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    • Posts Tagged ‘sotheby’s’

    A CHINESE FIREARM WITH IMPERIAL REIGN MARKS AT SOTHEBY’S

    Monday, October 17th, 2016
    THE SUPREME NUMBER ONE

    THE SUPREME NUMBER ONE  UPDATE- IT SOLD FOR £2 MILLION.

    THE first Chinese firearm with an imperial reign mark to be offered at auction comes up at Sothebys in London on November 9.  Created for the Qianlong Emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty – arguably the greatest collector and patron of the arts in Chinese history – this exquisitely crafted musket is to be sold with an estimate of £1,000,000-1,500,000. Produced in the imperial workshops the musket bears the imperial reign mark on top of the barrel and four Chinese characters which denote the gun’s peerless ranking incised on the breech.   The exceptional grading te deng di yi, ‘Supreme Grade, Number One’ makes it unique amongst the known extant guns from the imperial workshops.

    The advent of Western firearm technology sparked the production of muskets in the imperial workshops, and this modern mode of weaponry had unquestionable advantages over the traditional bow and arrow for hunting. Using only the most luxurious materials, imperial muskets were created in very small numbers for the Qianlong Emperor. While the Emperor is unlikely ever to have held a gun in battle, he would regularly hunt with a musket. The Supreme Number One is closely related to six celebrated, named imperial Qianlong muskets in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing.

    Robert Bradlow, Senior Director, Chinese Works of Art, Sotheby’s London, said: “This remarkable object epitomises the pinnacle of imperial craftsmanship during the Qing dynasty. The gun’s historical importance cannot be overstated – it ranks as one of the most significant Chinese treasures ever to come to auction.”

    UPDATE- IT SOLD FOR £2 MILLION.

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    A MAJOR HOCKNEY AT SOTHEBY’S, NEW YORK

    Friday, September 30th, 2016
    David Hockney Woldgate Woods, 24, 25 and 26 October, 2006

    David Hockney
    Woldgate Woods, 24, 25 and 26 October, 2006

    Woldgate Woods, 24, 25 and 26 October 2006, the first work from David Hockney’s famed Woldgate Woods series to appear at auction will come up at Sotheby’s contemporary art evening sale in New York on November 17. Measuring over three and half meters in diameter it is estimated at $9-12 million.  With a retrospective at Tate Britain opening in February 2017 Sotheby’s reckon this could establish a record for Hockney at auction.  The work captivated audiences in London at the Royal Academy blockbuster 2012 exhibition David Hockney: A Bigger Picture.

    Throughout 2006, Hockney executed a limited series of paintings of the Woldgate Woods in his native Yorkshire, charting the changes in light and colour as the seasons passed. Limited by the size of the canvas he was able to fit through the staircase at his Bridlington studio, he devised a method of using multiple canvases in order to achieve the desired scale. Woldgate Woods, 24, 25 and 26 October 2006, capturing the autumnal colors of East Yorkshire, is composed using six of these canvases. The huge public and critical success of this body of work has led to this quiet corner in the north east of England becoming known as ‘Hockney Country’, with the local tourist board even creating a Hockney Trail inspired by the locations immortalized in the series.

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    UNPUBLISHED SKETCH LEAF FOR EMPEROR CONCERTO AT SOTHEBY’S

    Saturday, September 24th, 2016
    An unpublished sketch-leaf for Ludwig van Beethoven’s "Emperor” Concerto

    An unpublished sketch-leaf for Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto.  UPDATE: THIS MADE £377,000

    A previously undocumented and unpublished sketch-leaf for Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto comes up at Sotheby’s in London on October 20. Offered on the open market for the first time in a sale entitled  “The Library of an English Bibliophile, Part VI”, this sketch-leaf is one of the earliest for this great work, possibly containing Beethoven’s first draft of its famous themes. Most of the surviving drafts for the Fifth Piano Concerto are in two sketch-books in the Deutsche Staatsbibliothek, Berlin.

    Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto in E Flat Major, Op. 73 is dedicated to Archduke Rudolf of Austria (1788-1831), the brother of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and Beethoven’s great friend, patron and pupil.  The Archduke began taking lessons from Beethoven aged 15 or 16 and he was the only pupil that Beethoven taught composition to. It is estimated at £150,000-200,000.  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £377,000

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    BORGHESE WINDSOR CABINET MAKES AUCTION RECORD PRICE

    Wednesday, September 21st, 2016
    The Borghese Windsor cabinet.

    The Borghese Windsor cabinet.

    The Borghese-Windsor Cabinet – the most important Roman cabinet ever to have come onto the market – sold for 2,499,000 euro at Sotheby’s in Paris last night.  It was bought by the J. Paul Getty Museum in what was a world auction record price for a piece of Roman furniture. Made in Rome circa 1620, this exceptional gilt-bronze mounted silver, ebony and hard stone cabinet boasts exceptional provenance. It belonged to Pope Paul V Borghese (1605-1621), before being acquired in 1824 by King George IV who displayed it in Windsor Castle. The cabinet remained in the Royal Collection until 1959, when it was bought by Aladar de Balkany, on the advice of his son who was passionate about architecture.

