Sotheby’s Paris will offer for sale 600 historic sculptures and interior/exterior decorative objects (statues, fireplaces, garden furniture, park and garden ornaments) from Origines – specialists in France’s architectural heritage from the Gothic period to the 20th century. Auction on 31 March & 1 April.

The sale includes a broad selection of 18th and 19th century fireplaces, notably an exceptional neo-Gothic terracotta fireplace designed by J. Fritsch and made by Wieneberger Ziegel-Fabriks – doubtless a commission for the Austrian imperial family (est. €300,000-500,000). The fireplace blends medieval style with sophisticated craftsmanship, and bears the Viribus Unitis (“With United Forces”) motto of Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph (1830-1916), whose reign was the longest in imperial history. In 1854 he married Elisabeth Amelie Eugenie von Wittelsbach, Duchess of Bavaria, better known as the legendary Sissi (1837-98). The couple’s respective coats-of-arms – those of the family of Habsburg-Lorraine and the Duchy of Bavaria – can be found in niches above the fireplace. The two knight figures on octagonal Corinthian columns evoke the Habsburgs’ glorious dynastic past. They portray Maximilian I (1459-1519), Archduke of Austria, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Germany, the veritable founder of Austrian power, who bequeathed half of Europe to his grandson Charles V; and Archduke Matthias of Austria (1557-1619), King of Bohemia & Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.

The auction features a large group of Polish and European artwork from the Estate of Serafin Dobczynski. After emigrating to the United States in the late 1940s, Mr. Dobcynski started the first shipping company that moved goods between the US and Poland. On one of his many trips to his native country, he befriended naive artist Nikifor Krynicki who was homeless and sold his work on the street. For years, Mr. Dobczynski brought him supplies and purchased much of his work. Now recognized as a cultural icon in Poland, many of Nikifor’s pieces hang in a museum devoted solely to his body of work.

Dobczynski was an avid art collector who founded Pol-Art Gallery in New York City. On auction are works from his private collection including pieces by Charyton, Falat, Iwanowski, Kramsztyk, Menkes, Nikifor, Rubczak and Szewczenko.

Other auction highlights include English, American and French furniture and decorative arts, silver including Tiffany, Caldwell and Kirk, Ceramics including Rookwood, Staffordshire, Royal Vienna and Royal Doulton, Marklin Train Set and Other Collectibles, Asian art, Rugs and many interesting group lots.

Also on offer are works by Jean Cassigneul, Edward J. Gregory, August Mosca, Frederick Waugh, Morris Henry Hobbs, August Riedel, Charles Kaelin, various prints and lithographs, and much more.

An opening reception will be held at Everard and Company, located at 2436 Waters Avenue, Savannah, GA on February 25th from 5-7 to kick off the auction exhibition, which will be held on February 26th and 27th from 10am to 4pm daily.

For more information, contact us at info@everardandcompany.com or visit www.everardandcompany.com.

“After the excessive days are over, stability has once more gained a foothold on the art market. Quality objects make for great results“, said Robert Ketterer, auctioneer and owner of Ketterer Kunst. “There is an upward tendency“, he adds with regards to the upcoming spring auctions. The lots of the auctions on 23 and 24 April 2010 will already delight the hearts of art lovers.
Thematic focal points will be on:
1. Modern Art
2. Post War/Contemporary Art
3. Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century

On 1: Modern Art

This auction is headed by a real rarity: Otto Griebel‘s watercolor “Zwei Frauen“ (Two women) was made in 1924 and will be called with an estimate of € 30.000-40.000. The work, which will also be on the cover of the catalog, did not only barely escape the burning of works by the artist that the National Socialists had confiscated in 1932, it also survived an allied air raid in 1945 in which Griebel lost his apartment and studio as well as most of his works to the flames.

With “Herbstlandschaft“ and “Der rosa Krug“ two typical watercolors by Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, each with an estimate of € 10.000-15.000, will enter the race. The object “Bemalter Steinkopf mit weißer Nase“ (Painted stone head with white nose) by the same artist is a real magnet of attraction. The gray-brown granite stone has been estimated at € 3.000-4.000.

