Iconic Beverly Hills Interior Offered at Bonhams Modern | Art Sale
Los Angeles – Bonhams Modern Design I Art Live Behind-Closed-Doors sale, which runs in two parts on May 28 and June 4, will feature pieces from an iconic Beverly Hills interior. These include three works by the street artist RETNA, Untitled, estimated at $35,000 – 45,000, Untitled (Triptych), estimated at $60,000 – 80,000, and Untitled (Dripping Composition), estimated at $18,000 – 25,000.
Known for his unique typography and letterforms, RETNA has gained a dedicated celebrity following for his distinctive calligraphic painting inspired by graffiti art. Having joined the Los Angeles mural scene as a teenager, Marquis Lewis, or RETNA as he became known, developed his text-based signature style by painting with a brush in addition to a spray can. This allowed him to create highly detailed line works, often taking inspiration from Egyptian hieroglyphics and Arabic lettering. His works have been exhibited in major galleries across the world, and even featured on the cover of Justin Bieber’s 2015 album Purpose.
Other interior highlights include a plethora of LA high style furnishings, featuring custom-made, modernist, and contemporary pieces. These include a pair of Paul Evans cityscape settees, which have an estimate of $7,000-9,000. Evans was noted for his part in the American craft Movement of the 1970s, and for his work with the influential American manufacturer Directional Furniture. Often adding his actual signature to his signature pieces, one settee is stamped and signed ‘AN ORIGINAL Paul Evans’.
Director of Bonhams Modern Decorative Art + Design department in LA, Jason Stein, commented: “For this sale, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer a selection of iconic pieces and showcase custom-made items created for high-end residential projects, by notable interior designers such as T.H Robsjohn-Gibbings, and William Haines.”
Other sale highlights include:
• Dale Chihuly (Born 1941), Clear and Gold Chandelier, 2000. Estimate: $100,000 – 150,000. • Stephen de Staebler (1933-2011), Winged Figure Pointing. Estimate: $40,000 – 60,000. • William C.Morris (Born 1957), Canopic Jar (Giant Eland), 2004. Estimate: $40,000 – 60,000. • Bertil Vallien (Born 1938), Resting Head, fourth quarter 20th century for Kosta Boda, Estimate: $3,000 – 5,000. • Pair of Open Armchairs, circa 2007. Estimate: $3,000 – 5,000. • Custom Pair of Lounge Chairs, circa 2007. Estimate: $2,500 – 3,500. • Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni (1913-1968), Pair of Arco Floor Lamps, designed 1962. Estimate: $1,200 – 1,800.
MICHAEL JORDAN’S GAME-WORN, AUTOGRAPHED NIKE AIR JORDAN 1S FROM 1985SOAR TO $560,000 One of the Most Important Basketball Sneakers of All TimeMade Exclusively for the Legendary NBA Chicago Bulls Player Surpassing the Previous Auction Record of $437,500,Set at Sotheby’s in July 2019 by theNike Waffle Racing Flat ‘Moon Shoe’ 10 Bidders Compete Throughout the 10-Day Online Auction *Bidders Drive Up the Value by $300,000 in Final 20 Minutes*International Bidding Spans 4 Continents**70% of Bidders New to Sotheby’s**Bidders Range Between Age 19 – 50+ Coinciding with the Final Episode ofThe Popular ESPN documentary ‘The Last Dance’,Spotlighting the Chicago Bulls & Jordan’s Legacy
NEW YORK, 17 May 2020 – Sotheby’s is pleased to announce that Michael Jordan’s Game Worn Autographed Nike Air Jordan 1s from 1985 sold for $560,000 this afternoon in an online auction – the new world auction record for any pair of sneakers, surpassing the previous record set at Sotheby’s for the Nike 1972 Nike Waffle Racing Flat ‘Moon Shoe’ sold for $437,500 in July 2019. Following a bidding war which drove the value up by $300,000 within the final twenty minutes of the sale, the pair achieved more than 3.5x their $150,000 high estimate. Bidders ranging from age 19 to 50+ participated across 4 continents, with 70% of bidders new to Sotheby’s. The pair was sold coinciding with the final episode of the popular ESPN documentary ‘The Last Dance’, spotlighting the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan’s legendary career.
Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s Director of eCommerce Development, commented: “We are extremely excited about today’s record-breaking result! Building off the momentum from our debut sneaker sale last year, which previously set the record for a pair of sneakers with the Nike Moon Shoe, we wanted to set the bar even higher for our second sneaker sale. We saw tremendous bidding up until the moment the sale closed, with the value more than doubling in the final hour alone. That coupled with strong international bidding from six countries on four continents shows not only the incredible appeal of Michael Jordan as one of the most recognizable and legendary athletes of all time, but also that sneaker collecting is truly a global and growing market.”
