~Sotheby’s – Part I/Nov 2005
LOT 3
JEFF KOONS, B. 1955, Little Girl
signed, numbered 1/3 and dated ’88 on the reverse
mirror and glass, 63 x 64-1/2 x 3-1/8 in
This work is number 1 from an edition of 3 plus one artist’s proof
estimate: $600,000-800,000
LOT 52
JEFF KOONS, B. 1955, Donkey (Purple)
signed and dated 1999 on the reverse
crystal glass, colored plastic interlayer, mirrored glass, carbon fiber and stainless steel
75-7/8 x 59-7/8 x 1-5/8 in
executed in 1999, this work is one of four unique versions which vary in color
The other three are orange, yellow and blue-green
estimate: $300,000-400,000
LOT 12
RICHARD PRINCE, B. 1949, Mountain Nurse
inkjet print and acrylic on canvas, 78 x 58 in, executed in 2003
estimate: $600,000-800,000
LOT 6
CHRIS OFILI, B. 1968, Strange Eyes
signed, titled and dated 2001 twice on the stretcher,
oil paint, polyester resin, elephant dung, map pins and glitter on canvas,
76-3/4 x 48 x 10-1/4 in,
estimate: $800,000-1,000,000
LOT 8
HIROSHI SUGIMOTO, B. 1948
Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Catherine Parr
silver-gelatin prints in artist’s frames, in seven parts,
each: 58-3/4 x 47 in, executed in 1999, this work is number 5 from an edition of 5
estimate: $350,000-450,000
LOT 35
ANDY WARHOL, 1928-1987, Set of Five Boxes: Brillo Soap Pads; Campbell’s Tomato Juice; del Monte Peach Halves; Heinz Tomato Ketchup; Kellogg’s Corn Flakes
Campbell’s: stamped by Vincent Fremont and the Estate of Andy Warhol and numbered A.1290.12
acrylic and silkscreen ink on wood in five parts, executed in March-April 1964
estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000
LOT 23
DAVID SMITH, 1906-1965, CUBI XXVIII
Signed, titled, dated 5-5-1965 and inscribed gate 3, stainless steel, 108 x 110 x 45 in
estimate: $8,000,000-12,000,000
note: all of the above images scanned from the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art/Evening catalog
New York November 9, 2005
LOT 325
ROBERT GOBER, B. 1954, Cat Litter
signed, numbered 5/9 and dated 1990 on the reverse
oil and graphite on plaster, 19 x 10 x 6-1/2 in
estimate: $90,000-120,000
LOT 388
THOMAS RUFF, B. 1958, Substrat 13 I
signed, titled, dated 2003 and numbered 1/3 on the reverse
Cibachrome print mounted on Diasec, 112-3/8 x 72-7/8 in
estimate: $50,000-70,000
LOT 376
THOMAS DEMAND, B. 1964, Zwei Torten
signed on the reverse; signed, titled and dated 1990 on the frame
chromogenic print, in artist’s frame, 59 x 51-1/4 in
estimate: $50,000-70,000
note: all of the above images scanned from the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art/Afternoon catalog
New York, November 10, 2005
HURRAH, the NOVEMBER ART AUCTIONS are here. The works that
SOTHEBY’S has to offer at its important Contemporary Evening Sale include
no less than 9 Warhols. Andy Warhol’s work has been the “meat and potatoes”
for the auctions during the last ten years, so this is no surprise.
Among this year’s ‘sexy’ selections are Chris Ofili’s ‘Strange Eyes’ 2001,
and 3 Richard Princes, especially ‘Mountain Nurse’, a 2003 painting
from the “Nurse” series. Hiroshi Sugimoto’s large photographic portraits
of “Henry VIII and his 6 Wives”, and Jeff Koons’ two mirror pieces from
his “Mirror” series, should also prove to be hot.
Some other very important and very expensive works include a 1961
painting by Cy Twombly, a Gerhard Richter photo-painting of a
woman’s head from 1966, and a major David Smith large polished abstract
sculpture, circa 1965, the year he died. The Twombly is estimated at $6-8 million.
The Gerhard Richter, ‘Portrait Wachenfeld’, a black and white oil painting on canvas, of a woman’s face painted from a photograph, at 31-1/2 in sq., is a very small piece and still commands an estimate of $800,000-1.2 million. The David Smith is going for an estimate
of $8-12 million.
Although Sotheby’s Afternoon Contemporary Auction on November 10, is
considered to have less important and therefore less expensive works, some real gems appear at that sale. My favorites are: the Thomas Demand ‘Zeiw Torten’ 1990, Robert Gober’s ‘Cat Litter’ 1990 and Thomas Ruff’s ‘Substrat 13 I’, 2003. Happy Hunting and may you get what you want.
LOT 21 (detail)
CY TWOMBLY, B. 1928, Untitled (Rome)
signed and dated Roma 1961; signed and dated 1961 on the reverse
oil paint, wax crayon and graphite on canvas, 51-1/4 x 59-1/4 in
estimate: $6,000,000-8,000,000
note: the above image scanned from the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art/Evening catalog
New York November 9, 2005