Another interesting lot in the section of sculptures is by Otto Gutfreund. His bronze “Der Cellospieler“ (Cello Player) will not only please music lovers. The estimate for this work with black patina, posthumously cast from presumably the original gypsum model, is at € 6.000-8.000.

Oskar Kokoschka executed his “Hygieia“ in 1961, using color chalk for this drawing of a sculpture in the Athens National Museum. The artist’s confident stroke of the brush in combination with a classic motif of an ancient theme and an estimate of € 4.000-6.000 will surely make for brisk demand.

More than a dozen of pencil and chalk drawings by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, which will be called with estimates between € 900 and € 3.000, are definitely more than just worthwhile mentioning.

The offer is rounded of by appealing print art: Besides three lithographs in colors by Serge Poliakoff as well as Emil Nolde‘s etching and aquatint “Hugo del Caril“ (estimate: € 4.000-5.000) the “Lithographie ‘Blau’“ by Wassily Kandinsky (estimate: € 5.000-7.000) as well as the chalk lithograph “Arbeiterfrau mit schlafendem Jungen“ by Käthe Kollwitz from 1927 will enthuse the audience.

On 2: Post War/Contemporary Art
Walter Stöhrer‘s works are unique in the world of 20th century art, and three large-sized works by the important representative of the Informel will be called up in this section. Besides two mixed media works without title, it is particularly the painting “Cut Up IV“ which will draw the attention. With an estimate of € 18.000-24.000, it radiates an intensive degree of energy in its size of 80.5 x 70.8 in. Only eleven works were made under the title “Cut Up“, of which two are already in possession of German museums.

The acrylic work “Homage an Leonardo da Vinci“ by Lambert Maria Wintersberger will enter the race with an estimate between € 8.000-12.000. The work with its spontaneous and powerful stroke of the brush is a good example of the artist’s painting skills. In formal terms, the depiction calls reminiscence of the gestures of Saint Jerome, the painting of the same name by Leonardo da Vinci, which is in possession of the Pinacoteca Vaticana today.

Besides a zestful gouache in black and white (estimate: € 6.000-8.000), that Karl Otto Götz executed on cardboard in 1958, Markus Prachensky’s dynamic work “Rouge sur noir“, which was made the same year, will be called up at € 5.000-7.000. This painting’s center is dominated by a strong red, whereas color accents in blue and red inspirit Fritz Winter‘s painting without title from 1954. It has been estimated at € 5.000-7.000.

This section is rounded off by, among others, works by the following artists: Horst Antes, Georg Baselitz, Eduardo Chillida, Karl Fred Dahmen, Lucio Fontana, Damien Hirst, Horst Janssen, Robert Motherwell, Sigmar Polke, Neo Rauch, Emil Schumacher, Antoni Tàpies and Zao Wou-Ki.

On 3: Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century

The first auction day will be opened by the section of Old Masters and Art of the 19th century, headed by a painting of Eugen von Guérard from 1849, estimated at € 20.000-30.000. “Die Eremitage von St. Maria del Avocatella bei Neapel“ (The Hermitage of St. Maria del Avocatella near Naples) counts among the classic depictions of southern Italian landscapes, which the artist successfully showed at academy exhibitions in Berlin, Leipzig and Lubeck.

A painting in warm shades of colors by Frits Thaulow will definitely make for some excitement in the auction room. The estimate for the oil painting “Dorfweg“, presumably made in 1890, is at € 15.000-20.000.

The small-sized oil painting on wood “Beim Vorlesen“ by Felix Schlesinger is an atmospheric genre piece. The rural idyll gives insight into family life in the countryside and will be called up with an estimate of € 5.000-7.000.

Besides almost a dozen of still lives of nature and plants by Christian Friedrich Gille, all originate from the collection of the Berlin littérateur and art dealer Walter Unus, three landscape watercolors by Edward Theodore Compton will also shine their light on this section of the auction.

Further works by Johann Georg von Dillis, Jean Bastien-Lepage and Karl Friedrich Schinkel will also be on offer. Among the high-quality graphic art will be works by Albrecht Dürer, Francisco de Goya, Giovanni Battista Piranesi and Georg Friedrich Schmidt.

