“It was an outstanding auction, an exhilarating auction,” was the comment made by auctioneer Robert Ketterer on the auctions he held on 19/20 June to officially inaugurate the new Ketterer Kunst headquarters.

“The sales quotient by lot numbers was comparable to the best results achieved in the golden age of the past three years. With post-auction sales it will probably even surpass them,” adds the owner of Ketterer Kunst.

The auctions focused on:
1. Modern Art (1900-1945)
2. Bauhaus (special auction)
3. Post War/Contemporary Art
4. Old Masters/Art of the 19th Century

on 1. Modern Art (1900-1945)
The fierce bidding skirmish that broke out over Franz Radziwill’s “Gespräch über einen Paragraphen” [“Conversation about a Paragraph”] set the tone. What is probably the most sensuous presentation of the discussion that raged over Paragraph 218 and abortions under German law became the most high-priced work of this artist’s in the past 15 years (achieved: € 355.000*).** “It’s just like ping-pong,” thus the auctioneer, who kept alternating between two front-row bidders on the far fringes of the auction room who were determined to have this masterpiece with its cryptic message. The German collector seated on the left showed the most stamina.

The Top 5
No. 245: Franz Radziwill - A Conversation about … – Called at: € 140.000 – result € 355.000*
No. 17: Josef Albers - Study for… – Called at: € 180.000 – result € 220.000*
No. 253: Ernst Barlach - Spirit Fighter – Called at: € 150.000 – result € 180.000*
No. 219: Emil Nolde - Peonies in a Blue Vase – Called at: € 60.000 – result € 145.000*
No. 124: Lucio Fontana - Concetto Spaziale – Called at: € 70.000 – result € 145.000*

With overall auction proceeds amounting to € 4.5 million, Modern Art above all scored a big success: at the start of the auction, the Emil Nolde watercolour “Pfingstrosen in blauer Vase” [“Peonies in a Blue Vase”], called at € 80.000, achieved € 145.000*. A German private collection with a sealed bid fought off several dealers bidding on the telephone.
A Hanns Bolz oil painting (c. 1909/11), “Dame mit Hut” [“Lady Wearing a Hat”], achieved a record-breaking € 130.000* (estimate: € 20.000), the highest price ever paid for a work by this artist. As the Hanns Bolz “Portrait of the Art Dealer Alfred Flechtheim” sold for € 77.000* (estimate: € 18.000) in December 2008, the bidding for this second work by the artist more than matched expectations: an Austrian private collection bidding on the telephone outstripped a tenacious bidder from Greece in the auction room and also sealed bids in writing.

Along with good results for Max Liebermann’s “Liebespaar auf einem Spaziergang im Grunewald” [“Couple Strolling in Grunewald”] in oils (estimate: € 50.000; sold for: € 61.000*) and “Blumenrabatte im Wannseegarten” [“Flower Borders in the Garden at Wannsee”] (estimate: € 24.000; achieved: € 41.000*), eight works by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner grabbed centre stage. Without exception, they all exceeded their estimates, some by large margins, notably “Staffelalp” (c. 1917-19); called at € 20.000, it climbed to a dizzying € 68.000*.

Sculpture was headed at € 180.000* by the Ernst Barlach bronze “Der Geistkämpfer” [“Spirit Fighter”]. According to the Ernst Barlach licence administration, it was probably one of the only two casts made during the artist’s lifetime in 1937. That must have been a major inducement for a German private collection to acquire this important work.

The same collection also bought Ewald Mataré’s “Große liegende Kuh” [“Large Cow, Lying Down”] for a thumping € 104.000*. It had entered the lists with high sealed bids followed by numerous telephone bids, primarily from Germany.

Other works of sculpture that far exceeded their estimates were by August Rodin (after) and Fritz Klimsch. Whereas the Rodin female torso “La Prière” achieved a meteoric rise from € 35.000 to € 68.000*, the sole known cast of Fritz Klimsch’s “Elegie” [“Elegy”] nearly trebled the € 23.000 at which it was called to fetch € 67.000*.

