Post-War & Contemporary Art evening sale Nov. 11, 2014 at Sotheby's New York

Contemporary Art

Sotheby's New York

7 PM, November 11, 2014

Sale No: 9221

Rothko

Lot 17, "No. 21 (Red, Brown, Black and Orange," by Mark Rothko, oil on canvas, 95 by 64 inches, 1951

By Carter B. Horsley

The November 11, 2014 evening auction at Sotheby's New York of Contemporary Art is highlighted by a major Mark Rothko abstraction from The Schlumberger Collection, several good Warhols, two good paintings by Johns, a fine work by Gottlieb and an excellent abstract painting by Soulanges.

Lot 17, "No. 21 (Red, Brown, Black and Orange," is a large oil on canvas by Mark Rothko (1903-1970) that was painted in 1951 when it was included in the "15 Americans" exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It measures 95 by 64 inches and comes from The Schlumberger Collection. It has an estimate on request. It sold for $44,965,000 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.

The sale total was $343,610,000 with 85.9 percent of the offered 79 lots selling. The pre-sale estimate ranged from $323,100,000 to $418,650,000.

Lot 9, "Flag," by Jasper Johns, encaustic on silk flag on canvas, 11 5/8 by 17 5/8 inches, 1983

A small painting of an American flag by Jasper Johns (b. 1930), Lot 9, has an estimate of $15,000,000 to $20,000,000. An encaustic on silk flag on canvas, it measures only 11 5/8 by 17 5/8 inches. It was painted in 1983. Johns first began painting the American flag in 1954 and there are versions in several major art institutions and this one was recently on loan for seven years to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It sold for $36.005,000, an auction record for the artist.

Lot 57, "Figure 6," by Jasper Johns, sculp-metal and collage on canvas, 9 3/4 by 7 1/2 inches, dated 64-72

Lot 57 is a small sculp-metal and collage on canvas by Jasper Johns entitled "Figure 6." It measures 9 3/4 by 7 1/2 inches and is dated 64-72. It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $2,405,000.

Lot 37, "Little Electric Chair," by Andy Warhol, fluorescent paint and silkscreen ink on canvas, 22 by 28 inches, 1964

Lot 37 is a fluorescent paint and silkscreen ink on canvas entitled "Little Electric Chair" by Andy Warhol (1928-1987). It measures 22 by 28 inches and was painted in 1964. It has an estimate of $7,500,000 to $95,000,000. It was passed at $6,800,000.

Lot 31, "Self-Portrait (Fright Wig)," by Andy Warhol, acrylic and silkscreen inks on canvas, 40 1/8 inches square, 1986

Lot 31 is "Self-Portrait (Fright Wig)," by Warhol. It is 40 1/8 inches square and was painted in 1986. It has an estimate of $12,000,000 to $18,000,000. It sold for $11,365,00.

Lot 27, "Liz #3 (Early Colored Liz)," by Andy Warhol, acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, 40 inches square, 1963

Lot 27 is a 40-inch square acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas by Andy Warhol (1928-1987) entitled "Liz #3 (Early Colored Liz)," The very hefty catalogue devotes 14 pages to this lot. It was painted in 1963. It has an estimate on request. It sold for $31,525,000.

Lot 41, "Brigitte Bardot," by Andy Warhol, acrylic, silkscreen ink and pencil on canvas, 47 1/2 by 47 1/4 inches, 1974

A larger and a bit more subdued Warhol if Lot 41, "Brigitte Bardot," an acrylic, silkscreen ink and pencil on canvas that measures 47 1/2 by 47 1/4 inches and was painted in 1974. It was once owned by Gunther Sachs. It has an estimate of $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. It sold for $11,645,000.

Lot 12, "Untitled II" by Willem de Kooning, oil on canvas, 88 by 77 inches, 1986

Lot 12 is a good abstract painting by Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) entitled "Untitled II." An oil on canvas, it measures 88 by 77 inches and was painted in 1986. It has an estimate of $6,000,000 to $8,000,000. It sold for $6,661,000.

Lot 18, "Red and Blue," by Adolph Gottlieb, oil on canvas, 108 by 90 inches, 1962-5

Lot 18 is a fine, large oil on canvas entitled "Red and Blue" by Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974). It measures 108 by 90 inches and was finished in 1965. It is property of the Schlumberger Collection. It has an modest estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $2,165,000.

Lot 3, "Last Year Halloween Fell on a Weekend," by Christopher Wool, enamel and silkscreen ink on canvas, 104 by 78 inches, 2004

Lot 3 is a large enamel and silkscreen ink on canvas by Christopher Wool (b. 1955). It measures 104 by 78 inches and was painted in 2004. It is entitled "Last Year Halloween Fell on a Weekend." It was included in the 2013 retrospective on the artist at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. It has an estimate of $6,500,000 to $7,500,000. It sold for $8,005,000.

Lot 2, "Untitled (Grey White and Yellow Lined Over Blue Green Face)," by Mark Grotjahn, oil on cardboard mounted on canvas, 101 by 72 inches, 2009

Lot 2 is a large oil on cardboard mounted on canvas by Mark Grotjahn (b. 1968). Entitled "Untitled (Grey White and Yellow Lined Over Blue Green Face), it measures 101 by 72 inches and was painted in 2009. It has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It sold for $4,645,000.

Lot 8, "Abstraktes Bild," by Gerhard Richter, oil on canvas, 78 3/4 inches square, 1991

Lot 8 is a large red abstract painting by Gerhard Richter (b. 1932). It is 78 3/4 inches square and was painted in 1991. It has an estimate of $15,000,000 to $20,000,000. It sold for $21,445,000.

Lot 15, "Peinture 3 Mars 1970)," by Pierre Soulages, oil on canvas, 79 1/2 by 62 1/2 inches

Lot 15 is a striking and fine abstract oil on canvas by Pierre Soulages (b. 1919) entitled "Peinture 3 Mars 1970." It measures 79 1/2 by 62 1/2 inches. It is property of the Schlumberger Collection. It has an estate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $653,000.

Lot 6, "Hill Street (Day City)," by Wayne Thiebaud, oil on canvas, 48 by 36 1/8 inches, 1981

Lot 6 is a very fine cityscape painting by Wayne Thiebaud (1920) entitled "Hill Street (Day City)." An oil on canvas, it measures 48 by 36 1/8 inches and was painted in 1981. It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $4,869,000.

Lot 4, "Spider I," by Louise Bourgeois," bronze, 50 by 46 by 12 1/4 inches, 1995, numbered 1/6

Lot 4 is a large black bronze spider by Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010). It was made in in 1995 and is numbered 1/6. It measures 50 by 46 by 12 1/4 inches. IUt has an estimate of 4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It sold for $7,109,000.

Lot 33, "Moon (Yellow)," by Jeff Koons, mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent color oating, 124 inches in diameter and 40 inches deep, 1995-02000, one of five versions

Lot 33 is "Moon (Yellow)," one of five stainless steel pillows by Jeff Koons produced between 1996-2000. It is 124 inches in diameter and 40 inches deep. It has an estimate of $12,000,000 to $18,000,000. It was passed at $11,500,000.

Lot 47, "Bear and Policeman," by Jeff Koons, polychromed wood, 85 inches high, 1988, number 3 from an edition of 3 plus one artist's proof

Lot 47 is a large polychromed wood sculpture by Jeff Koons entitled "Bear and Policeman." It is 85 inches high and number 3 from an edition of 3 plus one artist's proof. It has an estimate of
$7,000,000 to $9,000,000. It sold for $8,005,000.

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