Preview:
Selected works will be shown:
Ketterer Kunst, Meßberg 1, Hamburg, April 6th – 8th, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Ketterer Kunst, Fasanenstr. 70, Berlin, April 10th– 15th, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

All works will be shown:
Ketterer Kunst, Joseph-Wild-Str. 18, Munich, April 17th –21st, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., April, 22nd, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., later appointments only by arrangement

Auction:
April, 23rd, 3 p.m.: A Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century r
followed by Modern Art
April, 24th, 3 p.m.: Post War/Contemporary Art
at Ketterer Kunst, Joseph-Wild-Str. 18, Munich

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 its headquarters in Munich and a branch in Hamburg. Gallery rooms in Berlin as well as representatives in Heidelberg and Krefeld have contributed substantially to the company’s success. Ketterer Kunst has further rounded off its portfolio with the prestigious Ernest Rathenau Verlag, New York/Munich. In addition, exhibitions, special theme and charity auctions as well as online auctions are regular events at Ketterer Kunst.

Contact:

Ketterer Kunst
Joseph-Wild-Str. 18
81829 München
GERMANY
Tel. +49-(0)55244-444
Fax.: +49-(0)55244-177
E-mail: infomuenchen@kettererkunst.de

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

Hart Davis Hart achieved exceptional results this weekend in Chicago, realizing $3,540,032 against a pre-sale auction estimate of $1,926,900- $2,880,830. Collections of DRC, Lafite, and Pétrus brought intense bidding with many prices skyrocketing over the high estimate. A case of 1982 Château Pétrus (mags) more than doubled the high estimate, bringing $71,700 against an estimate of $24,000- $35,000. Five bottles of the rare 1991 Romanée-Conti commanded $47,800 against an estimate of $18,000-28,000.

Eager bidders participated from 41 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea and the United Kingdom. A live internet bidder from the US was the largest buyer of the day as hdhlive.com continues to grow in popularity.

“We at Hart Davis Hart have chosen not to limit our efforts solely to Asia. To be the best wine auction house in the world, we must serve every corner of the globe with the same high standards. The US, Europe, South America, and Asia are all equally critical markets. We believe that anything else would be a disservice to our global buyers and to the detriment of our consignors. The results today were truly driven by global demand,” commented Chairman, John Hart.

“The success of the day went beyond DRC and Lafite as prices across the board were strong from every category, region and price point. The outpouring of bids from around the globe was the strongest we have seen. More bidders participated in this auction than ever before,” remarked CEO Paul Hart.

Top Ten Lots (inclusive of 19.5% buyer’s premium):
Lot 456: 1982 Château Pétrus (6 mags owc) $71,700 (est. $24,000-35,000)
Lot 492: 1990 La Tâche Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (12 bs owc) $65,725 (est. $28,000-42,000)
Lot 289: 1991 Romanée-Conti (5 bs) $47,800 (est. $18,000-28,000)
Lot 705: 1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Assortment (12 bs owc) $45,410 (est. $17,000-26,000)
Lot 19: 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild (12 bs owc) $41,825 (est. $24,000-35,000)
Lot 290: 1993 Romanée-Conti Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (7 bs) $41,825 (est. $22000-32000)
Lot 706: 1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti: Echézeaux (2); Grands-Echézeaux (2 bs); La Tâche (3 bs); Richebourg (2 bs); Romanée-Conti (1 b); Romanée-St.-Vivant (2 bs) $41,825 (est. $17000-26000)
Lot 23: 1982 Château Pétrus (9 bs) $33,460 (est. $18000-28000)
Lot 463: 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild (6 mags) $33,460 (est. $24000-35000)
Lot 1023: 2000 Château Lafite Rothschild (12 bs) $23,900 (est. $14000-20000)

Total hammer: $2,962,370 (153.8% to low)
Total aggregate: $3,540,032
Percent sold by lot: 100%

2010 Auction Calendar
March 20, 2010
May 8, 2010
June 26, 2010
September 11, 2010
October 30, 2010
December 11, 2010

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.

About Hart Davis Hart Wine Co.
Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. is both a dynamic retailer and an internationally prominent wine auction house, occupying a unique position in the rare wine market. We offer collectors and restaurateurs a broad range of options for buying and selling wines, providing unrivaled expertise and personalized service.

