Art/Auctions: Post-War & Contemporary Art evening sale May 14, 2014 at Sotheby's New York

Contemporary Art

Sotheby's New York

Lots 101-314, 10 AM, May 15, 2014

Sale No: 9142

Krassner long

Lot 164, "Past Continuous," by Lee Krassner, oil, gouache, charcoal and paper collage on canvas in three parts, 72 by 180 inches overall, 1976

By Carter B. Horsley

The May 15 morning auction at Sotheby's New York of Contemporary Art is highlighted by two excellent paintings by Lee Krassner, a superb Sigmar Polke, a very good Mark Bradford, and good examples by Mark Rothko, Adolph Gottlieb, Arshile Gorky, Robert Rauschenberg, Sean Scully, Mark Tobey, and Isamu Noguchi.

Lot 164 is a large and impressive work by Lee Krassner (1908-1984) entitled "Past Continuous." An oil, gouache, charcoal and paper collage on canvas in three parts, it measures 72 by 180 inches overall. It was created in 1976. It is being sold by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum to benefit its acquisitions fund. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $425,000.

Lot 167, "Future Indicative," by Lee Krassner, charcoal on paper collage on canvas, 50 inches square, 1977

The second Krassner work is Lot 167, a 50-inch-square charcoal on paper collage on canvas entitled "Future Indicative." It was created in 1977 and is an extremely powerful, complex and superb charcoal. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $209,000.

Lot 240, "Untitled," by Sigmar Polke, acrylic and interference color on canvas, 39 1/4 by 31 1/2 inches, 2004

Lot 240 is an untitled acrylic and interference color on canvas by Sigmar Polke (1941-2010), the subject of a current retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The lot measures 39 1/4 by 31 1/2 inches and was created in 2004 and is one of his more attractive works. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $3,301,000.

Lot 254, "Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Grand Prix Car (Streamlined Version). 1954," by Andy Warhol, an acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas from 1986 that measures 40 3/8 by 60 1/4 inches has an estimate of $1,200,000 to $1,800,000. It sold for $3,973,000.

Lot 158, "Untitled (Still Life)," by Arshile Gorky, oil and string on canvas, 11 by 14 1/2 inches, circa 1930-1933

Lot 158 is a strong and handsome untitled still life by Arshile Gorky (1904-1948). The oil and string on canvas measures 11 by 14 1/2 inches and was created circa 1930-1933. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 163, "In Blue with Crosses," by Robert Motherwell, oil on canvas, 54 by 38 inches, 1947

Lot 163 is an excellent oil on canvas by Robert Motherwell (1915-1991). Entitled "In Blue with Crosses," it measures 54 by 38 inches and was painted in 1947. The lot has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $221,000.

Lot 130, "Rising," by Adolph Gottlieb, oil on canvas, 69 by 40 inches, 1958

Lot 130, "Rising," is an oil on canvas by Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974) that is considerably more "busy" and less symmetrical than most of his sunburst abstractions. It measures 69 by 40 inches and was painted in 1958. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $485,000.

Lot 112, "Untitled," by Mark Rothko, oil on paper mounted on panel, 12 by 9 inches, 1962

The back-cover illustration of the catalogue is Lot 112, a strong but small, untitled abstraction by Mark Rothko (1903-1970). An oil on paper mounted on panel, it measures12 by 9 inches and was painted in 1962. It has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000. It sold for $1,085,000.

Lot 114, "Poise," by Franz Kline, oil on paper mounted on canvas, 30 by 22 inches, 1952

Lot 114 is a good abstraction by Franz Kline (1910-1962). Entitled "Poise," it is an oil on paper mounted on canvas. It measures 30 by 22 inches and was painted in 1952. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $785,000.

Lot 208, "Unst," by Sean Scully, oil on linen and steel, 23 3/8 by 35 1/2 inches, 1992

Lot 208, "Unst," is a very good work by Sean Scully (b. 1946). An oil on linen and steel, it measures 23 3/8 by 35 1/2 inches and was painted in 1992. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $293,000.

Lot 221, "Moonlit Night," by Yayoi Kusama, acrylic, synthetic fiber, plastic and stuffed fabric in wood box construction, 15 1/2 by 9 7/8 by 4 3/4 inches, 1984

Looking like an egg pod for shiny and wiry aliens, Lot 221 is an acrylic, synthetic fiber, plastic and stuffed fabric in a wood box construction work by Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929). It conjures a high-tech Joseph Cornell. It measures 15 1/2 by 9 7/8 by 4 3/4 inches and was created in 1984. It has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. It sold for $112,500.