More than honourable mention to the following:

Lot 277 – Albert Birkle (oil), View (Upper Silesia). Estimate € 25.000, achieved € 63.000*
Lot 264 – Chr. Rohlfs (Tempera), View of Bad Sooden-Allendorf. Estimate € 30.000, achieved € 63.000*
Lot 267 – Albert Birkle (oil), Self-portrait under… Estimate € 20.000, achieved € 50.000*
Lot 280 – Willi Baumeister (oil), Scherzo (Scherzo linear). Estimate € 40.000, achieved € 50.000*
Lot 256 – Arnold Topp (oil), Dark Sun. Estimate € 30.000, achieved € 50.000*

Nor should the world record price of € 33.000* paid by a German connoisseur for the museum-quality “Erik Satie” by Prosper de Troyer be passed over in silence. It sold for more than three times the estimate of € 10.000.

on 2. Bauhaus (special auction)
This auction held jointly by Ketterer Kunst and the auction house Quittenbaum achieved its high point with “Study for Homage to the Square: High Pasture” by Josef Albers (achieved: € 220.000*). This geometric work went to a German private collection.

Achieving € 49.000*, the portfolio “Bauhaus-Drucke. Neue Europäische Graphik. Italienische und Russische Künstler” [“Bauhaus Prints. New European Prints. Italian and Russian Artists”] went to Switzerland. The special auction started off with the Lyonel Feininger watercolour “Running before the wind”, that went to a north German private collection for € 22.000*.

on 3. Post War/Contemporary Art
This division also saw outstanding results, notably Lucio Fontana’s “Concetto Spaziale” (achieved: € 145.000*) in a small format in acrylic. A dealer from the UK won out against for bidders from around the world on the telephone and numerous bids in writing.

The following works also far exceeded their estimates: “20.01.1954” in mixed media by Karl Otto Götz (estimate: € 20.000; sold for: € 58.000*) and the Fritz Winter oil painting “Rote Klänge” [“Red Sounds”], which attracted a swarm of telephone bids. Carrying an estimate of € 15.000, the Fritz Winter ultimately went to an Austrian private collection for € 73.000*.

In the field of sculpture and objects, a c.1960 Norbert Kricke “Raumplastik” [“Spatial Sculpture”] rose from an estimate of € 40.000 to a lofty € 93.000*, finally going to a north German collection after a long-drawn-out bidding skirmish.

Whereas Diego Giacometti’s round table “Table-feuilles modèle de salle à manger aux grenouilles” (estimate: € 50.000) achieved € 58.000*, his “Console à plateaux, modèle aux grenouilles” made bidders dig deeper into their pockets, finally fetching € 74.000*. Both works remained in Germany.

Also definitely worth mentioning:

Lot 114 – Emil Schumacher (oil), Ohne Titel [Unitled]. Estimate € 25.000, achieved € 53.000*
Lot 105 – Rupprecht Geiger (oil), Blue Form, Red and Black . Estimate € 30.000, achieved € 46.000*
Lot 177 – Markus Prachensky (oil), Solitude. Estimate € 30.000, achieved € 36.000*

on 4. Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century
Art of the 15th-19th Centuries started off the two-day main auction. From now on, it - like Modern and Contemporary Art - will feature at four Ketterer Kunst auctions a year in Munich. Outstanding results were achieved with works by Franz von Defregger (“Bäuerin am Spinnrocken” [“Peasant Woman at her Distaff”], called at € 30.000, achieved € 36.000*), Jean Baptiste Camille Corot (called at: € 24.000; achieved: € 28.000*) and Wilhelm Busch (called at: € 10.000; achieved: € 25.000*).

Objects unsold at the auction will be offered at post-auction sales running through 20 July 2009. Auction result lists available; please call +49-(0)89-55244-444. More information at www.kettererkunst.com.

* Sale price equals hammer price + 22 per cent surcharge.
** Source: www.artnet.de

Since it was founded in 1954, Ketterer Kunst has been firmly established in the front ranks of auction houses dealing in art and rare books with headquarters in Munich and a branch in Hamburg. Gallery rooms in Berlin as well as representatives in Heidelberg, Krefeld and Ravensburg have contributed substantially to our success. Ketterer Kunst has further rounded off its portfolio by acquiring the prestigious Ernest Rathenau Verlag, New York/Munich. In addition, exhibitions, special themed auctions and benefit auctions for charity as well as online auctions are regular events at Ketterer Kunst.