Founded in October 2004, Hart Davis Hart represents the alliance of three highly-respected industry leaders: John Hart, Michael Davis, and Paul Hart, with a combined experience of nearly 90 years in the rare wine business. John Hart, a renowned expert, has been a leader in the rare wine retail business for over three decades. With extensive careers at Christie’s, Davis & Company, and Sotheby’s, Michael Davis and Paul Hart are the most experienced wine auctioneers in America.

Hart Davis Hart has emerged as one of the most innovative and trusted sources for rare wines in America, with over 150 years of combined experience in the specialized field of fine and rare wines. No other firm can approach their level of expertise, network of relationships, or dedication to service.

Hart Davis Hart core services:
• Traditional Live Auctions
• Private Retail Services
• Online Sales
• Consultation

For more information on Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. or to arrange
a media visit, please contact Marc Smoler at 312.482.9766, msmoler@hdhwine.com or visit hdhwine.com

Ketterer Kunst will host the exhibition “Tom Wesselmann – Graphic Works” in its gallery rooms in Berlin-Charlottenburg from 16 February to 13 March 2010.

Next to Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann counts among the most distinguished representatives of Pop Art. He is the American pop artist whose choice of motifs shows the strongest ties to the European tradition. By exaggerating what can be regarded as trivial, he has introduced a new kind of iconography to art. His style is straight forward, however, at the same time abstracting and clichéd, so that it almost becomes a cliché itself.

While Warhol tries to take some of the American Dream’s demanding presence by means of altering the images‘ colors and forms, Wesselmann sets a different course. He takes the image to the level of a fetish, which, in return, is a substitute for a new reality. In the end, this is the reason why his art is so popular.

Besides still lives, the exhibition has its focus on female nudes. Wesselmann‘s depictions often address the observer’s pleasure principle. By connecting forms and colors, he takes the audience to a special sensual indulgence. Erotic is a special means for the artist to breach the observer’s demureness, as his paintings simply do not leave any room for callousness. Regardless of the position one holds on his subjects, his depictions of Claire, Judy, Monica or Rosemary always trigger some reaction within the observer.
Provenance of the works on display, which may be purchased, is the New York collection Paul Rothman.

Duration: 16 February-13 March 2010, Mon-Fri from 11 am-7 pm and Sat from 11 am-4 pm Location: Ketterer Kunst, Fasanenstr. 70, 10719 Berlin

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 its headquarters in Munich and a branch in Hamburg. Gallery rooms in Berlin, as well as representatives in Heidelberg and Ravensburg have contributed substantially to the company’s success. Ketterer Kunst has further rounded off its portfolio by acquiring the prestigious Ernest Rathenau Verlag, New York/Munich. In addition, exhibitions, special theme and charity auctions as well as online auctions are regular events at Ketterer Kunst.

Contact:
Ketterer Kunst
Joseph-Wild-Str. 18
81829 München
Tel. +49-(0)55244-444
Fax.: +49-(0)55244-177
E-mail: infomuenchen@kettererkunst.de

Image: Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004), Claire sitting with robe half off (Vivienne). 1993, Silkscreen in colors. 154,3 x 121,4 cm

Bonhams has announced a highly exciting line-up of exceptional and rare motorcars for its sale at Retromobile, held in Paris at the earlier date of 23 January 2010.

An exceptional collection of twenty-eight collectors’ motor cars is being offered by Bonhams, representing the first time that these cars have been offered in the public domain. Collected by an Andalusian industrialist, highlights include a c1930 Bentley 4-Litre/8-Litre Le Mans-style Tourer (estimate €450,000-550,000), a 1929 Mercedes Benz 630K “Town Car” (estimate €400,000-600,000), a 1935 Hispano-Suiza T56 torpédo Fiol (estimate €450,000-600,000), a 1931 Cadillac V16 série 452 dual-cowl phaéton (estimate €350,000-450,000), and a 1920 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost 40/50HP Double Phaeton (estimate €250,000-350,000).

One of the most extraordinary lots ever to be offered at auction – a touring Bugatti which lay at the bottom of a Swiss lake for over seventy years – will also be going under the hammer at Retromobile. The Brescia Bugatti has inevitably suffered some damage during its extensive stay underwater, however some 20% are still salvageable (half of the chassis and most of the aluminium casings) which means that it is possible to save the car, preserving it in its original splendour and glory. It could also prove to be a most interesting restoration project. This intriguing motor car has attracted a pre-sale estimate of €70,000-90,000.