Lot 127, "Alpha Iota," by Morris Louis, acrylic on canvas, 105 by 114 1/2 inches, 1960

Lot 127 is a good abstraction by Morris Louis (1912-1962). An acrylic on canvas, it is entitled "Alpha Iota" and measures 105 by 114 1/2 inches. It was painted in 1960. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $1,027,000.

Lot 144, "Dance," by Mark Tobey, tempera on paper, 10 7/8 by 9 inches, 1963

Lot 144 is a lovely tempera on paper by Mark Tobey (1890-1976). Entitled "Dance," it measures 10 7/8 by 9 inches and was created in 1963. It has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. It sold for $31,250.

Lot 148, "Kinetic Seascape #6," by Roy Lichtenstein, rowlux, vinyl and paper collage with electric motor mounted to panel, 27 3/4 by 23 3/4 inches, 1966

Lot 148, "Kinetic Seascape #6," is a good work by Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) whose "wave" image gently rocks from side to side. It measures 27 3/4 by 23 3/4 inches and is rowlux, vinyl and paper collage with electric motor mounted to panel. It was created in 1966. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $395,000.

Lot 131, "Crag with Red Heart," by Alexander Calder, painted metal and wire, 42 3/8 by 37 1/2 by 20 1/2 inches, 1974

Lot 131 is an excellent painted metal and wire sculpture by Alexander Calder (1898-1976) entitled "Crag with Red Heart." It was created in 1974 and measures 42 3/8 by 37 1/2 by 20 1/2 inches. It was included in the fine 1974 exhibition, "Crags and Critters," at the Perls Gallery as one of 15 Calder scultpures. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 207, "Table Piece Z-7 (Euclid)," by Anthony Caro, rusted and varnished steel, 81 inches long, 1978-9

The auction's most striking sculpture is Lot 207, "Table Piece Z-7 (Euclid)," by Anthony Caro (b.1924). The rusted and varnished steel sculpture is 81 inches long and was created in 1978-9. It has tremendous dynamic foce and rhythm. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $629,000.

Lot 263, "Pyramid," by Keith Haring, anodized aluminum, 30 1/2 by 57 by 57 inches, 1989, number 10/15

Lot 263 is an anodized aluminum pyramid by Keith Haring (1958-1990). It measures 30 1/2 by 57 by 57 inches and was executed in 1989 as number 10 of a series of 15. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $161,000.

Lot 235, "Tonk #13-83," by John Chamberlin, painted steel, 11 inches high, 1983

Lot 235 is a tight and good painted steel sculpture by John Chamberlin (1927-2011). It is entitled "Tonk #13-83" and is 11 inches high and was created in 1983. It has an estimateof $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $137.000.

Another excellent Chamberlin piece is Lot 268, "Mrs. Swayed Schwooz," a painted and chromed metal that is 88 inches high and was created in 2005. It has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $545,000.

Lot 282, "Winter Epilogue B (Four Seasons) 2," by Frank Stella, painted metal, mesh and corrugated metal, 50 by 37 1/2 by 27 inches, 1990

Lot 282 is a wonderful and very colorful sculpture by Frank Stella (b. 1936) that looks like it was worn by a champion gladiator. It is entitled "Winter Epilogue B (Four Seasons) 2" and it is made of painted metal, mesh and corrugated metal and measures 50 by 37 1/2 by 27 inches. It was created in 1990. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $341,000.

Lot 133, "Untitled (Face)," by Isamu Noguchi, granite, 34 inches high, circa 1961

Lot 133, "Untitled (Face)," is a granite sculpture by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988). It is 34 inches high and was created circa 1961. It has an estiamte of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $485,000.

Lot 169, Mannari," by Isamu Noguchi, jasperstone with hot-dipped galzanized steel base, 29 3/4 inches high overall, 1982

Lot 169 is a jasperstone scultpure by Isamu Noguchi on a hot-dippeed galvanized steel base. It is entitled "Mannari" and is 29 3/4inches high overall. It was created in1982. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 116, "Rain Forest Column XVIII," by Louise Nevelson, painted wood on formica base, 109 inches high, 1962-4

Lot 116, "Rain Forest Column XVIII," is a painted wood sculpture on a formica base by Louise Nevelson (1899-1988). It is 109 inches high and was created 1962-4. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It sold for $161,000.

Lot 117, "Double Date," byMarisol, oil, graphite, plaster and wood assemblage with shoes, 95 inches high, 1963

Lot 117 is a delightful piece by Marisol (b.1930) that is entitled "Double Date." An oil, graphite, plaster and wood assemblage with shoes, it is 95 inches high and was created in 1963. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $465,000.