Contact:

Ketterer Kunst
Joseph-Wild-Str. 18
81829 München

For press enquiries:

Michaela Derra M.A.
Telefon: +49-(0)89-55244-152 (Fax: -177)
E-Mail: m.derra@kettererkunst.de

For client enquiries:

Tel. +49-(0)55244-444
Fax.: +49-(0)55244-177
E-mail: infomuenchen@kettererkunst.de

ICAP Ocean Tomo Auctions – a division of ICAP (IAP.L), the world’s premier interdealer broker – today announced it will offer for sale a large number of intellectual property assets held by Philips Electronics on July 23rd in Chicago at The ICAP Ocean Tomo Summer IP Markets 2009 Auction & Conference with essential information regarding all lots available immediately online at http://catalog.oceantomoauctions.com.

The Philips lot comprises over fifty assets with worldwide coverage relating to digital networking, with an emphasis on message delivery over digital networks. The ubiquity of technology throughout businesses in all industries has made the idea of launching a startup without budgeting for computer hardware and other technology costs nearly inconceivable. Further, as a company grows, its reliance on technology only increases, as instantaneous communication becomes critical to organization, efficiency and productivity.

The Philips assets up for auction on July 23rd pertain to mid- to large-scale communication systems and provide substantial domestic and international protection. The portfolio includes assets relating to converged systems involving both web-based and wireless networks, to new and improved message delivery methods using network beacons, novel means of interaction between beacon devices and portable network devices, and even methods for using the communication network to locate mobile devices.

“Businesses that are serious about maximizing the utility of their networks, particularly internet service providers and network software developers, would do well to look into these assets” said Dean Becker, of ICAP Ocean Tomo. “The breadth of this lot’s protection will make it a strong addition to any patent portfolio.”

Potential buyers/licensees include internet service providers, software companies, wireless, targeted advertising firms, and networking infrastructure manufacturers.

The technology being sold has been cited as prior art in patents by numerous firms including Samsung Electronics Co. (KS:005930), Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE), and Intel Corporation (NYSE:INTC).

To submit IP for consideration by Ocean Tomo Auctions or for inquiries regarding these lots, contact 312.377.4851 or auctions@oceantomo.com.

The Louis Picard painting “Ira Aldridge in Taras Shevchenko’s Studio” is bound to cause a sensation. Painted around 1900, the portrait will go under the hammer at the Ketterer Kunst Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century auction as the spectacular prelude to the four Welcome Auctions to be held on 19 and 20 June 2009 at Ketterer Kunst in Munich.

There was no hint that celebrities might be concerned when the Louis Picard paint was consigned under its original title “Künstler und Sammler im Atelier” [“Artist and Collector in a Studio”]. Thorough research conducted by Ketterer Kunst has identified the persons portrayed as the Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko, who was critical of the Tsarist regime, and the internationally renowned African-American actor Ira Aldridge, who emigrated to England, where he played numerous Shakespearean leading roles, including Othello. The work carries an estimate of € 8000-12 000.

“I am really delighted that, with our research, we have been able to contribute in a small way to ensuring that the significance to cultural history of this valuable work is recognised,” thus Robert Ketterer, auctioneer and owner of Ketterer Kunst.

Pre-sale viewing: 11-18 June, Ketterer Kunst, Joseph-Wild-Strasse 18, Munich

Auction dates:
19 June – Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century (Lot 329: Louis Picard), followed by Modern Art
20 June – special auction Bauhaus jointly with Quittenbaum, followed by Post War/Contemporary Art
at Ketterer Kunst, Joseph-Wild-Str. 18, Munich-Messe

Hart Davis Hart offered a second installment of French Classics from a Magnificent Cellar last weekend in Chicago, realizing $1,894,350 against a pre-sale auction estimate of $1,204,010 to $1,805,060. Highlights included a case of 12 bottles of 1961 Palmer recently released from Mähler-Besse that brought $22,705 (est. $10,000-15,000), a case of 6 magnums of 1988 La Tâche from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti that achieved $15,535 (est. $6,000-9,000), and an assortment case of 1999 DRC that realized $26,290 (est. $14,000-20,000.)

Bidders participated from 34 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.

“We saw strong bidding from the US, Europe, and Asia,” said President and CEO Paul Hart. “The market has stabilized and prices continue to creep upward.”

Online bidders were active against a strong order book and room bidders. 75 of the 433 lots hammered above the high estimate. Prices were strong across all categories as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, and California wine brought strong results.

