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    • HIGHEST SINGLE SALE WEEK TOTAL IN ART AUCTION HISTORY

    May 16th, 2015
    Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Les femmes d'Alger, Version O

    Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Les femmes d’Alger, Version O sold for $179,365,000 a world auction record for a painting.

    Christie’s generated a grand total of $1,726,019,375 in a week of fine art sales in New York – the highest single weekly total in auction history. Impressionist & Modern and Post-War & Contemporary art were combined into a single sale week of auctions and online-only sales.  Events kicked off on Monday evening with Looking Forward to the Past, a curated sale with top-quality work from both categories in a new context. The stellar results – the opening sale achieved a new work auction record for any painting and for any sculpture – demonstrate that accelerated demand for great art from collectors around the world continues to drive strong prices at all levels.

    Alberto Giacometti – L’homme au doigt (Pointing Man). Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2015/© 2015 Alberto Giacometti Estate/Licensed by VAGA and ARS, New York

    Alberto Giacometti – L’homme au doigt (Pointing Man). Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2015/© 2015 Alberto Giacometti Estate/Licensed by VAGA and ARS, New York sold for $141,285,000, a world auction record for a sculpture.

    “This has been an extraordinary week for the art market and for Christie’s. Our much heralded total of $1.726 billion is only a part of the story. It was striking that there were 40 bids above $100 million for the Picasso on Monday night and over 45 bids for the Rothko which made $82 million on Wednesday. This is a rich, deep market in which masterpieces elicit the greatest competition and which now attracts high level buyers from all over the world,” said Jussi Pylkkanen, Christie’s Global President.

    There were new world records for Picasso, Giacometti, Freud and Mondrian. No less than 147 lots sold for over $1 million, 18 for over $20 million, seven for over $50 million and two for over $100 million.

    Bidders from 48 different countries registered to participate, creating an electric atmosphere of competition that grew and gained momentum over the course of the week.

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    SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT FONSIE MEALY RARE BOOK SALE

    May 15th, 2015
    The catalogue for the six day auction at Cahir Park House in 1962 (80-120)

    The catalogue for the six day auction at Cahir Park House in 1962 (80-120)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 150

    There is always something of interest for everyone at rare books sales and Fonsie Mealy’s at the Ormonde Hotel in Kilkenny on May 19 is no exception.  Antique collectors of every sort will be interested in lot 577, the catalogue for the six day sale at Cahir Park House, Co. Tipperary in March 1962.   The sale was carried out by Battersby and Co. on the instructions of the executors of the late Col. R.B. Charteris.

    The 677 lot auction offers a rich section of sporting memorabilia and a wide variety of other items of interest.  The catalogue is online.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for May 8, 2015).

    There are two original coders used for the transatlantic telegraph (60-80).

    There are two original coders used for the transatlantic telegraph (60-80). UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR 100

    The match sliotar from the 1913 All-Ireland Hurling Final (800-1,000).

    The match sliotar from the 1913 All-Ireland Hurling Final (800-1,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 2,100

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    A GREAT IRISH PAINTER MEETS A GREAT HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS

    May 15th, 2015
    Sir William Orpen RA RI RHA (1878-1931) GLADYS COOPER

    Sir William Orpen RA RI RHA (1878-1931) GLADYS COOPER  UPDATE: IT MADE 175,000 AT HAMMER

    Orpen’s 1924 portrait of three times Academy Award nominated actress Gladys Cooper (1888-1971) is the top lot at Whyte’s sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin on May 25.  Cooper sat for Orpen when both were at the height of their celebrity when she was rehearsing for the title role in J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan on the London stage.  The shadow against her right arm in the portrait is a nod to this role.

    Orpen selected this portrait for the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1926 and the Autumn Exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool the same year. The portrait is documented by both artist and sitter, in the former’s studio book and in the latter’s autobiography published in 1930.

    After starring roles in the West End and Broadway in the 1930’s Dame Gladys Cooper re-located to Hollywood in later life and found success in a variety of character roles. She starred in dramatic roles and silent films before the beginning of the First World War.  Cooper is best known now for her roles in Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca and as Mrs. Higgins in My Fair Lady (1964). This was her last role and it was one in which she was again nominated for an Academy Award.

    The portrait is estimated at 80,000-120,000.

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    NOW IT IS A $50 MILLION MONDRIAN

    May 15th, 2015
    Piet Mondrian (1872-1944), Composition No. III (Composition with Red, Blue, Yellow and Black), 1929.

    Piet Mondrian (1872-1944), Composition No. III (Composition with Red, Blue, Yellow and Black), 1929.

    Piet Mondrian’s Composition No. III (Composition with Red, Blue, Yellow and Black) was the top lot at Christie’s Impressionist and Modern evening auction in New York last night. It sold for $50,565,000 in a sale which realized $202,608,000.  This brings the running total for this week’s sales at Christie’s to a truly staggering $1,678,763,000.  Day and online sales are to be concluded late today.

    Amadeo Modigliani (1884-1920) - Beatrice Hastings painting in 1916 sold for $16,069,000.

