At The Auction with Vyna
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Living with Art: Christie’s Private Sale
Our Selections from Christie’s upcoming evening sale in London, Kings StreetThursday, February 9, 2012
Left: Fernand Léger (1881-1955) Femme au vase, signed with the initials and dated ‘FL 25’ (lower right) gouache, watercolour and pencil on paper, 12 3/8 x 9½ in. (31.3 x 24 cm.) Executed in 1925Bottom: Alexander Calder (1898-1976), Two Legs and a Belly. Signed with the artist’s initials ‘CA’ (on the top of the brass element) standing mobile: painted sheet metal, brass and wire, 16 x 17 x 6 in. (40.6 x 40.8 x 14.4 cm.), Executed circa 1959
Gabriel Orozco (b. 1962), Samurai Tree Invariant 4. Signed, titled and dated ‘SAMURAI TREE INVARIANT 4 GABRIEL OROZCO 2005’ (on the reverse); signed ‘GABRIEL OROZCO’ (on a paper label affixed to the stretcher) acrylic on canvas, 47 3/8 x 47 3/8 in. (120.3 x 120.3 cm.), Painted in 2005
Left: BAMANA FIGURE, JONYELENI. Mali, Wood. 21 in. (53 cm.) high. Right: Julio González (1876-1942). Homme étrange, signed with the initials and dated ‘j.G.1937’ (lower left), watercolour and pen and India ink on paper, 12 5/8 x 9½ in. (32 x 24.2 cm.) Executed in 1937
Miquel Barceló (b. 1957)Brega de cans (Dog Fight)Signed, titled and dated ‘BARCELÓ BREGAde CANS NOV. 81’ (on the reverse) Mixed media on canvas, 38¼ x 51 1/8 in. (97 x 129.7 cm.) Executed in 1981
René Magritte (1898-1967)Shéhérazadesigned ‘magritte’ (lower right), gouache and watercolour on paper laid down on card9¼ x 7½ in. (23.5 x 19 cm.) Executed in 1947
Left: PENDE MASK, MBANGU. Democratic Republic of Congo. Wood. 9 in. (23 cm.) high, not including stand. Right: Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Buste d’homme, signed ‘Picasso’ (upper left); dated and numbered ‘28.5.64.III’ (upper right); dated ‘28.5.64.’ (on the reverse), pastel and crayon on card, 10 5/8 x 8¼ in. (27 x 21 cm.) Executed on 28 May 1964Photos courtesy: Christies
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Stephen Spielberg’s film archives among the highlights of Swann Galleries’ Upcoming Auction
An outstanding assortment of more than 430 Vintage Posters will go for auction on Thursday, February 2nd at the Swann Galleries. This sale, the first of Swann’s 2012 season, features some exceptional rarities, as well as iconic images from the United States and Europe. The public exhibition of the posters started this past Saturday, and will continue until Wednesday, February 1st, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Art Nouveau collectors will be pleased to know that approximately 100 rare and important posters of that style will be featured in the sale.Bernard Vellemot for PerrierOf note is a stunning set of Alphonse Mucha’s The Seasons, two variations of Mucha’s celebrated Reverie, one 1897, the other circa 1898. A run of posters of Judaic and Hebraic interest includes Miskovitz’s rare advertisement for the film The Promised Land, billed as “the first movie filmed in Palestine,” with text in Hungarian and Romanian, circa 1930s. Steven Spielberg adapted this image for a poster promoting his Jewish Film Archive. There are also posters for the Jewish National Fund, the Palestine & Near East Exhibition, the inauguration of an international memorial monument at Birkenau, and more. Also on view is a number of ski and winter resort posters from around the world. American examples include Ernest Haskell’s 1896 image for Truth Magazine, which is the first American ski poster, and possibly the earliest ski poster from anywhere; 17 posters for the annual Dartmouth Winter Carnival, including some of the most striking and rare images from the late 1930s. Lou Hechenberger’s bright and colorful image of a female skier toting her skis in New Hampshire. Last but not least are my personal favorites, three exceptional posters from Bernard Vellemot for Perrier’s campaign ads which ran in the 1970s and 1980s. The Swann Galleries is located at 104 East 25th Street, NYC.
BERNARD VILLEMOT (1911-1989). Perrier / C’est Fou. Circa 1979. 24×17 inches, 63×45 cm.
Lot 190. Estimate: $600 – $900BERNARD VILLEMOT (1911-1989). PERRIER / C’EST FOU. 1984. 17×23 inches, 43×60 cm.