MICHAEL JORDAN’S GAME-WORN, AUTOGRAPHED NIKE AIR JORDAN 1S FROM 1985
The Vintage Originals from 1985 are in the Chicago Bulls white, black and red – the Air Jordan 1 colorway that Michael Jordan wore the most often on the court. In 1984, Nike gave Jordan a signature line of shoes and clothes – a crucial, unprecedented move to entice Michael Jordan to sign with Nike. Produced between February to April 1985, Jordan wore the present pair of Air Jordan 1s during an early, pivotal point of his career and thus catapulted the sneaker’s popularity. The Jordan exclusive features unique variations from the public release of the sneaker: MJ’s are Mids, whereas Nike released only Highs and Lows to the public in 1985; the iconic Swooshes are longer, leaner, and more aggressive; and the pair is made from a different material and features red laces, varying from the public offering with only black and white laces.
The right shoe features Michael Jordan’s signature in black permanent marker, unlike many of Jordan’s Game Worn Autographed shoes which are signed with a ball point pen that wears away over time. On offer in remarkable condition, the pair shows frequent wear in comparison to most of Michael Jordan’s other Game Worn Shoes, as he wore a new pair of shoes in every game later in his career. Beautifully creased, black and red and white slashes and markings on the uppers are presumably from the shoes knocking into each other or into the shoes of opponents while Jordan wore them to battle. Wearing mismatched shoes most of his career, the pair is in a size 13 (left shoe) and a 13.5 (right shoe).
In 1984, Michael Jordan’s black and red shoes (Air Ships) became controversial after the NBA sent a letter to Nike in February of 1985 informing the company that Jordan’s colorful shoes were a violation of the league’s uniformity of uniform clause, and forbid Jordan from wearing them. Nike responded by creating an ad campaign around Jordan’s banned shoes, remarking that while “the NBA threw them out of the game, fortunately, the NBA can’t stop you from wearing them.” The Air Jordan 1s were created in the wake of the famous banned Nike ad campaign, and established MJ as the league’s leader in shoe style.
The unparalleled sneaker became so popular and successful that Nike continued to make new signature Air Jordans each season. From the inception, Air Jordans have always been the pinnacle of sneakers, unmatched in their quality, craftsmanship, innovation, performance, and style.
HIGHEST TOTAL FOR AN ONLINE SALE AT SOTHEBY’S*MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS RECORD* SOTHEBY’S GLOBAL ONLINE SALES CROSS $100 MILLION TO-DATE IN 2020 UP 370% OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 2019 International Bidding Across 35 Countries
29% of All Buyers New to Sotheby’s
2 LOTS EXCEED $1 MILLION:
Christopher Wool’s Untitled,An Exceptional Example of the Artist’s ‘Pattern Paintings’,Achieves $1.2 Million**Brice Marden’s Window Study No. 4 from 1985,Executed After Nearly a Decade of Conceptual Development, Fetches $1.1 Million Richard Estes’s Broadway and 64th Depicting New York’s Lincoln Center Sets a New World Auction Record for the ArtistAchieving $860,000*More than Double its $400,000 High Estimate* Matthew Wong’s Watercolor UntitledAchieves $62,500 Over 4x Its $15,000 High EstimateFollowing a Bidding Battle Between 8 Bidders*Auction Debut and World Auction Record for the Artist* ADDITIONAL WORLD AUCTION RECORDS FOR:Claire Tabouret | Katherine Bradford | Kengo TakahashiSOTHEBY’S IMPRESSIONIST & MODERN ART DAY AUCTION ONLINEOPEN FOR BIDDING THROUGH 18 MAY
NEW YORK, 15 May 2020 – Sotheby’s first ever Contemporary Art Day Auction Online concluded yesterday, totaling $13.7 million – the highest total ever for an online sale at Sotheby’s and more than double the previous record. The sale marks more than $100 million total in global online sales at Sotheby’s in 2020, nearly 5 times the total for online sales during the same period in 2019. The auction saw competitive bidding, with international bidding across 35 countries and 29% of all buyers new to Sotheby’s.
Nicole Schloss, Co-Head of Sotheby’s Day Auctions of Contemporary Art in New York, commented: “We are thrilled with the results of our first ever Online Day sale of Contemporary Art, which was a major test of the market for online sales at this value level, and was resoundingly successful. To set a new record for an online sale as Sotheby’s is a testament to the strength of market at all levels right now and the quality of the works on offer. We were especially proud to see two works achieve more than $1 million, which rank among our top prices ever for works sold in online sales, and is a very strong sign that the top end of the market will continue to find a place in bigger and more ambitious online sales.”
Max Moore, Co-Head of Sotheby’s Day Auctions of Contemporary Art in New York, said: “The results from Thursday’s sale are a bellwether of the strength of the market right now and the growing possibilities of online sales. We saw active bidding not only at the top end of the market, but also for younger, up-and-coming artists, including noteworthy results for Matthew Wong and Kengo Takahashi, both of whom made their auction debuts. There were also strong prices achieved far above high estimates for Lucas Arruda, Sanya Kantarovsky, Claire Tabouret, and Julie Curtiss, among others. The sale was a clear signal that there is still a healthy appetite for quality works on the market, and that consignors trust not only the online format but the market in general right now.”
AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Christopher Wool
Untitled
1988
Estimate $1.2/1.8 Million
Sold for $1.2 Million
Untitled from 1988 is an exceptional example of Christopher Wool’s ‘pattern paintings,’ in which he developed his style away from his early Abstract Expressionist works through the original use of wallpaper rollers. This seemingly simple innovation opened the possibility of mechanical reproduction in painting – much in the same way that Andy Warhol’s innovation of the silkscreen encouraged production in 1962. He identified a tool that was readily available and ubiquitous in any urban domestic environment, and transformed it into a bold new method of making fine art that is loaded with art historical references.
