PRESS RELEASE | LONDON | 11 OCTOBER 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHRISTIES EVENING AUCTIONS
OF
POST-WAR & CONTEMPORARY ART
AND
THE ITALIAN SALE
TOTAL 41.2 MILLION / $62.4 MILLION / 48.4 MILLION
London On October 11, Christies London evening auctions of Post-War & Contemporary Art and The Italian Sale realised a combined total of 41,183,300 / $62,359,680 / 48,445,676. The top price of the evening was paid for Martin Kippenbergers Untitled (from the series Hand-Painted Pictures), which was sold for 3,117,250 ($5,083,600 3,949,322), a world record price for the artist at auction (illustrated above). In total 8 lots sold for over 1 million and 16 lots for over $1 million. Overall 9 artist records were set.
POST-WAR & CONTEMPORARY ART
The Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Auction realised a total of 23,020,650 / $36,833,040 / 28,614,668, selling 87% by value. The top price was paid for Martin Kippenbergers Untitled (from the series Hand-Painted Pictures) (1992), which sold for 3,117,250 ($5,083,600 3,949,322), a world record price for the artist at auction. 4 lots sold for over 1 million / 10 for over $1 million. With buyers from 18 countries across 4 continents, 25% of lots sold above estimate and record prices at auction were established for 4 artists, including Martin Kippenberger (1953-1997), Idris Khan (B. 1978), Rebecca Warren (B. 1965) and Jonathan Wateridge (B. 1972). Francis Outred, International Director and Head of Post-War & Contemporary Art, Christies Europe: Tonights auctions made a combined total of 41.1 million, selling 91% by value. Nine world artist records were set overall, most notably for the two cover lots: the Pistolettos Metrocubo dinfinito and the Selfportrait by Kippenberger. We saw 43 different buyers for 45 works of art in the Post-War and Contemporary Art auction, reflecting the continuing attraction and depth of interest in Post-War & Contemporary Art, as well as Christies convening power. The first three lots of the evening auction were by exciting young artists completely fresh to the forum and they substantially outgrew their estimates as well as their retail prices, marking a real statement in this Frieze week.
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Highlights:
Martin Kippenbergers Untitled (from the series Hand-Painted Pictures) (1992), sold for 3,117,250 ($5,083,600 3,949,322), a world record price for the artist at auction and the top price in the Evening Auction (lot 14). A masterpiece of Kippenbergers oeuvre, it was previously exhibited in the major retrospectives of the artists work held at the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris in 1993, Tate Modern, London in 2006, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and The Museum of Modern Art, New York in 2009. In Untitled Kippenberger has painted a trinity of figurative elements with the greatest of alacrity: the artists two expertly realised hands and carefully modulated face offering an almost sculptural quality. Painted on the island of Syros, Greece in 1992, the unflinching gaze and stark presentation of Untitled has a Byzantine air, reminiscent of a religious icon. Gerhard Richters 5 Tren II (5 Doors 2) (1967), sold for 2,169,250 ($3,470,800 / 2,696,378). Marking an important, constructive step forward in Gerhard Richters post-modern practice 5 Tren II (5 Doors 2) was painted in 1967. One of two works to depict five doors, the other, 5 Tren I (1967) is housed in the Museum Ludwig, Cologne, where each of the doors opens in step to reveal more and more of the evacuated room behind. By far the largest painting of the Bullfight series ever seen at auction, Areneros y muleros by Miquel Barcel sold for 2,057,250 ($3,291,600 / 2,557,162). Jonathan Wateridges monumental painting entitled Jungle Scene With Plane Wreck sold for 313,250 ($501,200 389,370), setting a world record price for the artist at auction. It was the first time that a work by the artist was offered in an evening auction. This work is the last of Wateridges seven critically acclaimed theatrical and large-scale crash series, which depict crashed planes and ships rusting away in fictional landscapes. Also offered for the first time in an evening auction, Rebecca Warrens masterpiece Croccioni sold for 109,250 ($174,800 135,798), a world record price for the artist at auction. An early work by the artist, it was executed in 2000, at a time when Warren was gaining critical momentum before her Turner Prize nomination in 2006.
THE ITALIAN SALE
The Italian Sale achieved 18,162,650 / $25,526,640 / 19,831,008. It was 96% sold by value. The top price was paid for Piero Manzonis Achrome, which realised 2,617,250 ($3,680,000 / 2,858,900). 4 lots sold for over 1 million / 6 for over $1 million. 5 artist records were set for works by Fausto Melotti, Vettor Pisani, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Paola Pivi and Arnaldo Pomodoro.
Mariolina Bassetti, Vice Chairman of Christie's Italy, International Director in the Post-War & Contemporary Art Department and Head of the Sale: This auction achieved the strongest selling rates and the 2nd highest total since we first held a sale dedicated to 20th Century Italian art at Christies London in 2000. These results illustrate the truly global appeal of this category with buyers from 10 different countries. We are particularly happy to have established five record prices for artists who are becoming increasingly admired on the international stage. Perhaps most pleasing was the price realised by Michelangelo Pistolettos Metrocubo dInfinito which is not only a tribute to the artist, but also to the taste of its former owner, Graziella Buontempo, one of the greatest early ambassadors of modern Italian art.
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Highlights:
Piero Manzonis kaolin-coated Achrome sold for 2,617,250 ($3,680,000 / 2,858,900). This work belongs to a rare group of canvas Achromes that Manzoni began to make around 1959. Lucio Fontanas Concetto spaziale, Attese (1966), an outstanding example of this famous series, sold for 2,505,250 ($3,520,000 / 2,734,600). Formerly in the renowned collection of Hans and Ursula Hahn, this work had been exhibited in museums from the day it was made until last year. Michelangelo Pistolettos Metrocubo dInfinito (Cubic Metre of Infinity) (1966) sold for 690,850 ($1,105,369 / 858,727), a world record price for the artist at auction. Arguably the most important of a series of pioneering Arte Povera works, Metrocubo dInfinito was offered from the collection of the late Graziella Buontempo, a 20th century major collector and international ambassador of Italian contemporary art.
The Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Auction will take place on 12 October, at 12 noon.
ARTIST RECORDS:
POST-WAR & CONTEMPORARY ART
4 RECORD PRICES: Lot 1 Rebecca Warren (109,250 $174,800 135,798) Lot 2 Idris Khan (181,250 $290,000 225,294) Lot 3 Jonathan Wateridge (313,250 $501,200 389,370) Lot 14 Martin Kippenberger (3,117,250 $5,083,600 3,949,322)
THE ITALIAN SALE
5 RECORD PRICES: Lot 70 Paola Pivi (73,250 $96,000 74,580) Lot 74 Michelangelo Pistoletto ( 690,850 $1,105,369 858,727) Lot 78 Vettor Pisani (25,000 $40,000 31,075) Lot 93 Fausto Melotti (193,250 $256,000 198,880) Lot 109 Arnaldo Pomodoro (577,250 $768,000 596,640).
PRESS CONTACT: Cristiano De Lorenzo | +44 207 389 2283 | [email protected]
About Christies Christies, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales in the first half of 2012 that totaled 2.2 billion/$3.5 billion. Christies is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christies offers over 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War and Contemporary, Impressionist and Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery. Private sales totaled 413.4 million/ $661.5 million in the first half of 2012, an increase of 53% on the previous year. Christies has a global presence with 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zrich, and Hong Kong. More recently, Christies has led the market with expanded initiatives in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai. *Estimates do not include buyers premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyers premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyers or sellers credits.
Images available on request Complete catalogue available online at www.christies.com or via the Christies iPhone app
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Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Auction London Thursday, 11 October 2012 Sale no: 5709 Top Ten [All sold prices include buyers premium] Sold: Lots Sold: 45 Exchange Rate := $1.60/1.243 23,020,650 Lots Offered: 61 $36,833,040 Sold by Lot: 74% 28,614,668 Sold by : 87%
Lot
Description Martin Kippenberger (1953-1997), Untitled (from the series Hand-Painted Pictures), 1992 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Gerhard Richter (B. 1932), 5 Tren II (5 Doors II), 1967
Estimate ()
Purchase Price 3,177,250 $5,083,600 3,949,322 2,169,250 $3,470,800 2,696,378 2,057,250 $3,291,600 2,557,162 1,609,250 $2,574,800 2,000,298 937,250 $1,499,600 1,165,002 937,250 $1,499,600 1,165,002 741,250 $1,186,000 921,374 735,650 $1,177,040 914,413 713,250 $1,141,200 886,570 668,450 $1,069,520 830,883
Buyer
14
2,500,000 3,500,000
Trade
1,500,000 2,000,000
Private
45
Miquel Barcel (B. 1957), Areneros y muleros, 1990
2,000,000 3,000,000
Private
11
Alexander Calder (1898-1976), Hello Allentown, 1976
1,200,000 1,800,000
Private
10
Gerhard Richter (B. 1932), Abstraktes Bild, 1992
700,000 1,000,000
Private
35
Chris Ofili (B. 1968), Untitled Diptych, 1999
800,000 1,200,000
Private
53
Robert Indiana (B. 1928), LOVE, 1966
500,000 600,000
Private
Fred Tomaselli (B. 1956), Organism, 2005
400,000 600,000
Private
12
Anish Kapoor (B. 1954), Untitled, 2010
500,000 700,000
Private
30
Beatriz Milhazes (B. 1960), Madame Caduvel, 1996
320,000 380,000
Private
Comment:
Please see separate release
The Italian Sale London Thursday, 11 October 2011 Sale no: 6248 Top Ten [All sold prices include buyers premium] Sold: Lots Sold: 41 Exchange Rate :=$1.60/1.243 18,162,650 Lots Offered: 44 $25,526,640 Sold by Lot: 93% 19,831,008 Sold by : 96%
Lot
Description
Estimate ()
Purchase Price 2,617,250 $3,680,000 2,858,900 2,505,250 $3,520,000 2,734,600 1,385,250 $1,920,000 1,491,600 881,250 $1,200,000 932,250 847,650 $1,152,000 894,960 724,450 $1159120 900491 690,850 $1,105,360 858,727 657,250 $880,000 683,650 601,250 $962000 747354 577,250 $768,000 596,640
Buyer Private
89
Piero Manzoni (1933-1963), Achrome, circa 1959
1,800,000 2,500,000
83
Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), Concetto spaziale, Attese, 1966 Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), Concetto spaziale, Attese, 1965 Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), Concetto spaziale, Ritratto di Iris Clert, 1961 Giorgio De Chirico (1888-1978), Piazza dItalia (Mercurio e i metafisici), 1920 Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), Concetto spaziale, Natura, 1959 Michelangelo Pistoletto (B. 1933), Metrocubo dinfinito (Cubic Meter of Infinity), 1966 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), Concetto spaziale, 1960
2,200,000 2,800,000
Private
88
1,200,000 - 1,800,000
Anonymous
90
500,000 800,000
Trade
95
800,000 1,200,000
Trade
81
300,000 400,000
Private
74
400,000 600,000
Anonymous
106
600,000 800,000
International Trade
80
Alighiero Boetti (1940-1994), Mappa, 1984
600,000 800,000
International Private
109
Arnaldo Pomodoro (B. 1926), Sfera con sfera, 1991 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Comment:
450,000 650,000
Private
Please see separate release