Commented Vice-Chairman Michael Davis: “It was an honor to represent a second installment of this remarkable collection. Bidders responded enthusiastically throughout the day which bodes well for the fall season.”

Top Ten Lots (inclusive of 19.5% buyer’s premium):
1. Lot 27: 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild (6 mags)
at $28,680 (est. $18,000-$28,000)
2. Lot 329: 1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Assortment (12 bs)
at $26,290 (est. $14,000-20,000)
3. Lot 7: 1959 Château Latour (5 mags)
at $26,290 (est. $15,000-22,000)
4. Lot 185: 1998 Château Pétrus (6 mags)
at $26,290 (est. $16,000-24,000)
5. Lot 28: 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild (3 dbl-mags (3L))
at $26,290 (est. $18,000-28,000)
6. Lot 13: 1997 Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (1 meth (6L))
at $20,315 (est. $22,000-32,000)
7. Lot 328: 1993 La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (12 bs)
at $16,730 (est. $8,500-13,000)
8. Lot 318: 1988 La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (6 mags)
at $15,535 (est. $6,000-9,000)
9. Lot 330: 1999 Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (1 mag)
at $15,535 (est. $10,000-15,000)
10. Lot 499: 1982 Lafite Rothschild (6 mags)
at $26,290 (est. $14,000-20,000)

Total aggregate: $1,894,349
Percent sold by lot: 100%

An Auction of Finest & Rarest Wines
Including an Outstanding Selection from a Prominent Restaurant
Saturday, June 27, 2009 | TRU Restaurant 10:00 a.m.

Hart Davis Hart Wine Co will offer an Auction of Finest & Rarest Wines on Saturday, June 27th, at TRU Restaurant (676N. St. Clair St) starting at 9:00am CST. The sale is anchored by an outstanding offering from the extensive cellar of a prominent restaurant that has been in business for over three decades. The selection features an expansive range of both French and Californian wines, most of which were acquired on initial release and cellared since under ideal conditions. A broad selection of Bordeaux is featured and encompasses a dazzling range of the 1982 vintage. Additional highlights of this collection include single-vineyard Côte Rôtie from Guigal, Burgundy from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and classics from Napa Valley, most of which are in full case quantity.

“After 25 years in the fine wine business, it isn’t often that I come across something that I have never seen before. While in town for the Hart Davis Hart sale last weekend I decided to spend some time in the cellars looking at wines to be offered in the upcoming June 27 auction. When I opened one of the previously banded 1971 Assortment cases of DRC from the Cellar of a Prominent Restaurant I literally got those same chills of excitement that I had 9 years ago in the Singleton Cellar. Pristine is an understatement. This sale will provide a rarely seen opportunity to buy older wines that were purchased upon release and are for the first time seeing the light of day. The four 1971 DRC Assortment cases will be some of the most important lots offered at any auction this decade. Book your flights now, and come to Chicago for a truly magnificent auction.” Kevin Swersey, Senior Consultant

Upcoming Auction Calendar
June 27, 2009
September 12, 2009
October 24, 2009
December 5, 2009

Bidding Information
Auction catalogs are available through the website or by calling Hart Davis Hart (hdhwine.com; 312.482.9996.) The expanded website allows bidders to view and search the auction catalog and place absentee bids online.

Hart Davis Hart’s state-of-the-art technology allows bidders worldwide to participate in the Chicago-based live auctions via the Internet. Bidders can follow the auction in the salesroom, hear the live auction, and bid against the room, all in real-time. More details about the technology can be found at www.hdhwine.com.

Bidders are encouraged to attend the auction in person, but Hart Davis Hart welcomes bids by phone, fax, through the website, and via the live-bid technology. For more information, contact Hart Davis Hart at 312.482.9996 or go to hdhwine.com.

Kennedy Wilson Auction Group, a division of the international real estate services and investment company Kennedy Wilson, announces the formation of its Commercial Auction Division. Clifford Smith, senior vice president of Kennedy Wilson’s Commercial Investment Group (KW Investments), has been appointed to lead the commercial auction division, according to Rhett Winchell, president of the Auction Group. “We’re excited about this newly formed division, and confident that we’ll be able to utilize our expertise to generate a significant volume of commercial real estate auction activity which will have a positive effect on the current real estate market,” said Winchell.