Brice Marden
Window Study No. 4
1985
Estimate $700/900,000
Sold for $1.1 Million
The preeminent abstract painter working today, Brice Marden is celebrated for his mastery over the fundamental components of the medium. Executed in 1985 after nearly a decade of conceptual development, Window Study No. 4 brings together cool and warm tones in ethereal washes, crafting the sensation of light and warmth emanating from within the canvas. An exemplar of Marden’s output, the present work captures the artist as he moved to address notions of spirituality as well as the relationship between nature and the individual, which endure as the primary painterly concerns of his practice.
Richard Estes
Broadway and 64th
1984
Estimate $300/400,000
Sold for $860,000
Painted in 1984, Broadway and 64thdepicts the well-known Manhattan intersection at the epicenter of Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side. The impressive building pictured in the background is the internationally renowned Center for the Performing Arts, which houses institutions such as the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, and the New York City Ballet. Estes is renowned for his extraordinary precisionist technique in producing familiar yet uncanny depictions of New York cityscapes, featuring multilayered, ultra-reflective surfaces of steel and glass skyscrapers.
NEW BENCHMARKS FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
Two world auction records were set for Matthew Wong and Kengo Takahashi, both of whom made their auction debuts: Matthew Wong’s Untitled, which sold for $62,500 following a bidding battle between 8 bidders – achieving more than four times its $15,000 high estimate (pictured left); and Japanese artist Kengo Takahasi’s Flower Funeral Deer achieved $100,000 – surpassing its $80,000 high estimate. Works by some of today’s most covetable artists also achieved exceptional results, including Lucas Arruda’s Untitled, which reached $300,000 – following a bidding battle between 8 bidders and surpassing it’s $200,000 high estimate; Genieve Figgis’s Gentleman with a Stick sold for $52,500 – over 1.5x its $30,000 high estimate; and Loie Hollowell’s Curves Under a Moon sold for $40,000 – surpassing its $25,000 high estimate, among others.
Since we’re doing more armchair traveling than actually getting on a plane these days, the Fine Wine & Rare Spirits department has compiled a list of our favorite reads that speak of drinks (of course) but also that encapsulate the world of our favorite subject—tying together all the elements that make it so diverse: travel, history, gastronomy, geography, and agriculture—with the hope that one might transport you from wherever you are safely staying into the colorful scenery of wines and spirits.
Marie Keep, Department Head:
After assembling this short list of current reads, I realize there are no biographies, memoirs, or travelogues; I’d think that being confined to a relatively small patch of land since March 25th I’d be seeking books taking me on whirlwind journeys through sun dappled wine countries far and wide; instead, I’ve been immersing myself in books mapping the global powerhouse and idiosyncratic glory that is wine.
One of the most thumbed-through, oft-consulted, and frequently seen at the dinner table books is Karen MacNeil’s classic The Wine Bible. I dive into it whenever I’m in want of an historical refresher or in need of contextual underpinnings for a wine I’m pouring. MacNeil devoted a decade to travel, research, and immersion into the wines, producers, and regions of the world, and she presents it clearly and charmingly with the benefits of accessibility and rapid consumption. Small in format, thick in pages, the black, white, and beige color palette belies the vibrant content.
Good reading, at any time!
My second choice is Napa Valley Then & Now, by Kelli A. White. It was going to be Andre Domine’s Wine, a thick tome with everything from the working year in the vineyard to the wines of Tenerife (a personal love), but it only weighs in at 8 1/2 pounds, while NVT&N weighs in at a gob-smacking 13 pounds (I’ve never weighed a book in my life before quarantine, now it seems not just normal but necessary) so for sheer poundage Napa Valley Then & Now wins out. White dedicates the book to her mother, setting the bar very high for daughters everywhere. The book sweeps through the Napa wineries providing history on the vineyards, wine and winemaking, side notes & anecdotes, and tasting notes. The black and white photographs scattered throughout are beautiful, and the structure and content give the reader a thoroughly comprehensive survey of Napa Valley.
Home schooling, 21+
In the wine auction biz, First Growth Bordeaux and Grand Cru Burgundy set the pace, and settling in with Bordeaux Legends, The 1855 First Growth Wines of Haut Brion, Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, and Mouton Rothschild, by Jane Anson, gets to the heart and soul of the hallowed five. The scope is contained but the pages go deep into the enthralling dramatic histories, struggles, financial and political power plays, and the all-consuming passion one must have to make great wine—and continue doing so. The roller coaster rides of the great chateaux are thrillingly described and Anson’s gift for putting us in the room makes it a surprisingly intimate read.
Anna Ward, Deputy Director:
In the wake of all that is occurring during these pandemic months, I find myself reaching for books that lift me up and carry me away. That does not exclude my most absolutely relied upon references, Inside Burgundy: The Vineyards, the Wine & the People, by Jasper Morris, MW, and The Concise World Atlas of Wine, by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, MW. These two books are so exquisite in their geographical details you can close your eyes and look out over the grade of Clos Vougeot or the expanse of the Piedmont.
