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Fine and Rare Wines
21 Nov 2009, San Francisco and Los Angeles |
Antique Arms and Armor and Modern Sporting Guns
23 Nov 2009, 220 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco |
California and American Paintings and Sculpture
23 Nov 2009, Los Angeles and San Francisco |
Decorative Arts and Glass
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
Doulton and Beswick Wares
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
British and Continental Collectable Ceramics
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
20th Century Prints
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
Watches & Wristwatches
24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
Clocks & Barometers
24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
British & Continental Pictures
24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
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The Mod Squad -
Emil Filla and Modernist Works of Art Highlight May Auction at Bonhams & Butterfields
http://www.bonhams.com/usmodernart
Seasoned collectors and new bidders from across the United States and throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America vied for Modern, Contemporary and Latin American works of art at Bonhams & Butterfields on May 4, 2009 in Los Angeles. Simulcast to the firm’s San Francisco gallery, the 170-lot sale attracted strong buyer interest for a variety of high quality works by well-known artists.
Highlights from the well rounded selection included pieces from Czech modernist Emil Filla, celebrated Irish-born American painter Sean Scully, and renowned Mexican painter Diego Rivera, among others. Sales totaled more than $1.1-million with two new world auction records established for Modernist works by Edmondo Bacci and Julius Zimpel.
The marquee lot of the auction was Still life with tea service and fruit, 1946 by Czech modernist Emil Filla, which sold for $79,300. According to Tate Dougherty, Director of Contemporary Art at Bonhams New York: “The May auction reflected the new reality of the art market as collectors across all categories sought out high quality works by long recognized leading artists. The strength of this art market lies in the tried and true, as opposed to the new and speculative. Strong work by established artists sparked intense bidding. Two such works were Emil Filla’s Still life with tea service and fruit, which attracted dedicated bidders from the United States and Europe, and Robert Rauschenberg’s, Letter Head, which sold for $51,850 against a pre-auction estimate of $15,000 – 20,000. ”
The bathers by Austrian modernist painter Julius Zimpel, who was part of the movement as Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, brought a world record price. The artist, although a very prominent figure of the Viennese secessionist movement, died young and left behind a very small body of work. The bathers is the most important of his paintings to be sold to date at auction, and art buyers recognized the rare opportunity. Expected to bring $3,000 to $5,000, the muted introspective oil on canvas-- with figures reminiscent of the work of Schiele against a background reminiscent of Klimt-- sold for $30,500, a world auction record for the artist. Edmondo Bacci’s abstract modernist work from 1958 titled Avvenimento #295, which was also exhibited in the 1958 Venice Biennale, also achieved a world auction record for the artist.
Strength was also seen within the Contemporary sector. A signature drawing by world acclaimed abstract artist Sean Scully attracted solid interest. An early example of his mature work Untitled, 1983 is inspired in part by the rock walls of his native Ireland. The vertical work came to market highly anticipated and brought $30,500 during the May sale.
Additional contemporary works of note included Kazansky Railway Station, 1963 by Mikhail Roginsky (sold for: $33,550); Push Up, 1971 by Clement Meadmore (sold for: $32,940); Tensión parda, 1964 by Fernando Zóbel (sold for: $31,720) and Le poëte est la couleur du temps qui passe, 1976 by Théo Tobiasse (sold for: $30,500).
An excellent and cohesive selection of Latin American Art was also featured during the spring auction. Among the highlights was a fresh to market work by Diego Rivera titled Cargador descansando, 1937. Signed and dated by the artist, the watercolor was accompanied by the original import document from the American Consular Service in Mexico City, dated February 1940. The work sold for $45,750.
Another highlight from the Latin American section was Mujer sentada con rebozo - orante, 1972 by Francisco Zúñiga (sold for: $30,500). Zuniga’s prices have remained strong, and Bonhams & Butterfields has a long and established track record selling his work.
Press Contact: Jannelle Grigsby, jannelle.grigsby@bonhams.com, (310) 567-7990
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America and in August 2003, Goodmans, a leading Australian fine art and antiques auctioneer with salerooms in Sydney, joined the Bonhams Group of Companies. Today, Bonhams is one of the largest and fastest growing auction houses in the world. It offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further seven throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 50 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com. For other press releases, go to www.bonhams.com/press.
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