Alongside the collection, Bonhams will also be offering an immaculately restored 1926-27 1.5-litre supercharged straight-eight Talbot-Darracq. One of the most charismatic, exciting and advanced Grand Prix cars of the so-called ‘Roaring Twenties’, the car is expected to race off the rostrum and has attracted a pre-sale estimate of €400,000-600,000. Other highlights include The ex-1955 Paris Salon & 1955 Turin Motor Show 1955 Pegaso (estimate €400,000-500,000), a 1927 Bugatti Type 44 Roadster (estimate €120,000-160,000), a 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport (estimate €550,000-650,000) and a hugely rare 1931 Avions Voisin C14 ‘Chartre’ – one of only two ever built – which has a pre-sale estimate of €380,000-460,000.

These will be joined by The ex-Geneva Motor Show, ex-Pebble Beach concours 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450 SS coupé prototype (estimate €400,000-500,000), a 1947 Talbot-Lago T26 Record (estimate €115,000-125,000) and an exquisitely converted 1971 Citroen DS21 Convertible Limousine (estimate €130,000-150,000) – which stands as an incredible testament to the craftsmanship of coachbuilder Chapron and the Citroen brand as a whole.

Meanwhile, a series of early motorcars are also listed in the catalogue: a 1911 De Dion Bouton CQ 8CV (estimate €35,000-55,000), a 1917 Overland New Series Model 75B Type C (estimate €15,000-30,000), a 1911 Clement Bayard Landaulet Type AC4C2 (estimate €55,000-75,000) and an 1899 Georges Richard type A Double Phaeton (estimate €70,000-110,000).

Matthieu Lamoure, Director of European Motorcar Department at Bonhams said: “Bonhams is excited to be offering 100 exceptional collector cars (including 20 cars which will be offered without reserve) at Retromobile. The last two sales we’ve held at Retromobile have been very successful and we are confident that this years’ offering – which includes motor cars as diverse as the unique ‘lake find’ to a superb Alfa 8C Monza offered at prices to suit different budgets – will prove similarly popular with collectors and yield great results!”

www.bonhams.com/retromobile

Sotheby’s has announced that it will offer for sale 163 works from the former Peter Stuyvesant Collection, property of British American Tobacco Netherlands (BAT), on Monday, March 8, 2010 at Sotheby’s in Amsterdam. The works from the collection to be offered for sale are estimated to realise in excess of €.4 million.

The collection is the largest collection of Post War and Contemporary Art ever to come at auction in the Netherlands. Starting in the late 1950s it became famous as the Peter Stuyvesant Collection and now consists of more than 1000 works created by artists from over 40 countries. The core body of the collection, which will be offered for sale in March, comprises 163 works by leading artists such as Karel Appel, Arman, Alighiero Boetti, Corneille, Alan Davie, Simon Hantai, Mike Kelley, Martin Kippenberger, Per Kirkeby, Wilfredo Lam, Robert Mangold, Robert S. Matta, Kenneth Noland, Roman Opalka, Niki de St Phalle, Serge Poliakoff, Manuel Rivera, David Salle, Giuseppe Santomaso, Jan Schoonhoven, Jesus Rafael Soto, Gunther Uecker and Victor Vaserely. All these artworks are completely fresh to the market.

The story behind how this remarkable collection was formed is inspiring: in the late-50s Alexander Orlow, the Managing Director of Turmac Tobacco, put his love for abstract art to industrial use. “However complicated the operations of a machine may look,” he said “it soon becomes monotonous to factory worker”. He wanted to improve their working environment, raise the spirits of his dedicated employees, he decided to and did this by building year by year what in time became a world-class collection of large, colourful contemporary works specifically chosen to be shown in the factories above the machinery and so provide inspiration and stimulation.

As Dr. Wim Beeren one of the advisers to the collection wrote: “Alexander Orlow came up with the sublime idea to place paintings by modern artists in the factories surrounded by the industrial process. It demonstrated the great faith that Orlow had in the works of art to create a stimulating environment within the work process.”