On the precipice of a career in wine 10 years ago, my introduction to the possibilities for a woman in the wine industry came by way of Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover, also by the incomparable Jancis Robinson, MW, and is still to this day a book I think back on frequently.
While no one book in particular is a favorite, Alfred Barnard’s The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom is the benchmark encyclopedia for those wishing to know more about the wonderful world of Scotch Whisky. Despite being difficult to come by these days, this masterpiece still deserves top billing. A notch below is the Schweppes Guide to Scotch, by Philip Morrice (available used on Amazon), and on the lighter side, Jews and Booze: Becoming American in the Age of Prohibition, by Marni Davis, and Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch and Irish Whiskey, by Fred Minnick.
Noell Dorsey, Cellar Manager:
As more time has been able to be devoted to reading nowadays, I find myself drawn to two of my favorites. Though many wine books have had a major influence on me, I decided to pick one beautifully technical resource and one historical biography that I found so captivating and well written, I finished it in two days.
The first is Native Wine Grapes of Italy, by Ian D’Agata—with over 2,000 native wine varietals in Italy, this is the most comprehensive book to date on such a vast subject. While quite technical in some respects he does a great job demystifying Italian wines. Many Italian grapes share similar names but they are not necessarily related. Just trying to compare the various Malvasias, Moscatos, and Trebbianos can make one’s head spin, but he breaks it down for you in clear language and with charming anecdotes. This book is good for any serious Italian wine lover or those who love to play wine detective.
The second is Widow Clicquot, by Tilar J. Mazzeo—the biography of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, the famous widow who, after the death of her husband, found herself at the reins of a new wine venture. Due to her business savviness and “audacity” she become one of the first renowned businesswomen and her champagne brand, “Veuve Clicquot,” became an international success. This is a riveting and fun biography—a must-read for any champagne enthusiast.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, MAY 13, 2020 – Turner Auctions + Appraisals is very pleased to present the Hilman Walker Collection, showcasing an array of French posters from World War I and American posters from World Wars I and II. The sale also offers other war-era lithographs by Lucien-Hector Jonas; a large replica of USS Mahan (DLG-11) and related items; and tableware, posters and memorabilia from the United States Lines. Several lots from other collectors include WWI photographs and a WWII roadside billboard.
Hilman Walker is a longtime resident of Northern California, where he was born, raised and educated. Admitted to the California bar in 1976, he had a long and successful career in various management positions at a Fortune 100 company in the San Francisco Bay Area before retiring and moving to the Carmel area.
Lot 16, Georges Dorival, Vintage World War I Poster. “Foyer means home in France” 1918
Hilman Walker’s collections in this sale focus on three areas. Most prominent are the World War I and II posters, which Mr. Walker began collecting in 2008, triggered by divisiveness and angst of that time’s financial crisis, which paralleled in some ways the fear and stresses of wartime. Attracted initially to French posters from WWI because of their aesthetic and historical qualities, Mr. Walker said this was a very personal collection. Most were purchased from a professor of French studies at Indiana University, who imported the posters and backed them with archival material. These posters cover a wide range of war-related subjects such as the sale of government war bonds, promotion of troop and home front morale, dissemination of war goals, and sale of war damage reconstruction bonds. All posters are original; almost all are 100 years old; most are stone lithographs. Despite their age, the posters retain bright colors, attesting to the superb quality of early 20th century French lithography.
Lot 148, Auburn New York Front Page WWI Newspaper Flonges
Also from the WWI era are a portfolio of 24 wartime drawing by Lucien-Hector Jonas and nine newspaper front-page flonges used for printing end-of-the-war news. Lucien-Hector Jonas (1880 – 1947), was a French artist who captured life at the front through his graphic images, thereby providing an important visual record of the war. Flonges are temporary negative molds made to cast a metal stereotype used on a rotary printing press. These flonges – from Auburn, New York, newspapers – reveal what front-page news Americans were reading at the war’s end; their headlines include “Germany Bombs Paris,” “Kaiser Abdicates,” and “Germany Surrenders.”
From 2015 to 2016, the WWI poster collection was exhibited at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School Library, Monterey, California, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Great War. Over the two years, the posters were displayed in groups in order to associate particular poster messaging with the state of the conflict at that time. In view of student interest, Mr. Walker broadened the collection display to include American war posters. This encouraged the students to compare and contrast the French and American poster designs.
With this in mind, Mr. Walker began to add American images from both World War I and II to his French poster collection. French posters from WWI, created by academy-trained artists, focus more on the uplifting and positive aspects associated with war efforts. This contrasts with American posters from WWII, created by commercial artists, which are more visceral and often show the pathos and agony of war. Nonetheless, regardless of the era or country of origin, all posters are striking and memorable, both as compelling propaganda and stand-alone art.
In addition to the intriguing selection of wartime posters, Mr. Walker also focused on items related to USS Mahan, the guided missile frigate on which he served for 18 months during the Vietnam War, as part of his eight years of active and reserve naval duty. The auction includes seven cruise books, which commemorate deployments outside of U.S. waters. USS Mahan, which was scrapped in 2004 after 33 years of service, was the first operational U.S. Navy combatant to be equipped with the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS). Classified at the time, the system provided for the coordination and control of various weapons systems mounted on similarly equipped ships operating as a naval task force.
