This
Post-War & Contemporary Art Day Sale Session II auction at
Christie's New York May 14, 2015 is
highlighted by two stunning Robert Motherwells, two great Joan
Mitchells, two very good Richard Diebenkorns, two good John
Chamberlains, an excellent Arshile Gorky, a superb Anselm Kiefer,
The sale total
was $66,129,750 with 86.9 percent of the 220 offered lots selling.
Lot
522, "The Big A," shown above, is an acrylic and charcoal on canvas by
Robert Motherwell (1915-1991). It measures 96 by 60 inches
and
was painted in 1986-7. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to
$1,500,000. It
sold for $1,025,000 including the buyer's premium as do all results
mentioned in this article.
Lot
568 is a smaller but similar work by Motherwell entitled "The Balkan
Lute." An acyrlic, pasted canvas, pasted paper and china
marker
on canvas mounted on board, it measures 72 by 36 inches and was painted
in 1974-5. It has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000.
It failed to
sell.
Lot 426, "Head," by Arshile
Gorky, oil on canvas, 30 1/2 by 24 1/2 inches, circa 1931-4
Lot
426 is a very good oil on canvas by Arshile Gorky (1904-1948) entitled
"Head." It measures 30 1/2 by 24 1/2 inches and was painted
circa 1931-4. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $293,000.
Lot 483, "Phoenix," by Anselm
Kiefer, oil on canvas, 66 1/2 by 74 1/2 inches, 1981
Lot 483, "Phoenix," is a strong
oil on canvas by Anselm Kiefer (b. 1945). It measures 66 1/2
by 74 1/2 inches and was painted in 1981. It has an estimate
of $500,000 to $700,000. It
sold for $545,000.
Lot 571, untitled, by Joan
Mitchell, oil on canvas, 39 1/2 by 32 inches, 1974
Lot
571 is a superb untitlted oil on canvas by Joan Mitchell (1925-1992).
It measures 39 1/2 by 32 inches and was painted in 1974.
It hyas an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $725,000.
Lot
553, "Magnolia," by Joan Mitchell, diptych, oil on canvas, 76
5/8 by 102 1/2 inches
A
larger Mitchell is Lot 553. Entitled "Magnolica," it is a
diptych oil on canvas that measures 76 5/8 by 102 1/2 inches.
It has an an estimate of $1,200,000 to $1,800,000. It sold for $3,637,000.
Lot
559, "Cigar Box Lid #9," by Richard Diebenkorn, acrylic and graphite
on panel, 9 by 6 1/4 inches, 1979, left; Lot 527, Untitled, acrylic and
gouache on paper, 25 by 18 inches, 1977, right
Lot
559 is a pleasant acrylic and graphite on panel by Richard Diebenkorn
(1922-1993) entitled "Cigar Box Lid #9." It measures 9 by 6
1/4 inches and was painted in 1969. It has an estimate of
$300,000 to $500,000. It
sold for $293,000.
Lot 527 is a good untitled acrylic and gouache on paper by Diebenkorn
that measures 25 by 18 inches and was painted in 1977. It has
an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $821,000.
Lot 532, "Evening Magic," by
Hans Hofmann, oil on canvas, 48 by 36 inches, 1965
Lot
532 is an excellent oil on canvas by Hans Hofmann (1880-1966) entitled
"Evening Magic." It measures 48 by 36 inches and was painted
in 1965. It has estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,061,000.
Lot
542, "Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn)," by Andy Warhol, silkscreen inks on
paper, each 36 inches square,1967, number 178 from an edition of 250
plus 26 artist's proofs
Lot
542, "Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn)," is a group of 10 silkscreen inks on
paper by Andy Warhol (1928-1987) each 36 inches square. They
were painted in 1967 and are number 178 from an edition of 250 plus 26
artist's proofs. It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to
$2,000,000. The
lot sold for $2,165,000.
Lot
439, "Sunrise," by Roy Lichtenstein, porcelain enamel on steel and
perforated steel, 23 by 28 by 3 1/2 inches, 1965, from an edition of 8
Lot
439, "Sunrise," is a porcelain enamel scupture on steel and perforated
steel by Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997). It measures 23 by 28
by 3 1/2 inches and was created in 1965. It is from an
edition of 8. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $250,000.
It sold for
$545,000.
Lot
580, "The Glider (Scrap #8, 2X), by Frank Stella, acrylic and
enamel on aluminum and cardboard, 63 by 117 by 42 1/2 inches, 1989
Lot
580 is a very dynamic and attractive acrylic and enamel on
aluminum and cardboard sculpture by Frank Stella (b. 1936).
Entitled "The Gilder (Scrap #8, 2X)," it measures 63 by 117
by 42 1/2 inches and was created in 1989. It has a modest
estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It failed to sell.
Lot
539, "Pagina Solare," by Arnaldo Pomodoro, polished bronze, 27 by 27 by
2 inches, 1982-3,n umber 2 from an edition of 2 plus 2 artist's proofs
Lot
539 is a very beautiful bronze sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro (b. 1926)
entitled "Pagina Solare." It measures 27 by 27 by 2 inches
and was created in 1982-3 and is number 2 from an edition of 2 plus 2
artist's proofs. It has an estimate of $18,000 to $25,000.
It sold for
$68,750.
Lot 506, "The Dinner Table," by
George Segal, cast plaster models, wood, ceramic and mirror, 82 by 150
by 135 inches, 1962
Lot 506,
"The Dinner Table, is a good plaster, wood, ceramic and mirror
sculpture with six figures by George Segal (1924-2000). It
measures 82 by 150 by 135 inches and was created in 1962. It
has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $605,000.
Lot 569, "Mezzomangle," by John
Chamberlain, painted and chrominum-plated steel, 63 by 63 by 53 inches,
2007
200-300 365,000 1927-2011
Lot
569 is a great sculpture by John Chamberlain (1927-2011) entitled
"Mezzomangle." The painted and chrominium-plated steel work
measures 63 by 63 by 53 inches and was created in 2007. It
has a modest estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $365,000.
Lot 538, "Rosetuxedo," by John
Chamberlain, silver aluminum, 84 by 83 by 62 inches, 2003
Another
work by Chamberlain is Lot 538, "Rosetuxedo," is a silver alumnium
sculpture from 2003 that measures 84 by 83 by 62 inches. It
has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It failed to sell.