The History of the Collection
The Peter Stuyvesant Collection started as a daring experiment with art in the production company in Zevenaar in the Netherlands, in the late-1950s. Alexander Orlow, then Managing Director of Turmac Tobacco Company in the Netherlands, was the inspiration behind the formation of the collection.

In 1960 Orlow invited 13 artists from various European countries to create paintings for the production halls, the theme being “Joie de vivre”. Each painting would have to be large in size with vivid colours and shapes powerful enough to stand out in the large noisy factory halls. For many of the artists this application of art was a completely new experience. Employees too, were caught unaware by this artistic adventure when the paintings were installed at night as a surprise. The initial response of the majority of employees was disbelief. After six months, the employees even expressed a preference for the abstract works. This was the start of the Peter Stuyvesant Collection.

By 1961 it became clear that there needed to be a guiding hand in the selection of what should be added to the collection. Orlow appointed a succession of highly respected advisors out of the museum world and gave them all a simple brief and a free hand. The criteria for the collection were that

• the works should be large in scale,
• bold in imagery,
• by artists of international standing.

The first adviser appointed was Willem Sandberg, former Director of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam; then Renilde Hammacher van den Brande, former chief curator for modern art at Museum Boymans van Beuningen in Rotterdam; followed by Wim Beeren, former Director of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam; and most recently Martijn Sanders, former Director of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw (until 2006).

Over the last 50 years years, the collection has expanded and gained worldwide critical acclaim thanks to the help of these top-class advisors, becoming a highly quality varied and international collection of art that represents artists from Europe, the United States, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa.

Initially the emphasis was on the Cobra painters Karel Appel, Constant, Lucebert and Corneille, as well as other artists such as Alechinsky, Brands, Saura, Poliakoff, Manessier, Matta and other expressionists active in the 50s and 60s. Later the collection was expanded to include representatives from such movements as Analytical Art, Nouveau Réalisme, Arte Povera, the American color field painters and later movements such as the Neue Wilden.

Sotheby’s biannual Evening Sale of Contemporary Art in Paris realised the remarkable total of €8,051,100 (£7,302,584 /$11,947,027), far surpassing pre-sale expectations of €4,680,000-6,440,000* ($6,938,240-9,547,493/£4,192,797-5,769,575). The auction saw all but one lot sell, achieving the joint-highest sell-through rate of 96.3% for a Sotheby’s Paris Evening Sale of Contemporary Art, and established a sold-by-value rate of 98.1% – the second-highest for an Evening Sale of Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s Paris.

Commenting on the results of this evening’s Contemporary Art Evening Sale, Grégoire Billault, Vice President and Director of the Contemporary Art Department in Paris, said: “We are delighted with the results of tonight’s auction which surpassed the pre-sale high estimate by more than €1.5 million and established the joint highest sell-through rate of 96.3% for an Evening Sale of Contemporary Art staged at Sotheby’s Paris. We also set a new artist record for Günther Uecker. With works consigned from international collections, such as ‘Le village fantasque’ by Jean Dubuffet which came from the US, the level of bidding in tonight’s sale from across the globe and the overall success of the results achieved, Sotheby’s Paris continues to demonstrate its importance as an international selling centre.”

The two top-selling lots of this evening’s sale were both works by Pierre Soulages. Peinture – 27 février 1954, which Soulages produced for his first exhibition in New York, at the Kootz Gallery, saw competition from two bidders on the telephone who drove the final price paid to €888,750 ($1,318,816/£806,122), in excess of its pre-sale high estimate of €600,000-800,000. An additional work in the sale by Pierre Soulages also achieved the second-highest price: Peinture – 28 février 1970 sold to a telephone bidder for the sum of €720,750 ($1,069,521/£653,741), well above pre-sale expectations of €300,000-400,000.

A further highlights of tonight’s auction was Jeff Koons’ Elephant (Purple), which was generously donated by the artist in 2009 to the Fondation Claude Pompidou and was sold tonight to benefit one of the foundation’s most recent projects dedicated to treating Alzheimer’s Disease. The work exceeded its pre-sale high estimate (estimate: €300,000-400,000) and finally sold for €400,000 ($593,560/£362,812) to a buyer on the telephone after a bidding battle with two other clients in the saleroom. Elephant (Purple) comes from Koons’ Easyfun series, and represents the first time a work by the artist has been offered at Sotheby’s saleroom in Paris.