Lot 173, USS MAHAN (DLG-11) model made by professional model maker Frederick J. Tyson, State College, Pennsylvania, 1999
USS Mahan was named after Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914), the great naval theoretician and author of “The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783.” This influential book was mandatory reading among officers of major navies and, among other things, encouraged Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) to expand his sea capabilities to enhance Germany’s great nation status.
In 1984, Mr. Walker had a 64-inch model ship built of USS Mahan. For various reasons, the project took several years to complete, prompting Mr. Walker to note that “The completion of the model took longer than the actual building of the ship.” Nonetheless, once finished, the frigate model graced his San Francisco office for 15 years. Along the way, he collected a number of items related to USS Mahan, including the distinctive chrome cover that encased the Champagne bottle used to christen the ship in 1959.
The third portion of the auction’s Hilman Walker Collection includes tableware and flatware from the United States Lines, plus related memorabilia and posters from the 1950s-1960s. Amassed for personal use and gatherings with friends, these lots of housewares include distinctive Eagle chargers and Art Deco patterns.
Now, reflecting changes in lifestyle and residence, Mr. Walker’s collections go up for bid, welcoming those who share his enthusiasms of history, art and quality.
We are delighted to announce the results of our highly successful Modern & Contemporary Art auction—our first online fine art sale of 2020.
With an impressive sell-through rate of 95%, the 58-lot sale achieved over $1 million, just shy of its pre-sale high estimate. Strong prices were achieved for Latin American, English, and iconic American Pop artists. With many consignments from private New York collectors, the auction included notable works by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, and Andy Warhol.
“We were delighted to see that the market remains competitive for top works by blue chip artists, and to achieve an enviable sell-through rate in our first online fine art sale,”
Said Dunham Townend, Head of our Modern & Contemporary Art Department. With this most recent success, we raise our average sell-through rate for our 2020 fine auctions to 93.5%.
SECOND HIGHEST PRICE ACHIEVED AT AUCTION FOR “CHANEL” BY ANDY WARHOL
The sale was led by Chanel, an iconic print from Andy Warhol’s, Ads series, which sold for $175,000—nearly the high end of its pre-sale estimate. This price is the second highest ever fetched at auction for this important screenprint. Robust pre-sale interest and spirited bidding from the East and West Coasts, as well as from Europe, culminated in one of the highest auction prices ever achieved for this iconic Pop image.
ROBUST PRICES ACHIEVED FOR BRITISH MODERNISTS
Skoob Assemblage by British Modernist John Latham was a runaway success. Bidders from the United Kingdom, Europe and America competed vigorously for this fresh-to-market assemblage by one of England’s most celebrated Conceptual artists. The work more than quintupled its pre-sale low estimate, realizing $27,500.
Similar spirited bidding drove Lynn Chadwick’s Pair of Cloaked Figures to sell for $43,750. This quintessential example by the revered British sculptor had been in a private New York collection since 1978.
These robust results continue our long-established history of success with Modern British artists including William Scott, Henry Moore and John Hoyland.
GROUP OF OSWALDO VIGAS WORKS FROM PRIVATE COLLECTION EXCEED PRE-SALE ESTIMATES
Two paintings and two works on paper by renowned Venezuelan artist Oswaldo Vigas drew significant attention from bidders worldwide. These works were acquired over many years of friendship between the artist and Freeman’s consignor. Caraqueña, and Merideña, two oil on canvases from 1967, exceeded their pre-sale estimates of $10,000-15,000, realizing $16,250 and $12,500, respectively; while two Untitled works on paper each exceeded their pre-sale high estimate, achieving $4,063 and $4,688.
WORKS BY PICASSO, RIVERA, KATZ, RODRIGUE & MATISSE EXCEED EXPECTATIONS
Strong prices were also achieved for works by many other internationally renowned and sought after artists. Other notable results include $46,875 for Pablo Picasso’s Face with Black Nose and Alex Katz’s Yellow Road; $32,500 for Diego Rivera’s Seated Woman; $25,000 for George Rodrigue’s Blue Over You; and $18,750 for Henri Matisse’s Soldat Marocain et Hamido.
Open for Bidding from 20 – 27 MayProceeds from 10 Lots to Benefit the Trussell Trust and Refuge
Later this month, Sotheby’s is set to offer works from the collection of one of the most original and respected figures in the art world, Danny Katz, in a dedicated online sale. Exemplifying the legendary dealer’s broad interests, Refining Taste: Works Selected by Danny Katz (20-27 May) will present over 140 lots personally chosen by Danny himself, spanning a wide range of collecting disciplines including Antiquities, Old Master and 19th Century Paintings and Drawings, Modern British Art and European sculpture – the field in which Katz’s reputation was first established.
Renowned for his discerning eye and the rich displays in his Mayfair gallery, Danny Katz has a long-held reputation as one of London’s leading art dealers. Now, after more than 50 years in the art world, Katz has taken the decision to narrow his focus of the works of art he handles, prompting him to select this carefully-curated group for sale, providing an extraordinary opportunity for collectors.
