Christie's New York
7 PM, May 11, 2016
Sale 12153
Lot 186, "Untitled," by Lee Bontecou, welded steel, porcelain and wire, 8 1/4 by 9 by 7 1/4 inches, 1993
By
Carter B. Horsley
The May 11, 2016 Contemporary Art Morning Auction at Christie's New York is highlighted by fine works by Anselm Kiefer, Richard Pousette-Dart, Theodoros Stamos, Helen Frankenthaler, Adolph Gottlieb, Larry Rivers, Robert Motherwell, Lee Krasner, Kenneth Noland, and Sam Francis, and good sculptures by Lee Bontecou, John Chamberlain, David Smith, Alexander Calder and Yayoi Kusama.
Lot 186 is an small, delightful, untitled sculpure by Lee Bontecou (b. 1930) of welded steel, porcelain and wire. It measures 8 1/4 by 9 by 7 1/4 inches and was created in 1993. It was included in the 2003-2004 retrospective on the artist at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $245,000 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.
The auction total was $50,290,750 with 86.8 percent of the 223 offered lots selling.
Lot 153, "Leaves," by Alexander Calder, hanging mobile of sheet metail, wire and painting, 43 by 52 inches, 1941
The May 11, 2016 Contemporary Art Morning Auction at Christie's New York is highlighted by fine works by Anselm Kiefer, Richard Pousette-Dart, Theodoros Stamos, Helen Frankenthaler, Adolph Gottlieb, Larry Rivers, Robert Motherwell, Lee Krasner, Kenneth Noland, and Sam Francis, and good sculptures by Lee Bontecou, John Chamberlain, David Smith, Alexander Calder and Yayoi Kusama.
Lot 186 is an small, delightful, untitled sculpure by Lee Bontecou (b. 1930) of welded steel, porcelain and wire. It measures 8 1/4 by 9 by 7 1/4 inches and was created in 1993. It was included in the 2003-2004 retrospective on the artist at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $245,000 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.
The auction total was $50,290,750 with 86.8 percent of the 223 offered lots selling.
Lot 153, "Leaves," by Alexander Calder, hanging mobile of sheet metail, wire and painting, 43 by 52 inches, 1941
Lot
153 is a very graceful, large hanging mobile of sheet metal, wire and
black paint by Alexander Calder (1898-1976). It measures 43 by 52
inches and was created in 1941. It has an estimate of $1,200,000
to $1,800,000. It sold for
$3,301,000.
Lot 158, "Landscape with Strata," by David Smith, steel, bronze and stainless steel on a marble base, by David Smith, 19 1/4 by 20 3/4 by 9 inches,1946
Lot 224, "Flowers That Bloom Tomorrow (M)," by Yayoi Kusama, fiberglass, reinforced plastic, stainless steel and urethane paint, 114 inches high, 2010, one of three unique variants and one artist's proof
Lot 158, "Landscape with Strata," by David Smith, steel, bronze and stainless steel on a marble base, by David Smith, 19 1/4 by 20 3/4 by 9 inches,1946
Lot 158, "Landscape with
Strata," is a steel, bronze, and stainless steel on a marble base
sculpture by David Smith (1906-1965). It measures 19 1/4 by 20
3/4 by 9 inches and was created in 1946. It was included in the
1969 retrospective on the artist at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum,
the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts and the Corcoran Gallery in Washington,
and the "Primitivism in Twentieth Century Art: Affinity of the Tribal
and the Modern" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Detroit
Institute of Arts and the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Centennial
exhibition of Smith in 2007 at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New
York, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Tate Modern in
London. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $845,000.
Lot 224, "Flowers That Bloom Tomorrow (M)," by Yayoi Kusama, fiberglass, reinforced plastic, stainless steel and urethane paint, 114 inches high, 2010, one of three unique variants and one artist's proof
Lot 224 is a very cute large
flower sculpture by Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929) that is entitled "Flowers
That Bloom Tomorrow (M)." It is one of three variants and one
artist's proof. It is 114 inches high and was created in 2010
fiberglass, reinforced plastic, stainless steel and urethan
paint. It has an estimate of $350,000 to $450,000. It sold for $725,000.