Commenting on the sale of Elephant (Purple), Bernardette Chirac, President of the Fondation Claude Pompidou and wife of France’s former President, said: “This remarkable purple mirror is a very charming piece and I’m delighted that it sold tonight for such a good price. It was sold to benefit the Fondation Claude Pompidou and the money raised will specifically enable the construction of a hospital in Nice (South of France), dedicated to Alzheimer disease. This hospital, the Institut Claude Pompidou, will become a research centre on this disease. I am extremely grateful to Jeff Koons, a friend of Madame Georges Pompidou, for this magnificent present to the foundation.”

The cover lot of the Contemporary Art Evening Sale catalogue, Yves Klein’s 1961 F90, sold within its estimate of €500,000-700,000 to a buyer on the telephone for €504,750 ($748,999/£457,823) and Günther Uecker’s Energetic bilds feld commanded €444,750 ($659,965/£403,401), well in excess of its pre-sale estimate of €120,000-180,000, smashing the previous auction record for the artist of €294,800 by almost €150,000.

All four works in the sale from the Pierre Leroy Collection performed extremely well and realised a combined total of €369,000 ($547,560/£334,694), against a pre-sale estimate of €200,000-280,000. Andy Warhol’s Portrait of Jamie Wyeth – one of Warhol’s Society Portraits from the early 1970s– was the highlight of the group and sold for €114,750 ($170,278/£104,082), against an estimate of €100,000–120,000.

Selling to a private French collector, Jean Dubuffet’s 1964 Le Village Fantasque commanded €624,750 ($927,067/£566,667), a sum more than double its pre-sale high estimate of €200,000-300,000, becoming the third-highest price in tonight’s sale. Le Village Fantasque, a splendid example of Dubuffet’s Hourloupe cycle, has remained in the same collection since 1966.

Image: Pierre Soulages, Peinture 195 x 130 cm, 27 février 1954. Sold for: 888,750 €. ©Sotheby’s/ArtDigital Studio

Sotheby’s Swiss Art in Zurich realised CHF 5,862,875 (€ 3,878,878). The sale was 65% sold by lot and 83.2% by value. In addition to landscapes and portraits by Hodler from the private collection of his model Jeanne Charles, works by Ernest Biéler, Max Buri as well as Giovanni and Augusto Giacometti also sold well under the hammer of Dr. Claudia Steinfels, Director of Sotheby’s Zurich.

Urs Lanter, Director of Sotheby’s Swiss Art Department, commented: “We are very happy with the results of the sale, demonstrating once again that works of major quality by renowned Swiss masters are still very much sought after, in particular those from private collections. Hodler’s paintings, for instance, commanded excellent prices tonight. Furthermore, Swiss contemporary artists were in strong demand: the top lot of this section was Tinguely’s “Hexerich”, but works by Gottfried Honegger and Olivier Mosset also aroused strong competition. We aim to build on these encouraging results for Contemporary art in future sales.”

Central to the excitement this evening was Stockhornkette mit Thunersee from Ferdinand Hodler, from the collection of his model Jeanne Charles Cerani-Cisic. Painted in 1913 and estimated CHF 350,000 to 450,000 (€ 233,000-299,000), it finally sold for CHF 590,500 (€ 390,675). From the same ensemble, Schwörender im Linksprofil zur « Einmutigkeit », found a new owner at CHF 75,000 (€50,083) after intense competition. Furthermore, Thunersee mit Blüemlisalp und Niesen by the same painter but from another source went for CHF 386,500 (€ 255,708).

The second highest-selling lot of this evening, a composed landscape from Vallotton, La Dordogne à Beynac, sold over the phone at CHF 506,500 (€335,100). And Brienzer Bauern in Wirtsstube from Max Buri found a buyer for the same price.

Paysage d’Automne from Ernest Biéler is unique in the diversity of techniques and contrasting styles used by the artist. It was acquired at CHF 470,500 (€311,283): the successful telephone bid was more than twice higher to the high estimate.