    International collectors were out in force to testify the extraordinary eye and taste of the great French collector Robert de Balkany (1931-2015). In the first of three sales at Sotheby’s in Paris, collectors, art dealers and institutions from across the globe (including the US, Europe, Russia, Asia and the Middle East) registered their intention to bid on masterpieces of Decorative Arts and Old Masters paintings from Robert de Balkany’s Paris residence, the Hôtel de Feuquières in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The sale had been preceded by an exhibition which attracted over 3,000 visitors.  Among the top ten lots sold was night was George Stubbs portrait of Viscount Gormanston’s White Dog, which made 459,000.

    Mario Tavella, Président-Directeur Général, Sotheby’s France and Chairman, Sotheby’s Europe said: “The two top lots of this evening – the Borghese-Windsor Cabinet and Charles Clay’s organ clock – are testament to Robert de Balkany’s eye and passion for hardstone furniture and exceptional timepieces – the most important categories of his collection. Both of these exceptional pieces went to major art institutions the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement, Utrecht and for me, this is the best tribute to my friend Robert. It was an honour to have been entrusted with the sale of the masterpieces in his collection which he jealously kept in Paris. ”

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for November 12, 2010)

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    GRAPHICS BY MUNCH AT SOTHEBY’S PRINTS SALE

    Monday, September 19th, 2016

    Graphic works by Edvard Munch Two Human Beings. The Lonely Ones and Self-Portrait, both acquired directly from the artist, come up at Sotheby’s sale of Prints and Multiples in London on September 27.  Self-Portrait is from a private Norwegian collection and was originally owned by Olaf Schou, the Norwegian industrialist and art patron; Two Human Beings. The Lonely Ones was purchased directly from Munch in 1942 by Harald Holst Halvorsen. They are never been at auction before and are estimated respectively at £50,000-70,000 and £400,000-600,000.

    Lucy Rosenburgh, Sotheby’s Prints Specialist, said: “Schou and Halvorsen were two of Munch’s most important patrons, with whom he enjoyed an equally strong friendship. The notable provenance of these prints makes their appearance on the market all the more appealing to collectors.”

    Edvard Munch - The Lonely Ones (£400,000-600,000)

    Edvard Munch – The Lonely Ones (£400,000-600,000)

    Edvard Munch - Self-Portrait (£50,000-70,000)

    Edvard Munch – Self-Portrait (£50,000-70,000)

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    KIRCHNER PRINTS AND SOTHEBY’S

    Wednesday, September 14th, 2016

    An important group of prints by German Expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner will come up at Sotheby’s sale of Prints and Multiples in London on September 27. The six works, which have a combined total estimate of £406,000-598,000, come to sale from a distinguished European collection.  Covering the Dresden period of Die Brücke, Kirchner’s subsequent stay in Berlin, and the years he spent living in Davos in the Swiss Alps, the collection brings together woodcuts, lithographs and an etching from key stages in the artist’s career.

    Lucy Rosenburgh, Sotheby’s Prints specialist, said: “Kirchner pushed printmaking to its limits and this stunning group is a superb showcase for his range and virtuosity.”

    Augustfeuer (£6,000-8,000)

    Augustfeuer (£6,000-8,000)

    Zwei Frauen (£100,000-150,000)

    Zwei Frauen (£100,000-150,000)

    Drei Badende, Moritzburg (£80,000-120,000)

    Drei Badende, Moritzburg (£80,000-120,000)

    Akte auf einem Teppich (£60,000-80,000.

    Akte auf einem Teppich (£60,000-80,000.

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    PAINTING GIFTED BY WILLIAM CROZIER TO MUSIC THEATRE WALES

    Sunday, September 11th, 2016
    William Crozier - Letters of a Love Betrayed

    William Crozier – Letters of a Love Betrayed  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    A painting gifted by artist William Crozier (1930-2011) to contemporary opera company Music Theatre Wales comes up at Sotheby’s Irish sale in London on September 13.  The artist created Letters of a Love Betrayed in 2009 in response to the world premier of Eleanor Alberga’s opera of the same name. This was in turn based on a short story by Isabel Allende. Crozier, an opera lover, gifted the canvas so that Music Theatre Wales could benefit from its sale at auction.