Lot 215, "Expedientphonebooth," by John Chamberlain, painted and chrominium-plated stainless steel, 10 1/2 by 15 1/4 by 10 1/2 inches, 2010
Lot 216, "Galvanic," by John Chamberlain, painted and chrominium-plated stainless steel, 9 1/4 by 14 1/2 by 6 1/2 inches, 2008
Lot 277, "Stainless Piece J," by Anthony Caro, stainless steel, 19 inches long, 1974
Lot 215, "Expedientphonebooth," by John Chamberlain, painted and chrominium-plated stainless steel, 10 1/2 by 15 1/4 by 10 1/2 inches, 2010
The auction has two fine small
sculptures by John Chamberlain (1927-2011). Lot 215 is entitled
"Expedientphonebooth" and was created in 2010 and measures 10 1/2 by 15
by 10 1/2 inches. It has an estimate of $200,000 to
$300,000. It sold for $269,000.
Lot 216, "Galvanic," by John Chamberlain, painted and chrominium-plated stainless steel, 9 1/4 by 14 1/2 by 6 1/2 inches, 2008
The other Chamberlain is Lot
216 which is entitled "Galvanic." It was created in 2008 and
measures 9 1/4 by 14 1/2 by 6 1/2 inches. It has an estimate of
$150,000 to $200,000. It sold
for $209,000.
Lot 277, "Stainless Piece J," by Anthony Caro, stainless steel, 19 inches long, 1974
Lot 277 is a good, small
stainless steel sculpture by Anthony Caro (1924-2013) entitled
"Stainless Piece J." It is 19 inches long and was made in
1974. It has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 188, "Arriving in Africa," by Helen Frankenthaler, acrylic on canvas, 82 by 117 inches, 1970
Lot
188 is a large and very good acrylic on canvas by Helen Frankenthaler
(1928-2011). It is entitled "Arriving in Africa" and measures 82
by 117 inches. It was painted in 1970.
The catalogue entry provides the following commentary:
"Marking the apex of Helen Franthaler's career, Arriving in Africa from 1970, with its simplistic and calming palette of blue, ochre and whie, was created the year following the artist's critical rise tos tardowm - when she was regarded as the most important female aretist of her time....Arriving in Afriuca, with its dramatic - yet calming - color, reflects Frankthanler's desire to pursue her own path within the male dominated realm of Abstract Expressionism. The artist's signature use of staining - pouring the pigment directly onto raw canvas laid on the floor - was inherited from Jackson Pollock, yet Frankenthaler's gestures were more fluid and harmonious than many of her male counterparts lending her work a more poetic and lyrical quality."
It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $1,061,000.
Lot 199, "Hommage a Chardin," by Helen Frankenthaler, oil on canvas, 39 3/4 by 52 inches, 1957
Lot 200, "Anchors and Buoys," by Adolph Gottlieb, oil on canvas, 36 by 48 inches, 1952
The catalogue entry provides the following commentary:
"Marking the apex of Helen Franthaler's career, Arriving in Africa from 1970, with its simplistic and calming palette of blue, ochre and whie, was created the year following the artist's critical rise tos tardowm - when she was regarded as the most important female aretist of her time....Arriving in Afriuca, with its dramatic - yet calming - color, reflects Frankthanler's desire to pursue her own path within the male dominated realm of Abstract Expressionism. The artist's signature use of staining - pouring the pigment directly onto raw canvas laid on the floor - was inherited from Jackson Pollock, yet Frankenthaler's gestures were more fluid and harmonious than many of her male counterparts lending her work a more poetic and lyrical quality."
It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $1,061,000.
Lot 199, "Hommage a Chardin," by Helen Frankenthaler, oil on canvas, 39 3/4 by 52 inches, 1957
Another Frankenthaler is Lot 199,
"Hommage a Chardin," an oil on canvas that measures 39 3/4 by 52
inches. It was painted in 1957. It is property from the
Collection of Guy and Marie-Helene Weill. It has an estimate of
$500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $485,000.
