Carl Sprinchorn’s The Pink Tree sold for $11,875 at Swann Auction Galleries American Art sale on Sept. 19, 2024, in New York City. Sprinchorn moved to the United States from Sweden as a teenager to pursue his art career. He studied at the New York School of Art under Robert Henri, the well-known portrait and figure painter.
Sprinchorn eventually settled in the Maine woods, where he found inspiration for much of his work—lumberjacks, campfires and surrounding nature were all frequent subjects. Despite the glitz and glamour that New York City had to offer, Sprinchorn was drawn to Maine because of its climate and landscape—both similar to those of his native Sweden.
Following Sprinchorn’s death, it took 20 years to settle his estate, and his work was out of circulation until 1994. However, following probate, his niece consigned 60 pieces of his art to the Tom Veilleux Gallery in Farmington, Maine, and quickly sold most of them. It’s not unheard of for lesser-known artists to go on and gain popularity years post-death; Sprinchorn is one such example, with his works popping up at auctions over the years (The Pink Tree sold on the higher end of its estimate).
One of our authors this month knows a thing or two about a prolonged probate process. In her article, “Mastering the Transfer Certificate,” p. 36, Ada K. Colomb discusses the Internal Revenue Service Form 5173 Transfer Certificate, how most people first learn of it only when a custodian asks them to produce it to release the inheritance to beneficiaries and the frustration and delays it can cause.