Among other stand-out pieces in tonight’s sale was die Wolke von Cuno Amiet – in which the influence of Van Gogh is remarkable. That sold for CHF 182,500 (€ 311,283). Meanwhile, Die Häuser von Catmaté mit Piz Lagrev by Gottardo Segantini realised CHF 170,500 (€ 112,803).

Swiss contemporary artists attracted much interest, as proven by Hexerich from Tinguely, which went under the hammer for CHF 134,500 (€88,985).

Sotheby’s Zurich holds « Swiss Art » auctions twice a year. The next one will take place in Spring 2010.

After a hugely popular four-day viewing – attended by 1300 people – Sotheby’s Paris sale of exceptional works of art from Africa and Oceania attracted a packed saleroom throughout, with ferocious competition between telephone bidders and collectors in the saleroom. The sale total of over €5 million ($7.9 million) represented a selling-rate of 83% by value. Most of the top prices were paid by private collectors and connoisseurs, predominantly European or American, all seeking exceptional items in a variety of specialized fields.

Marguerite de Sabran, Head of African & Oceanic Art at Sotheby’s Paris: ‘This evening’s results, and the success of the viewing, reflect tremendous enthusiasm for tribal art – not just among traditional connoisseurs, but increasingly among modern and contemporary art collectors. The talent of the great sculptors of Africa and Oceania are becoming more and more widely recognized.’

The highlight of the African section of the sale was a masterpiece of Bamana art: a Kono mask (height 48cm) which fetched €1,408,750 ($2.139.565) – a world record price for a West African mask. With its perfect volumes and pure, powerful forms, this is one of the most potent emblems of the Kono initiatory society (lot 58, estimate €300,000-400,000*). It was shown in New York in 1984 at the MoMA exhibition ‘Primitivism’ in 20th Century Art – Affinity of the Tribal and the Modern, devoted to the discovery by early 20th century artists of ‘Negro’ art, which was to have a profound influence upon their creative output.

Results for the Marcia & John Friede Collection paid tribute to the eye of two collectors who have strived for over 20 years encourage the appreciation of the exceptional artistic wealth of Papua New Guinea. The collection’s 15 lots totalled €1,323,350 ($2.009.860).

The most popular item was an ancient Bahinemo hook-mask from the Hunstein Mountains (East Sepik, Papua New Guinea) which virtually doubled its €180,000 high estimate to fetch €324,750 ($493.220, lot 19). With its deconstructed human face, and hooks in the form of hornbill beaks, the mask illustrates the remarkable degree of artistic abstraction attained by the Bahinemo people.

Other Oceanic works attracted keen bidding, notably a splendid Kopar figure from Papua New Guinea, one of the finest examples of the style that developed in the Lower Sepik in the 19th century. It sold for €114,750 ($174.280, lot 18, est. €50,000-80,000).

A large hook figure (Yiman group, Korowori River, Papua New Guinea, est. €150,000-200,000), whose startlingly modern form enchanted 20th century artists, cleared its top-estimate to reach €240,750 ($365.645, lot 22).

The sale began with a collection of Aboriginal shields which reflected the creativity of the inhabitants of the Australian outback. Collectors were deeply impressed by the variety of forms and subtle range of colours. The most popular pieces proved to be a magnificent Aranda shield (Western Australia) at €30,750 ($46.700), six times its €5,000 top estimate (lot 1); and a rain-forest shield (Queensland) that fetched €23,550 ($35.765) against an estimate of €5,000-8,000 (lot 5).

Classic works of African art were fiercely contested. A magnificent Punu mask once owned by General Marie-Réné Collignon posted €264,750, one of the day’s highest prices ($408.095, lot 88, est. €250,000-400,000). It portrays a superbly stylized female face, celebrating the beauty of women and their importance in the spirit world.

A superb Kongo or Vili power figure (Democratic Republic of Congo) doubled its €100,000 top estimate to reach €264,750 ($408.095, lot 98). This powerful, large-headed figure entered the Linden Museum in Stuttgart in 1908.

The Musée du Quai Branly pre-empted one of the five known masks from Geelvink Bay for €102,750 ($156.055, lot 23, est. €100,000-150,000). The mask was collected by Jacques Viot – one of the few Surrealists to have made the arduous voyage to Oceania – on Kurudu Island in 1929, and shown by Pierre Loeb at the Galerie Pigalle the following year.