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Ended

Surrealist Treasures

The Urban S. Hirsch III Collection
9 – 17 January 2025

Urban S. Hirsch III (1941-2024) was a businessman, fervent art collector, motorcycle enthusiast, and incredibly generous person. He built an astounding collection of Surrealist Art and Old Master prints, inspired by his chosen profession in the printing ink industry. In 1960, Urban started his career at Bowers Printing Ink Co. in Chicago, where he developed his passion for ink on paper, as a business, as well as an art form. Urban's in-depth knowledge of the various inks used in lithographic printing fueled his curiosity about the complexities of the printmaking process and spurred his desire to build a collection of graphic works. While at Bowers, Urban witnessed the company's acquisition of 173 works of art on paper which were ultimately donated to Northern Illinois University by Bowers' then CEO, and Urban's stepfather, Mel Pfaelzer. A passion for Fine Art was a shared family interest as Urban's mother, Dicky Pfaelzer, worked at various art galleries throughout her life: Devorah Sherman Gallery, van Straaten Gallery and The Elaine Horwitch Gallery. In 1968, Urban and his wife, Judy, moved to Los Angeles, and within a few years, they welcomed the birth of their two sons, Paul and Carl. Urban would go on to start his own custom ink manufacturing company and was later elected President of the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM). Urban's passion for collecting extraordinary objects extended beyond Fine Art. Urban loved pre-1916 motorcycles and custom Harleys, being a member of the Hamsters' Motorcycle Club and consistently attending the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. He was constantly renovating his beautiful home in Benedict Canyon, where he loved hosting extended family gatherings. Urban enjoyed life to the fullest and he helped others around him to do the same.

Auction highlights

Lot gallery

124 lots available

Roberto Sebastián Matta(1911-2002)Les Oh! Tomobiles 10

Peter Milton(born 1930)The Jolly Corner 22

Peter Milton(born 1930)A Sky-Blue Life; Points of Departure III, Twentieth Century Limited 2

Joan Miró(1893-1983)Magnétiseur fond blanc

Alexander Petrov(born 1957)Playing with Fire 25 x 30 3/4 in. (63.5 x 76.8 cm)

1

Pierre-Auguste Renoir(1841-1919)Femme couchée (tournée à gauche)

Ryan(20th Century)Chicken or the Egg 4 3/8 x 10 7/8 in. (11.1 x 27.6 cm)

Pierre Soulages(born 1919)Eau-forte No. 3

Mark Spencer(born 1949)Gorilla with Flowers 40 x 42 in. (101.6 x 106.6 cm)

Mark Spencer(born 1949)The Flower Arch 12 x 12 in. (30.4 x 30.4 cm)

Mark Spencer(born 1949)Naked Launch 12 x 12 in. (30.4 x 30.4 cm)

Mark Spencer(born 1949)The Brainstorm Redux 17 x 18 in. (43.1 x 45.7 cm)

Mark Spencer(born 1949)The Flower Boat 22 x 30 in. (55.8 x 76.2 cm)

1

Mark Spencer(born 1949)Anima (in Red) 35 1/2 x 35 1/2 in. (90.1 x 90.1 cm)

Mark Spencer(born 1949)Border Storm; Thirst for Tender 2

Mark Spencer(born 1949)Four Prints 4

Dorothea Tanning(1910-2012)Birthday (Self Portrait at Age 30)

Julia Thecla(American, 1896-1973)Untitled 12 x 12 1/4 in. (30.4 x 31.1 cm)

George Tooker(1920-2011)Voice; Self-Portrait I 2

George Tooker(1920-2011)Woman with Branch; Un Ballo in maschera, from the Metropolitan Opera portfolio

George Tooker(1920-2011)The Mirror; Night 2

John Wilde(1919-2006)Wildeview; A Kiss 2

Paul Wunderlich(1927-2010)Le divan vert; Aida, from Metropolitan Opera Portfolio I & II 2

PAUL WUNDERLICH (1927-2010) Große Mondsichelstele (Large Crescent Moon Stele) for Edition Strassacker, signed and numbered '57/150', stamped with foundry mark height 45 3/4in (116.3cm); width 9in (23cm); depth 9in (23cm)

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