“As I near my 72nd birthday I want to slow down my business and work differently, turning my focus to my interests in philanthropy, academia, music, dance and neurology. This is an opportunity for others to start collecting. An opportunity for people who are spending more time in their homes right now to explore and buy something reasonably priced and beautiful, and when they get them home, to enjoy them as much as I have.”
DANNY KATZ
In light of global circumstances, the sale of ten works will help raise vital funds for two national charities, Refuge (Registered Charity 277424) and the Trussell Trust (Registered Charity 1110522. The Daniel Katz Gallery will donate 100% of the selected lots net sale proceeds split in equal measure between the two organisations, who are providing essential support for those most in need during the pandemic.
The start of 2020 has marked an unprecedented year for online sales at Sotheby’s. To date, over 50 dedicated online auctions have been held, totaling over $80million. In April, a sale of works from the collection of Old Masters dealer Rafael Valls more than tripled the high estimate to bring £1.6 million, with 98% of the lots finding a buyer.
Rufino Tamayo, Sandías con Manzana, color Mixografia, 1985. Sold May 2, 2019 in Old Master Through Modern Prints Featuring Latin American Art for $22,100.
In 1973, Luis Remba, the owner of the fine art lithography studio Taller de Gráfica Mexicana in Mexico City approached Rufino Tamayo to collaborate on a print. At the time, Tamayo had already worked with other forms of printmaking and wanted to incorporate texture into his printed work. He agreed to work together, but only if they could play with printmaking techniques to create a textured surface. Remba responded by creating a new technique altogether, where the prints were created in relief on handmade paper, adding texture, dimensionality and brilliant color to the final product. Realizing they had invented a new form of printmaking, they called it Mixografia. Later, the studio would change their name to Mixografia, reflecting the importance of their achievement.
Here Sarah McMillan, cataloguer in our prints and drawings department, takes us through a brief history of the groundbreaking technique and its lasting impact.
How Mixografias are Made
In order to create a Mixografia print, the artist first creates a maquette, or a preliminary model, with their design. This can be done several ways: as a bas-relief, assemblage or more standard design. From the maquette, a printing plate is made by casting or molding an inverted version of the model.
What makes Mixografia a particularly unique method is the use of handmade paper. After the master printers apply ink to the plate, rather than applying a piece of premade paper, wet pulp (produced in the studio) is placed directly onto the ink. This allows the ink to adhere and bind into the paper, in a similar way as to how pigment adheres into plaster when making a fresco. This process enriches the print’s color while adding its signature texture and dimensionality. Mixografia also creates its own machinery used to create its prints themselves.
Rufino Tamayo
Tamayo was not only the first artist to work with Mixografia, but he was one of the most prolific and worked with the studio on over 80 prints throughout his career. His work in the medium continued his thematic preference of highlighting his Zapotec heritage— the works were simple in composition, often highlighting the sun, moon and earth. The Mixografia technique allowed the materiality of the print to shine—texture and color became the focal point as much as the subject matter.
Galaxia is the perfect example of this. The schematic constellations are evocative of the crispness of the desert sky at night, while still being graphic in handling. The saturation of the pink fading to purple and blue gives the work an ethereal quality.
Galaxia is a large scale print, but it was not the largest Mixografia ever made. Tamayo was consistently pushing the boundaries of the medium—his work Dos Personajes Atacados Por Perros, is over 7 feet long. It utilized the largest lithography stone ever produced, which is still on display at Mixografia’s studios.
In 1980 the studio Mixografia was invited by the University of California, Los Angeles to hold an exhibition of their prints at the university. After the show’s success, UCLA offered to partner with the studio to open operations in Los Angeles, thus broadening its reach and allowing visiting artists who taught at the university to work with the Mixografia printers. In 1984 they opened up their studio in Los Angeles where they continue to collaborate with leading Contemporary artists, such as Frank Stella, Kiki Smith, Helen Frankenthaler and Tom Wesselman.
Frankenthaler began working with Mixografia in Los Angeles in December 1986. She had been making prints for over 20 years and had experimented with several mediums. Mixografia allowed her to add relief to her printed media, which she did in Guadalupe.
Tom Wesselmann brought his iconic graphic compositions to his practice with Mixografia. Working with them towards the end of his career, and having also experimented with three-dimensionality with his metal cut-outs and assemblage and collage, Mixografia allowed him to experiment with texture and dimensionality in a printed form while also achieving the brilliant colors he is known for.
Over the years Mixografia has produced over 600 editions by 89 artists. The Remba family still operates the studio, and tweaks the method based on each artist’s needs. Its highly adaptable quality allows it to be manipulated and experimented with by many artists to constantly evolve and push the process and method of printmaking.
HONG KONG – 14 May 2020 – Phillips is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Crockett as Chairman of Asia, reflecting the region’s preeminent role in the company’s overall growth strategy.