    He told the artistic director of Music Theatre Wales, Michael McCarthy: “This is the first picture I have ever painted which does not have its origin in something I have seen. The image is borrowed from a similar scorching landscape I knew when I lived in the mountains of Andalusia. I was led, too, by the scenario of the opera and the imaginary landscapes of Allende and other Latin American novelists and poets – Marquez and Neruda chief among them”. The work is estimated at £15,000-20,000.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for August 27, 2016)

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    JAMES ENSOR PRINTS AT SOTHEBY’S

    Monday, September 5th, 2016

    ensorA private collection of 78 prints by Belgian artist James Ensor, one of the most comprehensive of its kind ever at auction, will come up at Sotheby’s in London on September 27. The sale precedes Intrigue: James Ensor by Luc Tuymans, an upcoming exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts from October 29 to January 29. This will present the first major showing of Ensor’s work to be held in the UK in 20 years. Ensor’s reputation as a painter of carnivals and crowds – “the painter of masks” – has perhaps overshadowed his extraordinary achievements in printmaking. The broad range of subject matter encompasses delicate landscapes, townscapes and seascapes, celebrated self-portraits and sardonic portraits of politicians, religious and fantastical scenes. It is estimated to make a combined total in excess of £300,000 in Sotheby’s sale of Prints and Multiples.

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    ANYA HINDMARCH CURATES AT SOTHEBY’S IN LONDON

    Tuesday, August 30th, 2016

    Fashion accessories designer Anya Hindmarch will guest curate an exhibition and auction of Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s in London next month. The exhibition will run from September 16-19 to coincide with London Fashion Week, with the auction on September 20.   A passionate advocate of British design and arts, Anya is a trustee of both the Royal Academy of Arts and the Design Museum. Anya’s passion for the arts runs through all that she does, from outstanding craftsmanship to witty and creative interpretations of Pop Art. Handpicking the works that inspire her as both a designer and art-collector, she presents a range of artworks by leading contemporary artists including Keith Haring, Andreas Gursky, Tracy Emin and Yayoi Kusama. Here is a small selection:  UPDATE: DRIVEN BY AN INFLUX OF FIRST TIME COLLECTORS THE SALE MADE £1.8 MILLION

    Keith Haring - Untitled 1982 (£200,000-300,000)

    Keith Haring – Untitled 1982 (£200,000-300,000)  UPDATE:  THIS SOLD FOR £413,000

    Wolfgang Tillmanns - Lighter Blue Concave III 2010 (£18,000-25,000)

    Wolfgang Tillmanns – Lighter Blue Concave III 2010 (£18,000-25,000)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £32,500

    Anish Kapoor - Untitled 2001 (£10,000-15,000)

    Anish Kapoor – Untitled 2001 (£10,000-15,000)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £16,250

    Anya Hindmarch

    Anya Hindmarch

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    AN INNOCENT CHILD CAUGHT UP IN WAR

    Saturday, August 27th, 2016
    The Disasters of War 47 by Gottfried Helnwein (£30,000-50,000)

    The Disasters of War 47 by Gottfried Helnwein (£30,000-50,000)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 115,000

    An innocent child caught up in war is the peculiarly appropriate focus of a work by the artist Gottfried Helnwein entitled The Disasters of War at Sotheby’s Irish art sale in London on September 13.  The painting is not about Syria, it is about humankind. The work of Helnwein, who lives and works at Gurteen Castle in Co. Tipperary, is informed by his upbringing in post war Austria where World War 2 cast a horrifying shadow.  This innocent child in this photo realist work bears the scars of adulthood’s violence and corruptibility.  Helnwein, whose works are in major public collections, moved to Ireland in 1997. His work was exhibited in Kilkenny (2001), at the Crawford in Cork (2004) and in Waterford (2008)

    An international platform like Sotheby’s  is an important springboard for Irish art.  Over the years and through booms and busts the auction house has found new buyers from countries around the world for our artists.  Modern and contemporary Irish art is to take centre stage again in London on September 13.  The roll call of artists in the sale includes Sir William Orpen, Paul Henry, Gerard Dillon, Mary Swanzy, Colin Middleton, F.E. MacWilliam, Rowan Gillespie and Gottfried Helnwein.

    Highlights from the auction, which features important work by stalwarts like Lavery, Yeats and O’Conor as well as more contemporary artists like Elizabeth Magill, Melita Denaro, Eilis O’Connell, John Doherty and Rita Duffy, will be on view at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin next week.  Viewing at the RHA is from 10 am to 5 pm on September 1, 2 and 3  and from 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday September 4. The Irish viewing will include four Irish art works from David Bowie’s collection to be sold in November, Sleep Sound by Yeats, a watercolour entitled James Joyce by le Brocquy and two works by William Scott, Girl Seated at a Table and Winter Still Life No. 2.

    Lazy Lady by Rowan Gillespie (£12,000-18,000)

    Lazy Lady by Rowan Gillespie (£12,000-18,000)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £32,500

    Mary Borden and her family at Bisham Abbey by Sir John Lavery (£150,000-250,000)

    Mary Borden and her family at Bisham Abbey by Sir John Lavery (£150,000-250,000)  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

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