouse and the cost of putting on the club's annual shows, said Porter. Klofach said the interest will help the Club out of its "dire position." "We now have to sit around and figure out what is best for Mask and Wig," said the Mask and Wig Undergraduate Chairperson and College senior Jeff Rosenbaum. "All we have to do now is add two and two together." Rosenbaum added that next year should be a great one for the Club. He said there is no reason why they would not excel. "The University might never see the mural again," Klofach said. "But it is worth it to keep the club running. Our purpose is to put on an annual production, not to be in an art museum."

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