Since joining Phillips in May 2016, Mr. Crockett has been instrumental in spearheading the company’s growth and business development across Asia. He helped establish Phillips’ regional headquarters in Hong Kong, and has overseen the rapid expansion of a team across 8 major cities over the course of the past 5 years. To date he has supervised 7 highly successful series of sales in Hong Kong, with each season seeing record results being set. In 2019, Phillips’ total auction sales in Asia amounted to an outstanding HK $955 million, an increase of 77% since 2016, when Mr. Crockett joined as Deputy Chairman of Asia, marking the highest total in the company’s history in the region.
“We have witnessed the extraordinary growth of Asia in recent years, both in terms of the success of our Hong Kong sales and significant increase in Asia’s contribution to our global sales,” said Edward Dolman, Chief Executive Officer. “Jonathan has worked closely with all our specialist departments to further strengthen our cross-category approach to highlight our auction offerings to a broad range of clients across the region. In his new role, he will partner with Phillips senior executives across all regions to build our sales and global presence, and continue to further develop the company’s overall growth strategy for Asia. As we celebrate our 5th year anniversary in the region, we look forward to building on our solid foundation by continuing the next phase of our sustained growth.”
As Chairman of Asia, Mr. Crockett will continue working with Phillips’ top clients across the regions, partnering with specialists and the company’s strong regional network of representatives to maximise business opportunities across collecting categories. In addition, he will lead the auction house to further develop its brand presence in the region by fostering deep relationships with art collectors, institutions, artists and strategic partnerships throughout Asia.
Among his major accomplishments so far at Phillips, Mr. Crockett oversaw the consignment and sale of 04.01.79 by Zao Wou-ki, which in May 2018 realized HK$ 69.9 million (US$ 8.9 million), the top price ever paid for a Zao Wou-Ki work from the 1970s. He has also contributed significantly to Phillips’ global sales, a notable highlight was consigning Peter Doig’s Rosedale, which sold for US$ 29 million, setting a world record for any living British artist. Another notable achievement was initiating his strategy for the 20th Century & Contemporary Art department in Asia, which has seen the region’s transactional activity grow by 195% from 2016 to 2019.
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ABOUT PHILLIPS
Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform accessible anywhere in the world. In addition to providing selling and buying opportunities through auction, Phillips brokers private sales and offers assistance with appraisals, valuations, and other financial services.
Alongside Exceptional WhiskiesIncluding the Dalmore 62 Year Old and a Collection of Samaroli&A Cask of Dictador Rum to be Offered without ReserveProceeds to Benefit Dictador Art Masters Charity FundOpen for Bidding from 14 to 28 May
LONDON, 13 May 2020 – The year 1762 is notable for a number of historic events, not least Britain entering the Seven Years’ War against Spain and Naples, Catherine II becoming empress of Russia, and the first Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. But at the Maison Gautier in France, a family business that had only seven years previously obtained a Royal Warrant to produce Cognac, with a founding charter signed by the King Louis XV, history was also in the making for what has been described in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest cognac vintage ever sold at auction.
Only three bottles of the exceedingly rare Gautier Cognac 1762 remain to this day, having been held in the same family for generations with their original labels attached. The last and largest of these remaining bottles, known as “Grand Frère”, or the “Big Brother”, will headline Sotheby’s online sale, Distilled | Iconic Samaroli, Dalmore 62 and The World’s Oldest Cognac, open for bidding from 14 to 28 May 2020. Estimated at £80,000-160,000, this bottle of one of the oldest surviving cognacs in the world has come to represent a piece of liquid history. With the little sister (“petite soeur”) housed in the Gautier Museum, and the little brother (“petit frère”) sold at auction in New York in 2014, the appearance of this bottle on the market is exceptional indeed. The winning bidding will also enjoy a bespoke experience at Maison Gautier, courtesy of the distillery.
GAUTIER COGNAC 1762, EST. £80,000-160,000
The Provenance of the “Big Brother” Gautier Cognac 1762
As the oldest vintage Cognac ever to be sold at auction, this lot was originally part of a “trio” of 1762 vintage Gautier Cognacs preserved since the end of the 19th century. The owner recalls that as a child, his grandfather prevented him from playing in the cellar which contained his oldest bottles of Cognac. It was only many years later he learned the history of the treasure that had been carefully preserved by his family. During the 19th century, his great grandparents fostered an orphan by the name of Alphonse who, in the years between 1870 and 1880, left his adopted family to work in the Cognac region. Returning home after ten years, Alphonse may have left due to the phylloxera crisis which had decimated the vines and consequently wiped out all the economic activity linked to the production of wine and brandies at the time. When Alphonse arrived home to his adoptive parents, he carried with him a cart loaded with bottles of Cognac, presumably acquired in lieu of wages. The bottles were unloaded, most of which were soiled, but amongst them were three Maison Gautier Cognacs, with their labels in pristine condition: the little sister, the little brother and the big brother – as they are known now. In 1914, Alphonse was sent to war and unfortunately never returned.
“The Gautier 1762 is renowned and revered across the world as a Cognac that transcends the world of spirits collecting. This bottle represents not only an example of pre-phylloxera viticulture, but also of early cask maturation from the dawn of Gautier’s production and even precedes the French Revolution. This bottle contains a distillation not only of superb brandy, but also of Cognac’s history.”
