Wells College Inventory Released by Auction Houses
Multiple auction houses have formally listed property belonging to Wells College as part of the institution’s court-supervised wind-down process.
Court filings submitted in Cayuga County authorize agreements with Christie’s, Stair Galleries, and Bostwick Auctions to market and sell artwork, rare books, antiquities, and other personal property formerly held by the college. While not all appraised items have sold, the inventory referenced in the filings has been listed for sale.
The Christie’s catalog includes historically significant works spanning several centuries. Among the items identified in the court exhibits are a first edition of Isaac Newton’s Opticks (1704), a 15th-century illuminated Book of Hours, works on paper by Pablo Picasso and Auguste Rodin, and American art including a watercolor by Charles Ephraim Burchfield. The listings also feature Asian works of art, including a Japanese seated monk figure dating to the Muromachi–Early Edo period.
Stair Galleries’ inventory reflects a broad range of European and American artists, including Rembrandt van Rijn, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and Paul Klee. The catalog also contains prints, etchings, bronzes, marble busts, and additional works from the college’s collection.
Additional property has been consigned through Bostwick Auctions and related estate sale firms, encompassing paintings, decorative arts, and other institutional holdings.
Court-referenced appraisals place the total estimated value of the fine arts, rare books, antiquities, and related property at roughly $1.5 million. These figures represent pre-sale appraisals and do not reflect final realized prices.
The release of these inventories marks a significant phase in the liquidation of Wells College assets following the institution’s closure in 2024. Further developments will depend on auction results and continued court oversight.
To view the complete court-filed exhibits and auction agreements referenced in this article, please see the documents provided below.
Court-Filed Exhibits
Exhibit 5 – Endowment IOU
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Exhibit 7 – Auction Firm Agreements
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Exhibit 9 – Appraisals
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Exhibit 10 – Christie’s Personal Property List
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Exhibit 11 – Grace / Bostwick Personal Property List
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Exhibit 12 – Stair Galleries Personal Property List
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