Irma Sterns Zanzibar Image of Indian Beauty to Sell at Bonhams

LONDON.- An arresting image from Irma Stern’s time in Zanzibar, where she was powerfully affected by the beauty of the local Indian women, features in Bonhams next sale of South African Art in London on October 26 and 27. There are no fewer than four images by Stern (1894 to 1966) in this sale estimated at between £1.5m to £2m for the quartet. The Zanzibari beauty which caught Stern’s eye, titled ‘Bahora girl’ is an enchanting image dating from 1945. [...]

Bonhams to Sell Album of Paintings of Australia’s Famed Wine Growing Region

LONDON.- An album of paintings of Australia’s famed wine growing region, the Barossa Valley, by an English vicar sent as a parish priest to Lyndoch in 1877, will be sold at Bonhams Exploration & Travel Sale on September 15 in London. What makes this album of topographical views particularly interesting is that they show the region as it was before the total domination of the vineyards. Jacob’s Creek for example is just a river running through a bleak rocky valley. [...]

Two Important Paintings Consigned to Auction through Christie’s iPhone App

LONDON.- The auction of Modern and Contemporary Australian Art at Christie’s on 23 September 2010 will offer a pair of rediscovered paintings of historical importance that was found in an attic and which was identified and consigned to auction through Christie’s iPhone application. The rare oil paintings by William Blamire Young celebrate the birth of the Australian army and were formerly in the ownership of its founder, Major General Edward ‘Curly’ Hutton. They are offered as a pair and are [...]

Basquiat, Hockney and Wesley Drive Momentum in Christie’s First Open Sale

NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s announced the fall 2010 edition of First Open, a sale of edgy Post-War & Contemporary Art to be held on September 22, 2010 in New York. The offering runs the gamut with works by artists — such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Hockney, Donald Judd ,Yayoi Kusama, Frank Stella, Thomas Struth, John Wesley and Lisa Yuskavage — and is geared to appeal to both seasoned and novice collectors alike. The auction to feature 249 lots is expected [...]

The Oyster Eater by Henri Stresor Returns to France for the XXVth Biennale Des Antiquaires

PARIS.- A painting that once belonged to Cardinal Joseph Fesch (1763-1839), the half-brother of Napoleon’s mother, Letizia Ramolino Bonaparte, is among the superb selection of Old Masters being shown by Bernheimer-Colnaghi at the XXVth Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris from 15 to 22 September 2010. (Stand no. S02) The Oyster Eater, which shows a young man caught in the act of eating an oyster, was painted by Henri Stresor (1613?-1679) and has an asking price of 1.75 million euros. Very [...]

Sotheby’s to Sell Paintings To Benefit the David Nalbandian Foundation

NEW YORK, NY.- With the US Open underway Sotheby’s announced that it is to offer paintings by two of the leading artists in Argentina to benefit the charity founded by one of tennis’s biggest stars – David Nalbandian. The works will be included in the Latin American Art auction on 16 and 17 November in New York. The Argentine player has had a successful 2010, guiding Argentina through to the Davis Cup semi-finals and winning his 11th ATP World Tour [...]

Guernsey’s Presents Two Unique Auctions Under One Roof at Park Avenue Armor

NEW YORK, NY.- Guernsey’s Auction House will host two unique auctions at New York City’s Park Avenue Armory on September 24th and 25th. The auction powerhouse has amassed two mutually exclusive collections, which will be made available to the public. On September 24, Guernsey ’s will host an Iconic Objects Auction. Each of the lots in this unique sale will contain a significant item (or collection of items) that relate to a person or event that impacted our nation’s culture [...]

Sculptures and Paintings Lead Christie’s Sale of Indian and Southeast Asian Art

NEW YORK, NY.- On September 14th, The Christie’s Asian Art Week will commence with the sale of Indian and Southeast Asian Art, offering over 200 selected works including exceptional bronzes, sculpture, and paintings from Gandhara, the Himalayas, India and Indonesia. The sale not only offers treasures at many different price levels, but also offers works that spans a wide time and geographical range from the bejeweled or remarkably simple, to monumental and miniature. An important Gandharan Silver Collection will highlight [...]