Kennedy Wilson Auction Group was recently retained by Pfizer Inc. to dispose of 6901 Portage Road, a 364,000± square foot facility located in Portage, Michigan. Subject to the terms of the offering, the proposed auction format offers the property for sale to the most qualified bidder regardless of price. The transaction was structured to sell this Pfizer surplus office building without a reserve price to maximize the largest group of interested investors, said Smith. Sealed bids will be received by Kennedy Wilson Auction Group by noon PDT on June 16, 2009 with the conclusion of the best and final bid by 5:00 pm PDT on Friday, June 19, 2009. The Commercial Auction Division has acquired and sold over $5 billion in assets throughout the United States and Japan.

Commercial investments and brokerage have long been a part of Kennedy Wilson’s business activity. KW Investments includes fund management and advisory services for value-added and core-portfolio investments, commercial and multifamily residential property acquisitions and note purchases. Kennedy Wilson specializes in developing and executing disposition strategies for real estate assets owned in portfolios or as single assets by institutions, corporations or individuals. Maximum asset value is achieved for clients by a thorough underwriting of the subject properties, utilization of proper marketing channels to ensure full exposure to prospective purchasers and, often, sealed-bid sales to promote competition among interested parties. Any interested party who would like further information should contact Clifford Smith at 310-887-3438.

Founded in 1977, Kennedy Wilson is a real estate services and investment firm headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, with 20 offices throughout the U.S. and Japan. It seeks opportunities in partnership with clients in pursuit of above-market investor returns and higher real estate values. Kennedy Wilson Auction Group has been a leading force in the auction industry since 1977. Since inception, the Kennedy Wilson Auction Group has conducted thousands of successful auctions of residential and commercial properties throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. It conducts ballroom style, site-to-site, and on-line auctions for all types of real estate.

Vist www.kwiauctions.com, www.bidkw.com or www.kennedywilson.com for further information.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers , the world’s largest industrial auctioneer, conducted the largest Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Denver, Colorado auctions in Company history last week. Ritchie Bros. (www.rbauction.com) sold almost US$46 million of equipment in Dubai (June 1 - 3, 2009) and almost US$35 million of equipment in Denver (June 4 & 5). The Company conducted nine other unreserved public auctions around the world last week, including an auction in Moncofa, Spain that generated almost (euro)21 million (US$29 million) in gross auction proceeds (June 4 & 5).

DUBAI, UAE - Almost 700 people from 50 countries registered to bid in person or online at the unreserved auction conducted by Ritchie Bros. at its auction site in Dubai from June 1 - 3, 2009. Ritchie Bros. sold almost 2,300 heavy equipment items and trucks over three days, generating almost US$46 million in gross auction proceeds. Out-of-country bidders purchased more than US$30 million of equipment (67 percent). The majority of the equipment went to buyers from the Middle East, and there were buyers on-site at the auction from as far away as Australia, India and Singapore.

“The auction went exceptionally well,” said Steve Barritt, Ritchie Bros. Regional Manager. “This was our first Dubai auction in which we sold more equipment to buyers from outside the United Arab Emirates than within. Demand for equipment has been so high for so long in the UAE. While that demand has slowed recently, it is still strong in the surrounding Gulf countries and elsewhere in the world. By selling through Ritchie Bros., our local consignors were still able to reach those areas of strength and achieve strong returns on their surplus assets, despite the local slowdown.”

DENVER, COLORADO - Ritchie Bros. conducted the largest Colorado auction in Company history last week, selling almost US$35 million of equipment and trucks at its permanent auction site in Denver on June 4 & 5, 2009. Almost 3,000 people from 24 countries, including 48 U.S. states, registered to bid in the unreserved public auction. About 1,900 registered to bid in person; the other 1,100 registered to bid online in real time. Online bidders purchased more than US$11 million of equipment - another Denver site record. Bidders from as far away as Australia, France and the United Arab Emirates registered to bid on almost 1,900 items, including more than a dozen cranes.

“A record-breaking auction needs two things: a quality lineup of equipment and competing bidders who want to own it; we had both in Denver last week,” said Steve Merich, Ritchie Bros. Regional Manager. “Our global marketing strategy reaches potential buyers from across the U.S. and around the world. People will look far afield to find the right equipment at fair market prices. That’s what our unreserved auctions offer, whether the auction is in Denver or Dubai. There was a lot of talk about the strength of pricing here in Denver last week, which underscores the importance of reaching that global bidding audience when you’re selling in a slow economy.”

