Modern Art

On May 22, 2017 more than 170 objects will be on offer - Art of the 19th Century, Art around 1900, Classic Modern, Postwar and Contemporary Art.

Two extremely nice postcards by Artist Karl Schmidt-Rottluff stem from the estate of painter Curt Herrmann (1854-1929) and his wife Sophie, née Herz (1872-1931), friends of Henry van de Velde's. He sent the couple the multi-coloured greetings from the Pomeranian coast. The postcards 'Landscape with Houses' and 'Gardener' are taxed at €25,000 - 30,000 each.

From another estate are two works by theatre director, painter, scene designer and art theorist Tadeusz Kantor. The two abstract works, oil on canvas, were dedicated to the consignor and have been in the family since. The works, made in 1964, are being offered at Quittenbaum's for €22,000 - 24,000 each.

In the sculpture section, too, some extraordinary pieces will be put forward. French/Hungarian sculptor Joseph Csaky used to work with Picasso, Derain and other famous persons in Paris during his cubist phase. He features with his bronze 'Sur la plage', from the year 1964. Due to its rareness, the object is taxed at €12,000 - 15,000, only three exemplars were made during the artist's lifetime.

Israeli artist Ruth Schloss is present with several works from the 1980s, all estimated at four-digit prices.

Viewing starts on Thursday, May 18. For any questions and condition reports, our specialist, Dr. Bettina Krogemann will be happy to assist.

Tel.: +4899273702119

Email: bettina.krogemann@quittenbaum.de

Among the 160 lots of Classic Modern and Postwar and Contemporary Art the two postcards by Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and two abstract compositions by Polish allround-artist Tadeusz Kantor were the most popular.

A German dealer on the telephone got the upper hand on both the postcards over a German private collector. The Brücke artist wrote both postcards to German Impressionism aficionado Curt Herrmann in 1921 respectively 1922. Curt Herrmann was a founding member of the Berlin Secession and a patron of younger artists since 1900, among them members of the Brücke artists association. The postcards on offer in the auction eloquently bear witness of Curt Herrmann's and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's close friendship. The hammer fell at €26,000 (lot 37, estimate €25,000 – 30,000) and €32,000 (lot 38, estimate €25,000 – 30,000) respectively.

The abstract paintings by Tadeusz Kantor, which never had been on the market before, both from the year 1964, convinced versed collectors in Poland, the artist's homeland. Up to the auction, they have been in a private collection since their making and received hammer prices of €20,000 respectively €21,000 (lots 94 and 95, estimates €22,000 – 24,000 each). Both hammer prices are the highest ever received for the artist's work in a German auction house. Another Polish abstract painting was made in the 1990s by Thomas Tatarczyk. Askan Quittenbaum noted the hammer price for the large-formatted composition down at €15,000 (lot 31, estimate €15,000 – 20,000).

A choice of edition by Shirin Neshat, Günther Uecker, Victor Vasarely and Andy Warhol were very popular as well.  

List of results

Post auction sale

Unsold lots will be available until June 23, 2017.