    Amadeo Modigliani (1884-1920) – Beatrice Hastings painting in 1916 sold for $16,069,000.

    Bidders from 34 countries competed in the room and on the phone for works by Impressionist and Modern masters, including Piet Mondrian, Chaïm Soutine, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani and Fernand Léger. Bidding on Modern works was particularly active, a testament to the energy brought to the market by a new breed of crossover collectors.

    Fernand Leger’s Le Corsage Rouge sold for $16,965,000; a portrait of Beatrice Hastings by Modigliani made $16,069,000; Monet’s Les Meules a Giverny made $16,405,000; La Communiante (La Mariee) by Chaim Soutine made $15,621,000 and Trois Danseuses by Degas made $11,925,000.

    (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for April 20 and March 16, 2015).

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    A 1930’s DIAMOND NECKLACE BY CARTIER, PARIS

    May 14th, 2015
    The circa 1930’s diamond necklace by Cartier, 47.00 carat total. (70,000-90,000).

    The circa 1930’s diamond necklace by Cartier, 47.00 carat total. (70,000-90,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 210,000 AT HAMMER

    A 1930’s diamond necklace by Cartier, Paris is the feature lot at the James Adam evening sale of fine jewellery and watches in Dublin on May 19.  The two strand necklace is by descent from the Cahen d’Anvers family, one of the most notable Jewish banking families in France during the fin-de-siecle.  They famously commissioned Renoir to paint portraits of their three young daughters.  The first of Irene in 1880 was completed to much applause, the second, of Alice and Elizabeth, did not meet the family’s approval and was banished to the servants quarters.  The necklace, 47 carats in total, is estimated at 70,000-90,000.  The catalogue for the sale is online. Here is a small selection:

    An 18 carat gold and gem-set Clown pendant by Chopard (1,000-1,500).

    An 18 carat gold and gem-set Clown pendant by Chopard (1,000-1,500).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,200 AT HAMMER

    A circa 1940's 14 carat gold Gentleman's wristwatch by Jaeger-LeCoultre (!,500-2,000).

    A circa 1940’s 14 carat gold Gentleman’s wristwatch by Jaeger-LeCoultre (1,500-2,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    A 9 carat gold charm bracelet, the 18 carat gold fancy-link chain suspending numerous 9 carat gold charms (400-600).

    A 9 carat gold charm bracelet, the 18 carat gold fancy-link chain suspending numerous 9 carat gold charms (400-600).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 750 AT HAMMER

    An Art Nouveau pearl and diamond pendant (5,000-8,000).

    An Art Nouveau pearl and diamond pendant (5,000-8,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    An Art Deco diamond bar brooch, 3.11 carat total (1,000-2,000).

    An Art Deco diamond bar brooch, 3.11 carat total (1,000-2,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,900 AT HAMMER

    An 18 carat gold Macri bangle by Buccellati (3,000-5,000).

    An 18 carat gold Macri bangle by Buccellati (3,000-5,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 4,800 AT HAMMER

     

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    A BILLION DOLLAR WEEK AT CHRISTIE’S

    May 14th, 2015
    Mark Rothko - Number 10 sold for $81.9 million

    Mark Rothko – Number 10 sold for $81.9 million

    An $81 million Rothko and a record breaking Freud brought Christie’s to a benchmark in art auction history last night – the first $1 billion week for the art world.  The Post-War and Contemporary art sale in New York last evening made $658,532,000. The top lot of the sale was Rothko’s No. 10, an ethereal masterpiece by the artist from 1958 which made  $81,925,000.  Seven collectors, including clients from the U.S., Europe and Asia, chased the painting past the $50 million dollar mark.

    Lucian Freud - Benefits Supervisor Resting made a world record $56,165,000

    Lucian Freud – Benefits Supervisor Resting made a world record $56,165,000

    Lucian Freud’s Benefits Supervisor Resting sold for the world auction record price of $56,165,000. The previous artist’s auction record of $33.6 million, set at Christie’s London in 2008. The square-format depiction of Freud’s model Sue Tilley, which drew in viewers to Christie’s presale exhibitions in Hong Kong, London and New York, had never been offered at auction before. Four bidders chased the work up and over the $30 million mark.

    The stellar collection assembled by art world figures Ileana Sonnabend and her daughter Nina Sundell gave the sale a lively start. All nineteen works found buyers and the group totalled $60.1 million.

    There were eight artist world auction records: Freud; Robert Ryman ($20,605,000); Robert Rauschenberg ($18,645,000); Giovanni Anselmo ($6,437,000);  Hans Hofmann ($6,325,000); Sturtevant ($5,093,000); Rudolf Stingel ($4,757,000) and Carroll Dunham (4509,000).

    (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for April 22, April 17  and April 15, 2015).

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    DIAMONDS AT O’REILLY’S AUCTION ON FRANCIS ST., DUBLIN

    May 13th, 2015

    Solitaire rings, diamond line bracelets, brooches and earrings in abundance can be found across all price ranges at O’Reilly’s sale in Francis St., Dublin on May 20.  There is a small section on silver and artwork too.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    An antique diamond plaque bracelet with openwork geometric design (5,500-6,000).