MONCOFA, SPAIN - Ritchie Bros. welcomed an international crowd to the three-day unreserved public auction at its auction site in Moncofa, Spain on June 3 - 5, 2009. More than 1,000 people from 45 countries registered to bid in person or online on more than 2,900 heavy equipment items and trucks. The auction generated almost (euro)21 million (US$29 million) in gross auction proceeds. Bidders from outside Spain purchased close to (euro)12 million (US$17 million) of equipment. The auction featured equipment from Hertz and about 290 other dealers, rental companies and contractors.

“Once again, we attracted a large international crowd of on-site and online bidders to our Moncofa auction site,” said Jeroen Rijk, Ritchie Bros. Divisional Manager. “Active bidding from a diverse audience of bidders helped us deliver strong returns for our consignors. Trucks and truck cranes sold particularly well. With the local slowdown, awareness of our unreserved auctions and demand for our services has increased in Spain. That’s why we’re opening a second auction site in Spain, in Ocana. We’re looking forward to conducting our first auction there in July.”

There are 73 unreserved Ritchie Bros. auctions on the auction calendar at www.rbauction.com, including the first auction at the Company’s new auction site in Ocana, Spain (July 3, 2009).

An autographed version of one of the most iconic images of the 20th Century is being made available for purchase in the current RR Auction. In 1953, at the height of the 1950s Communist witch-hunt, Albert Einstein signed the photo for award-winning CBS and ABC anchor reporter Howard K. Smith as a gesture of his admiration of Smith’s work. The German inscription (translated) states: “This gesture you will like, Because it is aimed at all of humanity. A civilian can afford to do what no diplomat would dare.” Einstein’s statement clearly shows his keen senses of both humor and defiance.

“This photo of Einstein sticking his tongue out captures his spirit of rebelliousness and non-conformity,” said John Reznikoff of University Archives in Westport, Connecticut, when shown the photo. “It is without a doubt the most desirable photo of Einstein I have ever seen.”

The photograph was taken by UPI photographer Arthur Sasse on March 14, 1951, following an event at Princeton to honor Einstein on his 72nd birthday. While Sasse tried mightily to convince the physicist to smile for the camera, the reaction he received, recorded forever on film, was humorously unexpected! Einstein was so amused by the image that he contacted UPI and requested nine prints for his personal use.

The photo being offered for sale is the one that Einstein gave to Smith, to whom he listened regularly, and is the only one of the nine that has ever been made available for public purchase. The value of the image, with its connection between scientist and newsman, makes it historically significant.

By 1953, Einstein had boldly begun speaking out against McCarthyism when he wrote a nationally-published letter that stated, “Every intellectual who is called before one of the committees ought to refuse to testify.” That same year, an electrical engineer was called before McCarthy’s committee and refused to testify with the explanation that he was following “advice from Professor Einstein.” Reznikoff believes Einstein knew the risky implication of his now-famous gesture. “You can tell by the inscription that he fully understood the power the image conveyed, and what he was doing was quite dangerous considering the Government was forcing intellectuals to name names.” Marcia Bartusiak , author of Einstein’s Unfinished Symphony and The Day We Found the Universe, believes the photo has become such a timeless symbol of non-conformity “because it shows one of history’s greatest men doing something very out of character for what we imagine great figures of history should look like. It’s a jolt to see science’s most familiar face doing something just a bit naughty.”

Other items of particular interest among the more than 1,500 lots to be offered in the June RR Auction include a scarce handwritten letter Einstein wrote in 1939 offering to help a Jewish family trapped in Germany. The auction ends on June 17.

For information, visit the RR Auction web site at www.rrauction.com or contact Bobby Livingston at bl@rrauction.com .

“Today’s art market demands, apart from high quality, the factors of rarity and market freshness,” thus Robert Ketterer, auctioneer and owner of Ketterer Kunst. And he adds: “I’m very glad, especially at our grand Welcome Auctions on 19/20 June 2009 in our new Munich House, to be in a position to provide an extremely choice offering of over 320 objects that meet those requirements.”

