antiquesandartireland.com

The scene at Christie’s in London as the top lot of the evening was being sold.

There was a new world record for Martin Kippengerger’s Untitled (from the series Hand-Painted Pictures) at Christie’s in London last night. It made £3,117,250.  The October 11 evening auctions of Post War and Contemporary Art and The Italian Sale brought in a combined total of  £41,183,300.  There were nine records, most notably for the two cover lots, Pistoletto’s ‘Metrocubo d’infinito’ and the ‘Self-portrait’ by Kippenberger.

Francis Outred of Christie’s said: “We saw 43 different buyers for 45 works of art in the Post-War and Contemporary Art auction, reflecting the continuing attraction and depth of interest in Post-War & Contemporary Art”.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for September 20, 2012)

Sir Peter Blake’s original 1967 collage for the insert for The Beatle’s Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. (Click on image to enlarge).

The original 1967 Sgt. Pepper collage by Sir Peter Blake for The Beatles album will feature at Sotheby’s Post War British Art sale in London on November 13. The image is familar to millions of fans. The Beatle’s legendary Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is one of the best-selling albums of all time and a landmark in musical history.
James Rawlin, Sotheby’s Senior Specialist, Modern British Paintings, commented: “Sir Peter Blake’s collage is a tangible slice of rock history. Sgt Pepper had a huge impact on the cultural landscape. It was the first concept album, when music, story, image and studio expertise all came together. In this work we witness the creation of the eponymous Sgt Pepper himself, with his familiar accoutrements of moustache and sergeant’s stripes, originally intended for fans to cut out and keep.”
Peter Blake worked closely with Paul McCartney and John Lennon to create the image. The cover photograph featured The Beatles surrounded by an elaborately constructed set of cut out figures of famous faces. The inset, created as a collage, depicted the celebrated Sergeant. The work is from the collection of the late architect Colin St. John “Sandy” Wilson (1922-2007). It is estimated at £50,000-80,000.

The Collins painting, entitlted Gezelling, and an image of the actress with Douglas S. Cramer. (Click to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS MADE $2,602,500

AN explicit portrait of Joan Collins by John Currin, whose recent series is inspired by pornographic imagery, features at Christie’s Post War and Contemporary Art sale in New York on November 14. It is part of the collection of Douglas S. Cramer, the television producer renowned for shows such as Love Boat, Wonder Woman, Dynasty and for developing Batman, Peyton Place, and The Odd Couple. The sultry brunette is modeled on a cover image from a 1970s sex magazine showing soap super-star Joan Collins in scanty black lace lingerie. The image of a then 45 year old Collins was taken during her 1978 movie The Stud.  The painting is estimated at $1.2-1.8 million.