Lot 191. Estimate: $600 – $900.JULES CHÉRET (1836-1932). Palais De Glace. 1893.98×34 inches, 250×87 cm. Chaix, Paris.Lot 25. Estimate: $3,000 – $4,000Left: JEAN CARLU (1900-1997). Mon Savon. 1925. 61×46 inches, 156×117 cm. Editions d’Art Robert Lang, Paris. Lot 153. Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000. Right: ALPHONSE MUCHA (1860-1939). [Reverie] 1897. 26×19 inches, 66×49 cm.Lot 59. Estimate: $12,000 – $18,000Cover Image: BERNARD VILLEMOT (1911-1989). Perrier / C’est Fou. 1977. 24×17 inches, 62×44 cm. S. E. Lalande – Courbet. Lot: 189. Estimate: $600 – $900.JOSEPH BASS (DATES UNKNOWN). [Abima Theatre] 1958. 37×27 inches, 94×68 cm.
Lot 104. Estimate: $500 – $750Photos Courtesy of Swann Galleries
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Design Masters at Phillips de Pury
Phillips de Pury’s Design Masters auction took place last evening to a stunning result of $4,914,925. The crown jewel was the gonse chairs by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann. This was a magnificent triumph for Art Deco.
Stunning Results: Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann. Pair of “gonse” armchairs, 1930-1932. Lacquered wood, fabric. Underside of one frame branded with “Ruhlmann”. Estimated at $600,000 – $800,000. Realized at $1,426,500Over the last few years, the results for auction houses world-wide have proven that Art Deco ruled supreme. Another significant factor came to light as a result of the Design Masters sale. It became quite obvious that a continuing strong appeal and results for French mid-century design is in demand, and that Phillips de Pury is the market leader in Italian glass. Exceptional prices for works by glass masters Carlo Scarpa and Fulvio Bianconi (realized prices totaled $287,000) came up in the very top.
George Nakashima
Early “Conoid” bench with single free-form arm, 1961
American black walnut, hickory, three East Indian rosewood butterfly keys. Underside signed in black marker with “Reed.” Together with a copy of hte original order card and a letter of authenticity from Mira Nakashima.
Estimate at $100,000 – $150,000
Realized at $230,500
Dagobert Peche
Rare table lamp, 1921
Ash, ash-veneered wood, fabric.
Estimate at $120,000 – $180,000
Gio Ponti
Monumental chandelier, for the Hotel Parco dei Principi, Rome 1964
Rosted glass, brass, manufactured in Italy. Certificate of authenticity from teh Gio Ponti Archives.
Estimated at $80,000 – $120,000
Jean Royere
Extremely rare “Oeuf” chest of drawers, ca. 1958
Ash, Ash-veneered wood, fabric
Estimate $120,000 – $180,000
Realized at $158,000Photos courtesy of Phillips de Purry -
The Complete Poster Works of Roger Broders
JUST IN!
December 15, 2011Nicholas D. Lowry, Swann President and Posters Specialist, said, “Today’s auction was a landmark event. It was the first time that the entire work of a single poster artist has ever come up for sale. By today’s exchange rate, we set five world record prices, and more than a dozen records for Broders posters sold in the U.S. In the salesroom were bidders who are not typically poster collectors, proving that Broders’s wonderful images transcend the traditional market of poster lovers. In my opinion, the strong prices were completely justified by the great images and the overall superb condition of the posters being offered.”
Roger Broders (1883-1953), Monte Carlo, 1930December 12, 2011Posters can be a visual delight and often present a powerful and informative imagery. Roger Broders’ Art Deco posters from the 1920s and 1930s convey an energetic scenery, and the subject is often a glamorous one. Swann Auction Galleries is getting ready to auction off 100 Art Deco travel posters of his work on Thursday, December 15th at 10AM. This is a unique sale in the sense that for the very first time, Roger Broders’ complete body of work is being auctioned from one single collector. Among these rare gems are Lot Number 9, and 100, which have never been seen before. These vintage posters are simply breathtaking. The colors are striking, the text is crisp, and modern. The scenic views pulled the observer into a world of elegance, and sophistication. Take a virtual tour to Monte-Carlo, Lac D’Annecy, Dunkerque. From seaside resorts to mountainous hideouts, hotels and skiing sites such as les Vosges. One of my personal favorite is the Monte-Carlo Country Club, with twenty one tennis courts overlooking the Mediterranean. I gathered some information from the catalogue which described it this way: “The Monte-Carlo inauguration was attended by members of European royal families. Broders emphasizes the glamorous members of the club and its exquisite setting to create one of his best posters. The elegant couple depicted in Broders’ signature manner, using only flat planes of color. He creates exceptional depth-of-the field via the different levels of tennis courts, people in the grandstands and the beaches in the distance. His handling of the shadows and the bright Riviera sun is masterful and is crowned by the slivers of yellow sunlight which silhouette some of the figures”. In two words: Très jolie.