The Ernst Barlach bronze “Der Geistkämpfer” [“Spirit Fighter”] exemplifies this trend. According to the Ernst Barlach Lizenzverwaltung [licence administrators], this is probably one of only two casts made during the artist’s lifetime, in 1937. The astringent beauty of this work, which, according to www.artnet.de, has not been seen on the market for more than a quarter of a century, is bound to make an impact on bidders. Made as a solitary figure from the monument warning against war in St Nicholas’ in Kiel on a 1 : 4 scale, this bronze, which is nearly 120 cm high, occupies a special place in Barlach’s œuvre because of its history (estimate: € 150 000-250.000).

Pre-sale viewing (selected works):
27-29 May, Ketterer Kunst, Am Meßberg 1, Hamburg
30 May - 6 June, Ketterer Kunst, Fasanenstrasse 70, Berlin
7-8 June, F. G. Conzen GmbH, Völklinger Strasse 24, Düsseldorf
9-10 June, Kunsthandel Michael Draheim, Taunusstrasse 9, Wiesbaden
11-18 June (all works), Ketterer Kunst, Joseph-Wild-Strasse 18, Munich-Messe

Auction dates:
19 June – Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century, followed by Modern Art
20 June – special auction Bauhaus jointly with Quittenbaum, followed by Post War/Contemporary Art
at Ketterer Kunst, Joseph-Wild-Str. 18, Munich-Messe

kettererkunst.de

This year’s spring auctions at Villa Grisebach Auktionen in Berlin start off on June 4, 2009 with the sale of Modern and Contemporary photography including a copy of only ten numbered that exist of the image of the French First Lady taken by U.S. photographer Pamela Hanson

Also, among the 190 lots for sale, are a convolute of around two dozens photographs and two original glass negatives depicting the work of the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The top lots in this segment include Curt Rehbein’s vintage prints from 1922 depicting Mies van der Rohe’s famous model for a glass skyscraper (estimate of 10,000-15,000 EUR) as well as the architect’s project for the “Tower house at Friedrichstraße” (estimate of 5,000-10,000 EUR).

On the occasion of the ninetieth anniversary of the founding of the Bauhaus, Grisebach furthermore offers a collection of selected photographic works by various Bauhaus artists. Featured here are namely the experimental portraits by Kurt Kranz (estimate of 8,000-10,000 EUR) and Hajo Rose (estimate of 3,500-4,000 EUR), Werner David Feist’s “electronic still life” (estimate of 4,000-6,000 EUR) as well as images showing the Bauhaus in Dessau during its construction taken by Lucia Moholy (estimate of 1,800-2,200 EUR). Additional architectural photographic highlights in this segment are by Kurt Kranz, Bernhard Pankok, the Atelier de Sandalo, and Iwao Yamawaki.

Within the segment of Modern photography, Grisebach presents a few exceptional and rare prints such as Martin Munkácsi’s photograph from circa 1932 depicting himself in one of the windows of the Zeppelin LZ 127 (estimate of 18,000-24,000 EUR), Erwin Blumenfeld’s inimitably personal view of the cabaret artist Valeska Gert (estimate of 8,000-10,000 EUR), two unique and original photograms by Christian Schad (estimated each with 5,000-7,000 EUR), a vintage print from Herbert List’s metaphysical-surreal “The Spirit of Lycabettos” (estimate of 5,000-7,000 EUR), and an early print of the famous 1953 photograph of Marilyn Monroe by Alfred Eisenstaedt (estimate of 8,000-10,000 EUR).

Further highlights featured in Grisebach’s photography auction are amongst others the rare portfolio Portraits by American photographer Arnold Newman estimated with 15,000-20,000 EUR, Irving Penn’s New Guinea Man and Sitting Woman (estimate of 10,000-15,000 EUR), and a version of the Odalisque by Horst P. Horst in a later platinum-palladium print. Contemporary works presented in the sale include a diptych entitled Portrait of a Girl 1+2 by Loretta Lux (estimate of 12,000-15,000 EUR) as well as photographs by artists such as Roger Ballen, Elger Esser, Axel Hütte, Helmut Newton, Bettina Rheims, Sebastiao Salgado, Frank Thiel.

www.villa-grisebach.de

A medical book (Physician’s Desk Reference) once owned by Elvis Presley fetched $8,600 while selling on eBay.

The book, claimed to contain notes written by Presley in 1976, was accompanied by another item which also related to Presley’s health at the time.