    An antique diamond plaque bracelet with openwork geometric design (5,500-6,000).

    A diamond and sapphire cluster ring (5,000-6,000).

    A diamond and sapphire cluster ring (5,000-6,000).

    A 6.7 carat diamond solitaire ring (80,000-120,000).

    A 6.7 carat diamond solitaire ring (80,000-120,000).

    An emerald cut diamond solitaire ring 5.40 carats (60,000-70,000).

    An emerald cut diamond solitaire ring 5.40 carats (60,000-70,000).

    An antique gold curb link bracelet (350-400).

    An antique gold curb link bracelet (350-400).

    A diamond line bracelet (14,000-16,000).

    A diamond line bracelet (14,000-16,000).

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    MALEVICH’S SUPREMATISM, 18TH CONSTRUCTION AT SOTHEBY’S

    May 13th, 2015
    Kazimir Malevich (1879-1935) Suprematism, 18th Construction

    Kazimir Malevich (1879-1935)
    Suprematism, 18th Construction  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £21.4 MILLION

    Kazimir Malevich’s  Suprematism, 18th Construction of 1915 will be a highlight at Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern Art evening sale in London on June 24.  At auction for the first time – a century after it was painted in 1915 – the work comes from the artist’s family.  Estimated at £20-30 million it is being shown in New York and Hong Kong before the sale.

    “In the last 25 years only three major works by Malevich have been sold at auction, the most recent of which was sold in 2008 at Sotheby’s New York for a record $60 million. Suprematism, 18th Construction shares the same exceptional provenance and we are honoured to have been entrusted by the artist’s family once more. Appreciation for works by Malevich is now more global than ever before, and with so few of these rare early Suprematist works remaining in private hands, the sale presents one of the last opportunities to acquire one” said Helena Newman, co-head of Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern Art.

    The work was a highlight at the Tate retrospective in London.

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    SUNRISE RUBY AND HISTORIC PINK DIAMOND ACHIEVE NEW HEIGHTS

    May 13th, 2015

    Aided by The Sunrise Ruby and an Historic Pink Diamond Sotheby’s achieved the high total record of $160.9 million for a jewellery auction in Geneva last night. This is the highest ever total for a jewellery auction in the world.  The Sunrise Ruby made $30.3 million, a new world record for a ruby, for a ruby by carat and for a jewel by Cartier. The Historic Pink Diamond – 8.72 carats Fancy Vivid Pink – linked to Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon I achieved $15.9 million.  The sale also witnessed records for a pair of Burmese sapphire earrings ($3,425,518), a Kashmire sapphire jewel ($6,161,637 for a sapphire and diamond brooch) and for a two row natural pearl necklace ($7,003,519).

    David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division said: “The market for exceptional jewels is going from strength to strength. The galleries have been brimming with collectors during our worldwide exhibitions, and this translated into lively bidding throughout the sale tonight with truly global demand for the finest diamonds, gemstones and signed pieces of the very highest order.”

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for April 12, 2015)

    The Sunrise Ruby sold for a record $30.3 million.

    The Sunrise Ruby sold for a record $30.3 million.

    The historic Pink Diamond sold for $15.9 million US.

    The historic Pink Diamond sold for $15.9 million US.

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    KARLA BLACK AT IRISH MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

    May 13th, 2015
    Karla Black, Practically in Shadow, 2013, Plaster powder, powder paint, florist foam, bath bombs, nail varnish, polythene, thread, cellophane, sellotape. Hanging element: 840 x 870 x 80 cm Floor element: 160 x 1200 x 670 cm. Overall dimensions variable. Installation view, Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, 2013. Photo: Aaron Igler/ Greenhouse Media

    Karla Black, Practically in Shadow, 2013, Plaster powder, powder paint, florist foam, bath bombs, nail varnish, polythene, thread, cellophane, sellotape. Hanging element: 840 x 870 x 80 cm Floor element: 160 x 1200 x 670 cm. Overall dimensions variable. Installation view, Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, 2013. Photo: Aaron Igler/ Greenhouse Media

    The UK artist Karla Black is showing at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) until July 26. Experimenting with ways to float material, form and colour at eye level remains a constant preoccupation in Black’s work.  She is regarded as one of the pioneering contemporary artists of her generation. The 2011 Turner Prize nominee draws from a multiplicity of artistic traditions from expressionist painting, land art, performance, to formalism. For this show she has created seven new site specific sculptures.

    This is the first exhibition under a new three year partnership supporting new art between Matheson and the IMMA.  Matheson is the law firm of choice for international companies and financial institutions doing business in and through Ireland. The firm’s clients include the majority of the Fortune 100 companies. It also advises 7 of the top 10 global technology brands and more than half of the world’s 50 largest banks. Matheson is headquartered in Dublin. Matheson will support around ten exhibitions each year at IMMA.

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