Roger Broders (1883-1953)Sports D’Hiver Dans Les Vosges, 193039 1/2” x 24 1/2“Lot 73Estimate: $7,000 – $10,000
Rare AppearancesLeft: Lot Number 9. Il Faut Aller En Rhénanie, 1921. 21 3/4 x 17 3/4″. Estimate: $500 – $750Right: Lot Number 100. Loterie Des Régions Libérée, 1935. 23 3/4” x 15 1/2“. Estimate: $600 – $900
Roger Broders (1883-1953)Lac D’Annecy, 193039 1/2” x 24 1/2“Lot 75-1Estimate: $2,00 – $3,000Photos courtesy of Swann Galleries Auction - At The Auction with Vyna, Auction Houses, Celebrities, Christie's, Events, Haute Couture, Jewelry, Life and Style, The Weekender
The Weekender: Elizabeth Taylor auction featured at Christie’s
The auction house devoted all 300,000 square feet of its facility to this museum-quality exhibit of Elizabeth Taylor’s Collections of jewelry, fashion, accessories, fine art, film memorabilia, costumes and decorative items. What can one expect to see at this once in a lifetime exhibition which is divided into four major sections?Left: La Peregrina, a natural pearl, diamond and ruby necklace by Cartier. Right: Pair of Natural Pearl and diamond ear pendants by BulgariThe Diamond Room: Which offers an up-close tour through Ms. Taylor’s most iconic jewelry, boasts an exquisite 33.19 carat D-color stunner, called the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. The Lifetime Achievement Room: A special display of Elizabeth Taylor’s impressive honors and humanitarian awards, intermingled with memorabilia and costumes from her many beloved film roles.The Icon’s Closet is an awe-inspiring walk through. It is a treasure trove of flawlessly-maintained haute couture and ready-to wear fashion and accessories (many of which the actress brought herself with her own money, and without help from a throng of stylists), with over 200 designer handbags alone. Finally, The Art Gallery – the first comprehensive exhibition of her most impressive fine art collection, includes master works by Van Gogh (valued at $12 Million, it is the priciest item from the entire collection), Frans Hals, Degas, Pissaro, Renoir, and Warhol.The auction is expected to exceed $50 million in total (I believe that the actual realized figure will quadruple that number). Tickets to the landmark exhibition are on sale now at www.christies.com/elizabethtaylorviews. Portion of the profits generated by the exhibition admissions, events and select publications related to the exhibitions will be donated to The Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation, which was founded by the beloved actress in 1991. Ms. Taylor passed away on March 23 from congestive heart failure at the age of 79.Christie’s20 Rockefeller PlazaNew York City212-636-2000
The Essentials: The little black dresses
Photos credited to: Associated Press
Lot 347A Tiziani black velvet ‘Scorpio’ evening cape labeled ‘Tiziani Roma’, 1968-1969Estimate: $2,000-$3,000
Lot 52“The Night of the Iguana Brooch”A diamond and multi-gem brooch by Jean Shlumberger, Tiffany & Co, circa 1964Gift from Richard Burton upon the occasion of the premiere of the film Night of the Iguana, August 11, 1964Estimate: $200,000-$300,000
Lot 1758A black patent leather shoulder bag labeled ‘Lanvin’, probably 2000s, with an acrylic green marbled handle, magnetic closure and chunky goldtone chain strap, with a black ribbon tie and an interior integrated swivel mirror: 8″ High, 12″ Wide, 3″ DeepEstimate $300-$500Photos courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2011
Making a StatementPhoto credited to: Getty ImagesThe jaw-dropping Elizabeth Taylor Jewelry Collection which is up for auction this month, finally made its grand appearance at Christie’s. The show is open to the public tomorrow, Saturday, December 3, and ends on Monday, December 12. Among other things, this exhibit reveals that not only was Dame Taylor a genuine Hollywood icon, but she was also a connoisseur of art and fashion, and of course, her lifetime passion – jewelry. The auction starts on the evening of December 13 with Elizabeth Taylor’s most iconic jewelry. Orianne Collins, jewelry designer and owner of OC Concept Store, hosted the preview event at Christie’s (check out my interview with Ms. Collins).
Photo credit: Getty ImagesNOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.
