Modern Art

In our Modern Art auction in the second half of the year, you can once again expect exciting objects - in addition to attractive graphic editions by Eduardo Chillida, Rupprecht Geiger, Robert Longo and Arnulf Rainer, we are also offering a group of works by contemporary Pop Art artists.

Richard Orlinski, born in Paris in 1966, is a renowned contemporary artist who is best known for his spectacular sculptures. Orlinski began his artistic career in 2004 and quickly established himself on the art scene. He is particularly known for his pop art style works and often uses bright colors and materials such as resin and aluminum to create his striking sculptures. His artistic motto “Born Wild” strives to transform negative emotions into positive drives. He often depicts wild animals such as crocodiles, panthers and monkeys, which are designed in a modern, geometric and multi-faceted aesthetic. One of his most famous sculptures, 'Pop Wild Kong Oil' from 2016, a 127 cm tall figure made of synthetic resin depicting a wild gorilla, embodies Orlinski's typical style and his fascination with powerful animal figures. The unique work 'Pop Wild Kong Oil' was a highlight of the French television program Téléthon, in which it was auctioned for charity (estimated price EUR 35,000 - 55,000).

Another highlight of the art auction are the porcelain objects by Lucio Fontana. They come from the estate of Walther Stürmer, who was technical director of the Rosenthal Relief series and advised various artists on the technical possibilities of porcelain as a material, which was now to be developed into a mass-produced art object with high aesthetic standards. In collaboration with Fontana, Stürmer used knives and burins to create the breaks and incisions in the soft porcelain mass. The golden object (estimated price EUR 18,000 - 22,000) is part of the edition of 75 pieces, while the silver and black 'Concetto Spaziale Cratere' (estimated price EUR 5,000 - 8,000 each) are color experiments that were not themselves part of the respective edition.

Nicola de Maria's painting 'L.T.A.D.U.A.B. ANGELI + LO SPIRITO DELL'AMORE + DIPINTI MIEI' from 1986-87 (estimate EUR 12,000 - 16,000) reflects the spiritually charged pictorial language of the self-taught artist who, in contrast to his colleagues of the Italian transavantgarde, devoted himself to abstract painting. Nevertheless, de Maria sometimes uses figurative elements in his abstraction, which are derived from his understanding of spirituality and poetry. At the beginning of his artistic career in the 1970s, the Italian-born, medical graduate initially worked in the medium of photography and drawing before he began to create works on canvas and fresco murals. Today, Nicola de Maria is one of the most important representatives of contemporary Italian art.

The artist Arnulf Rainer was born in Baden in 1929 and is today regarded as the founder and one of the main representatives of Art Informel in Austria. Rainer began his artistic career in the 1950s and initially experimented with surrealist and gestural painting techniques. In the 1950s, he developed what is probably his best-known artistic technique: the Übermalung (overpainting). Rainer painted over existing pictures, photographs or prints by covering them completely or partially with thick layers of paint. These overpaintings, which often have a strongly expressive and emotional effect, thematize the examination of his own work and the transformation of artworks. Rainer understood overpainting as a kind of destruction and creation at the same time, through which new meanings and impressions are created. He received numerous awards and his works can be found in renowned museums and collections worldwide. Shortly after his first participation in a documenta (5/1972), the art action 'Selten gehörte Musik' (Rarely Heard Music) took place in the church Zum Heiligen Kreuz in Berlin on September 27, 1974. In addition to Arnulf Rainer, the participants included the artists Christian Ludwig Attersee, Günter Brus, Hermann Nitsch, Dieter Roth, Gerhard Rühm, Dominik Steiger as well as the writer Oswald Wiener. 'Selten gehörte Musik' emerged from a “poetry workshop” at which the small circle of friends occasionally came together to realize creative productions in a wide variety of artistic fields in an inspiring and intensive atmosphere. The photos taken during the event were painted over by Rainer and stamped on the reverse, including 'Oswald Wiener/Arnulf Rainer' (Berliner Konzert) (estimate EUR 10,000 - 15,000).

We were able to achieve pleasing results in our fall auction of Modern Art.

There was an exciting bidding battle for 'Two Moons' by Herbert Bayer, which ended with a hammer price of EUR 11,000, more than double the lower estimate. The sculpture, which was created in an edition of four, was sold outside Europe.

The work 'Bord de mer, voilier au loin' by the French Impressionist Pierre Bonnard was similarly sought-after. It changed hands and thus achieved almost three times the lower estimate with a hammer price of EUR 14,000. The new owner can look forward to a drawing that will be included in the artist's catalog raisonné.

Lucio Fontana's porcelain object 'Concetto Spaziale Cratere' in gold from 1968 achieved the highest hammer price at EUR 21,000. The object was published in an edition of 75 pieces and comes from the estate of the former technical director of the 'Rosenthal Relief series', Walther Stürmer; just like Fontana's two other objects. The color experiments in black and silver were created outside the edition and reached EUR 5,500 each.

Very good sales results were also achieved in our photographs section. Jan Saudek created the motif 'Johanna and Karl, ca. 1862', #46 in 1990. The silver gelatine print achieved a hammer price of EUR 2,000 - more than three times the upper estimate.

We would like to congratulate all of the highest bidders on their winning bids and thank everyone who participated in the auction.