Modern and Contemporary art auctions win over buyers with big names

At Lempertz's autumn auction of modern and contemporary art, Fritz Klimsch's “Spring” proved particularly popular. Stars such as Andy Warhol, Norbert Bisky, and Isa Genzken were just three of the most successful contemporary artists.

With their fascinating provenances and special significance for art history, sculptures played a particularly prominent role in Lempertz's Modern and Contemporary Art auction on 5th December. Leading the way was Fritz Klimsch's “Spring”. With its uncontrived posture, this piece so aptly expresses nature and springtime awakening that Klimsch himself considered it a particularly characteristic example of his work. The green patina on this bronze sculpture further emphasizes its association with nature. The widespread interest among bidders led to intense competition in the saleroom and on the telephones. With a final price of over €100,000, “Spring” sold for several times its estimate. Klimsch's “Bather” was similarly successful. From an estimated €25,000, this bronze rose to a result of €88,000. The bronze “Girl with Cloth,” also by Fritz Klimsch, rose from €15,000 to €54,000.

Ewald Mataré's “Tänzelndes Pferd” (Prancing Horse), one of the best-known motifs by the artist from the Rhineland, who was famous for his animal depictions, also achieved a remarkable result. The piece on offer is also believed to be a lifetime cast, which is particularly valued by the market. Instead of the estimated €40,000, this special sculpture achieved a result of €95,000. Just the day before, Lempertz's “50 Lots – My Choice” auction also achieved a record price of €352,000 for a work by Ewald Mataré.

There were also significant gains for modern paintings and drawings. In the bidding war for Karl Hagemeister's well-preserved pastel “Seerosen” (Water Lilies) from 1910, the price rose to more than ten times the estimate, with the successful bidder paying €79,000.

Among the contemporary artists, Andy Warhol proves to be a consistently popular figure. His silkscreen print “Beethoven” from the eponymous series attracted considerable attention in Europe and beyond and was sold for €88,000. Warhol’s complete “Beethoven” portfolio had already been extremely successful on 4th December, fetching €277,000.

Works by Norbert Bisky are also consistently successful at Lempertz. On 5th December, it was “Ich trage eine Fahne” (I Carry a Flag). The canvas was bid up from €40,000 to a final price of around €70,000. Works by Isa Genzken also remain highly sought after and in demand. One of her Weltempfänger (World Receivers) therefore achieved a price of €63,000 instead of the estimated €35,000.

William Kentridge is currently being honoured on his 70th birthday with two exhibitions in Essen and Dresden. In Cologne, a charcoal and pastel drawing by the artist was sold for €50,000 and will now be added to a British private collection. 

There was also considerable interest and significant price increases for two paintings by Jonathan Lasker. The bidding for “Love becoming Power” from 2005, with an estimate of €40,000, only ended at €78,000. 

Jean Tinguely would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year. At the auction, his work “Salutationsdistinguées” caught the attention of bidders, who raised the piece from its estimated price of €50,000 to over €75,000. Good prices for works by Keith Haring, Arnulf Rainer, Horst Antes, Albert Oehlen, and many others contributed to the success of the Modern and Contemporary Art auction.

Jan Bykowski
Press and Public Relations
info@lempertz.com
Tel. 0221 925729 -57