Printmaking through the Ages at Christie’s this September

LONDON.- Christie’s announced the September auction of Old Master, Modern and Contemporary Prints, which will showcase five centuries of printmaking and a remarkable selection of famous names from all periods. Alongside iconic prints by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro, the sale will also feature more unusual works by Richard Hamilton, Anish Kapoor, William Kentridge and Sigmar Polke. With estimates ranging from £2,000 up to £300,000 the sale offers something for a wide range of tastes and [...]

Astonishing Prices for Redpaths on Opening Day of Bonhams Scottish Sale

LONDON.- Bonhams Annual Scottish Sale got off to a flying start today taking over £1.25m during a morning of picture sales. Anne Redpath’s beautiful 1937 painting, ‘Still Life with Michaelmas Daises’ sold for an astonishing £134,000 well over the pre-sale estimate of £30,000- 50,000 and “Cagnes” by the same artist sold for £114,000 against an estimate of £60,000 – 80,000. George Leslie Hunter’s vibrantly coloured ‘Still Life’ made £144,000 and one of Samuel John Peploe’s iconic paintings of Iona sold [...]

Frank Auerbach Painting Emerges After 30 Years in Private Hands

LONDON.- An important and large painting Looking Towards Mornington Crescent Station (1972 -74) by the highly acclaimed artist Frank Auerbach will be sold by Bonhams in the 20th Century British Art auction at New Bond Street on November 17th 2010. The painting, which has never appeared at auction before and hasn’t been since in public since the late 1970s, is estimated to sell for £800,000 – £1,200,000. In June Bonhams achieved the highest ever price at auction for a small [...]

Museum of Contemporary Art Announces “The Art Auction”

CHICAGO, IL.- The Art Auction, the Museum of Contemporary Art‘s (MCA) Chicago’s most important fundraiser, is being held for the first time ever in the galleries of the museum. This year, the auction features works by the most recognized contemporary artists working today, including Olafur Eliasson, Louise Nevelson, Ed Ruscha, Mark Bradford, Kiki Smith, Lari Pittman, Julie Mehretu, Luc Tuymans, William Wegman, Lorna Simpson, and Christopher Wool, along with works by promising emerging artists. The event is co-chaired by Leslie [...]

Sotheby’s Hong Kong to Offer Lots Estimated in Excess of $205 Million

HONG KONG.- Sotheby’s Hong Kong Autumn Sales 2010 will be held at Hall 3, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 2 to 8 October 2010. The sale series will offer over 3,200 lots of Modern and Contemporary Asian Art, traditional Chinese paintings, fine Chinese ceramics and works of art as well as jewellery, watches and wine with a total estimate in excess of HK$1.6 billion / US$205 million. Selected highlights will be showcased in travelling exhibitions in Jakarta (27–29/8), [...]

Works by Three Major Northern Lights to Star in Bonhams Auction

LONDON.- Works by three major Northern artists are heading south to London to feature in Bonhams 19th Century Paintings auction on 29th September 2010. John Martin (1789-1854) was born in Haydon Bridge and went on to become one of the most popular artists of his day. His works now hang in the Laing Gallery, Newcastle and the Tate Gallery, London and he is famed for his apocalyptic scenes set in dramatic landscape. Bonhams are selling one of his less common [...]

Lehman Brothers Art Work to Go Under the Hammer at Christie’s

LONDON.- Art works that once adorned the British and European offices of former banking powerhouse Lehman Brothers are to be auctioned off next month, the bank’s administrators said Sunday. Works by the likes of Lucian Freud and Gary Hume and the sign that adorned the company’s offices in London’s Canary Wharf financial district will be among the pieces up for sale, said PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which is in charge of the collapsed bank’s main European operations. The bank filed for bankruptcy [...]