JONNY FOWLE, SOTHEBY’S SPIRITS SPECIALIST
Comprising 216 lots, Distilled is estimated to bring a combined total in the region of £1.1 million.
Samaroli Collection
SAMAROLI COLLECTION
The sale features an important Italian collection of Samaroli of a magnitude that is truly rare. Silvano Samaroli’s bottles are widely regarded as the greatest whiskies ever produced and as a result they are now extremely scarce. The most valued bottles, such as the Bowmore Bouquet and Laphroaig 67, are rarely seen more than once a year at auction. Comprising 55 bottles, the collection boasts three bottles of Bowmore Bouquet 1966 (estimated at £40,000-55,000 per bottle). The ultimate trophy for whisky collectors, Bowmore Bouquet is considered by many aficionados to be the greatest whisky ever bottled: listed #1 on Whiskybase.com’s list of the Top 1000 Whiskies, it has also received a staggering 98-point score from Serge Valentin, a well-known name on the whisky scene. Other highlights include Laphroaig 1967 (est. £24,000-30,000) and Ardbeg 1976 (est. £5,000-7,000).
The Dalmore 62 Year Old
THE DALMORE 62 YEAR OLD, BOTTLE #2 “THE MACKENZIE” AND BOTTLE #5 “THE CROMARTY”, EST. £75,000-100,000 EACH
The Dalmore 62 Year Old is one of the oldest whiskies to have been released from the Dalmore Distillery, with only 12 bottles made available. The sale will present Bottles #2, “The Mackenzie” and Bottle #5, “The Cromarty”, estimated at £75,000-100,000 per bottle.
Cask of Dictador Rum 1980
DICTADOR CASKS
In Sotheby’s first ever collaboration with a rum distillery, the sale is distinguished by an offering consigned directly from Dictador. A cask of the brand’s 1980 single vintage rum will be offered without reserve, with bidding starting at £50. The proceeds will be donated to the Dictador Art Masters Charity Fund, to develop an art gallery within the Colombian Jungle – an anchor point for conservation of the area. The liquid in this cask provides enough content for around 300 bottles and spent 20 years in an American Oak Cask, then a further 20 in a sherry cask. With an ABV of 62.7%, this is a “big spirit” with “notes of dark roasted cold-brew coffee with a dash of almond milk, chocolate raisins and toffee popcorn”.
Macallan Highlights
MACALLAN FINE & RARE MINIATURE VERTICAL, EST. £85,000-120,000
Macallan Fine & Rare Miniature vertical, 1937 – 1974(est. £85,000-120,000) Macallan 50 Year Old 1928 (est. £70,000-100,000) Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars 60 Year Old (est. £40,000-70,000) Macallan Millennium Decanter (est. £20,000-30,000) Macallan 1946 Select Reserve 52 Year Old (est. £10,000-14,000)
Springbank Highlights
SPRINGBANK 1964, EST. £5,000-7,500
A cask of Springbank Organic from 1992 (est. £40,000-60,000) Three bottles of Springbank 1964 (est. £5,000-7,500 per bottle), illustrated left Five bottles of Springbank Adelphi 1965 (est. £1,600-2,200 per bottle) Nine bottles of Springbank 30 (est. £1,000-1,500 per bottle)
Further Highlights
WHITE HORSE 1900, EST. £4,000-5,000
Rémy Martin Louis XIII Rare Cask Cognac NV (est. £9,000-12,000) Bowmore Black Second Release 1964 (est. £9,000-14,000) Bruichladdich Samaroli 10 Year Old 1965 (est. £2,000-2,600) Ord Samaroli Bouquet 22 Year Old 58.0 abv 1962 (est. £5,500-8,000) White Horse 40.0 abv 1900 (est. £4,000-5,000), illustrated left Springbank 30 Year Old NV (est. £1,000-1,500) Highland Park 40 Year Old 1958 (est. £3,000-3,800) Bowmore Bicentenary 1779 to 1979 Fecchio and Frassa (est. £2,200-2,800) Lagavulin White Horse 12 Year Old 43.0 abv NV (est. £900-1,200) Glendronach Cadenhead’s Cask Strength 1970 (est. £600-800) A total of 32 bottles from Gordon & MacPhail sold as separate lots with a combined estimate of £37,000-52,000
About Sotheby’s Wine Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide sales in 2019 significantly exceeded $100 million for the second consecutive year, led by a 20% increase in auction sales to a total of $118 million – the highest-ever annual total in Sotheby’s history.
Sotheby’s Wine, with a store located within the auction house’s worldwide headquarters on New York’s Upper East Side, offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by Sotheby’s’ experienced specialists, the ever-evolving selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with prices beginning at just $13.95. With bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages, each wine is chosen for its expression of its region and value for money. Each bottle selected by Sotheby’s specialist team must pass the brand’s signature “three-glass” tasting guideline, meaning that the tasters must like it enough to want to drink three glasses, or the standard amount enjoyed when sharing a bottle.
The Sotheby’s Wine Store in New York City is located at 1334 York Avenue, and is open Monday through Friday from 10AM to 7PM and Saturday from 10AM to 6PM. Along with a retail location in Hong Kong Sotheby’s Wine also offers all bottles online, 24 hours, at www.sothebyswine.com.