Lot 200, "Anchors and Buoys," by Adolph Gottlieb, oil on canvas, 36 by 48 inches, 1952
Another
work from the Weill Collection is Lot 200, a fine abstraction by Adolph
Gottlieb (1903-1974) entitled "Anchors and Buoys." An oil on
canvas, it measures 36 by 48 inches and was painted in 1952. It
was exhibited at the Walker Art Center's seminal retrospective in 1963
and travelled to the Sao Paolo Biennial where Gottlieb was awarded the
Grand Prize, making him the first American to be honored with this
distinction. It has a modest estimate of $150,000 to
$200,000. It sold for $485,000.
Lot 204, "The Next to the Last Confederate Soldier," by Larry Rivers, oil on canvas, 62 by 44 inches, 1959
Lot 203, "White Field," by Theodoros Stamos, oil on canvas, 45 by 63 3/4 inches, 1957
Lot 204, "The Next to the Last Confederate Soldier," by Larry Rivers, oil on canvas, 62 by 44 inches, 1959
A
third work from the Weill Collection is Lot 204, "The Next to the Last
Confederate Soldier," by Larry Rivers (1923-2002). It is an oil
on canvas that measures 62 by 44 inches and was painted in 1959.
It was included in the Rivers retrospective in 1960-61 at the Rose Art
Museum at Brandeis University, the Pasadena Art Museum, the Jewish
Museum in New York, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Minneapolis
Institute of Arts. It has been widely published. It has an
estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $149,000.
Lot 203, "White Field," by Theodoros Stamos, oil on canvas, 45 by 63 3/4 inches, 1957
Another Weill consignment is
Lot 203, a great oil on canvas by Theodoros Stamos (1922-1997) entitled
"White Field." It measures 45 by 63 3/4 inches and was painted in
1957. It has a modest estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $179,000.
Lot 213, "Untitled (Black Ochre Pink)," by Robert Motherwell, acrylic on canvas, 20 by 30 inches, 1979
Lot 213,
"Untitled (Black Ochre Pink)," is a good abstract acrylic on canvas by
Robert Motherwell (1915-1991). It measures 20 by 30 inches and
was painted in 1979. It has an estimate of $200,000 to
$300,000. It sold for $365,000.
Lot 209, "Gauloises on Scarlet over Yellow #3," by Robert Motherwell, acrylic and printed paper collage on canvas board, 30 by 15 inches, 1982
Lot 209
is a very excellent acrylic and printed paper collage on canvas board
by Motherwell that measures 30 by 15 inches and was created in
1982, It is entitled "Gauloises on Scarlet over Yellow #3."
The catalogue entry provides the following commentary:
"Originally executed in 1972, the artist chose to revisit the work ten years after first creating it, pulling the red ground up to the immediate edges of the collaged cigarette package to fill the empty white space that surrounded it. The result is undeniably a more complete, more powerful and more commanding composition than the other large examples from the series....The few yellow striations that emanate vertically from the packages create an effect similar to that of rhythmic chords maintaning a sultry, swaying, spirited tempo. That sense of abstract movement recalls the modern masters that preceded Motherwell - Pablo Picasso, Serge Gainsbourg, Albert Camus - all loyalists of the Gauloise brand who immortalized it in art, song and text."
The lot has a modest estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $137,000.
The catalogue entry provides the following commentary:
"Originally executed in 1972, the artist chose to revisit the work ten years after first creating it, pulling the red ground up to the immediate edges of the collaged cigarette package to fill the empty white space that surrounded it. The result is undeniably a more complete, more powerful and more commanding composition than the other large examples from the series....The few yellow striations that emanate vertically from the packages create an effect similar to that of rhythmic chords maintaning a sultry, swaying, spirited tempo. That sense of abstract movement recalls the modern masters that preceded Motherwell - Pablo Picasso, Serge Gainsbourg, Albert Camus - all loyalists of the Gauloise brand who immortalized it in art, song and text."
The lot has a modest estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $137,000.
Lot 233, "In The Tea Leaves," by Lee Krasner, oil on canvas, 46 by 43 inches, 1966
Lot 233 is a
oil on canvas by Lee Krasner (1908-1984) entitled "In the Tea
Leaves." It measures 46 by 43 inches and was painted in
1966. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $389,000.
Lot 218, "Untitled,' by Sam Francis, watercolor and gouache on paper, 38 by 25 1/4 inches, 1958; Lot 181, "Trinity," by Isamu Noguchi, bronze plate, 56 inches high, conceived in 1945 and constructed in 1988, an artist's proof aside form the edition of 8 and two artists' proofs; and Lot 217, "untitled," by Sam Francis, watercolor and gouache on paper mounted on panel, 40 by 27 inches, 1959
Lots 218
and 217 are untitled watercolor and gouaches on paper by Sam Francis
(1923-1994). The first measures 38 by 25 1/4 inches and was
painted in 1958. It has an estimate of $250,000 to
$350,000. It sold for
$293,000. The second measures 40 by 27 inches and was
painted in 1959. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $269,000.
Lot 181, "Trinity," is a bronze sculpture by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) that is 56 inches high. It was conceived in 1945 and constructed i 1988 and is one of two artist's proofs from an edition of 8. It has been widely published and exhibited. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 181, "Trinity," is a bronze sculpture by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) that is 56 inches high. It was conceived in 1945 and constructed i 1988 and is one of two artist's proofs from an edition of 8. It has been widely published and exhibited. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 128, "Fuji," by Gerhard Richter, oil on Alu Dibond," 11 1/2 by 14 1/2 inches, 1996
Lot 128 is a
small but powerful oil on Alu Dibond by Gerhard Richter (b.
1932). Entitled "Fuji" it measures 11 1/2 by 14 1/2 inches and
was created in 1996. It has an estimate of $300,000 to
$500,000. It sold for $389,000.
Lot 117, "Baum mit Palette," by Anselm Kiefer, oil and lead on canvas, 110 1/4 by 75 inches, 1978
Lot 117
is a large oil and lead work on canvas by Anselm Kiefer from the
collectino of Illeana Sonnaben and the estate of Nina Castelli
Sundeli. Entitled "Baum mit Palette," it measures 110 1/4 by 75
inches and was created in 1978. It was exhibited in an
retrospective on the artist 1987-1989 at the Art Institute of Chicago,
the Philadelphia Museum of Art. the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los
Angeles and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It has an
estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 273, "Imbros," by Kenneth Noland, acrylic on canvas, 77 by 34 1/2 inches, 1971
Lot 273
is a very good acrylic on canvas by Kenneth Noland (1924-2010) entitled
"Imbros." It measures 77 by 34 1/2 inches and was painted in
1971. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $100,000.
Lot 261, "Figure," by Franz Kline, oil on panel, 19 7/8 by 8 1/2 inches, 1950
Lot 61 is a good, small oil on panel by Franz Kline (1910-1962) that is entitled "Figure." It measures 19 7/8 by 8 1/2 inches and was painted in 1960. It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 156, "Perdido," by Richard Pousette-Dart, oil on canvas, 72 1/2 by 41 inches, 1960
Lot 156 is an excellent oil on canvas by
Richard Pousette-Dart (1916-1992) entitled "Perdido." It measures
72 1/2 by 41 inches and was painted in 1960.
The catalogue entry provides the following commentary:
"His canvases are imbued with an intellect, clarity of vision and expressive intensity that remain arguably beyond the efforts of his many Abstract Expressionist contemporaries. As the youngest of the founding members of the New York School, it is generally granted that Pousette-Dart 'holds title as the first to, as one critic put it, 'paint heroically' on a monumental scale."
The lot has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $461,000.
The catalogue entry provides the following commentary:
"His canvases are imbued with an intellect, clarity of vision and expressive intensity that remain arguably beyond the efforts of his many Abstract Expressionist contemporaries. As the youngest of the founding members of the New York School, it is generally granted that Pousette-Dart 'holds title as the first to, as one critic put it, 'paint heroically' on a monumental scale."
The lot has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $461,000.
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See The
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See The
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See The
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