Grain Farmers and Melon Eaters - Tercentenary Auctions Part IV, 26th to 30th November 2007

Carl Spitzweg

Egon Schiele

Marc Chagall

Demetre Chiparus

Günter Uecker

Maria Lassnig

Paintings of the 19th Century herald the beginning of the fourth part of this year's tercentenary auctions on 26th November 2007: Foxes trying to steal an eagle's prey, a dramatic tableau by Friedrich von Gauermann now comes up for auction with the assent of all heirs after Rudolf von Gutmann („Füchse wollen einem Adler die Beute abjagen“, valuation: 150.000 - 180.000 €). Willem Koekkoek presents a view of the Lutheran Church in Amsterdam, which since his times has had a varied history involving several reconstructions (100.000 – 120.000 €).

Years of acquaintance with the grain farmer of Uffing near Murnau in Upper Bavaria left a lasting impression on Carl Spitzweg, ever since he first met the man during his early days as a journeying painter around 1837/39. Spitzweg's respect found its expression in two separate versions of the subject, one of which is now available at auction (75.000 - 100.000 €).

In idle conversation („Die Plauderei“), a masterly painting by Eugen von Blaas established this year's record in the 19th century painting category, selling for the sensational sum of 684.000 Euro. On this occasion, the selection includes his Two Venetian ladies, painted in 1893 („Zwei Venezianerinnen“, 150.000 – 200.000 €).

This auction also features a particularly rich choice of works by Orientalist painters (described in a separate press release) Dutch painters, as well as proponents of the Düsseldorf School, Italian and Russian artists, and Vienna floral painters.

Matching the highest international standards, the auction of Modern Art on 27th November 2007 features Italian highlights such as the „Cardinale in piedi“ by Giacomo Manzu (70.000 - 100.000 €) alongside Austrian masters like Egon Schiele with his Golden haired woman reclining on a blue cushion („Auf einem blauen Polster Liegende mit goldblondem Haar“, 280.000 – 380.000 €). Conveying a typically Viennese mood Carl Moll affords us a View of Nussdorf and Heiligenstadt at dusk, dating to 1905 („Blick auf Nussdorf bzw. Heiligenstadt in der Dämmerung“, 160.000 -220.000 €). Marc Chagall contributes a landscape near Paris, his 1980 „Paysage de Paris de Jaune“ (280.000 - 300.000 €), Pierre Bonnard a charming Portrait of a young girl of 1916 (240.000 – 260.000 €), and Pablo Picasso a „Portrait d’Homme“, 1943 (160.000 – 180.000 €).

At the Art Nouveau Auction on 28the November 2007 a „Danseuse hindoue“ dances through a design by Demetre Chiparus (circa 1930, 16.000 – 20.000 €) while a select range of vases includes such fragile treasures as a vase decorated with blackthorn by Daum, Nancy (circa 1900 7.000 - 9.000 €). Josef Hoffmann provides a 1908/10 design for a highly decorative button from the "Wiener Werkstätte", manufactured by the goldsmith Karl Ponocny (4.000 – 5.000 €).

Contemporary Art's hour in the limelight comes on the evening of 28th November 2007. One of the works, „Cuadro 23“(1957) by the Spanish artist Manolo Millares was shown at the Venice Biennial of 1958 (130.000 - 200.000 €) another is by Yayoi Kusama, one of the most important artists of post-war Japan and easily recognizable by her trademark polka dots designs. Her „No White O.X.“, 1960, is valued at between 330.000 and 500.000 Euro. White Wind is unmistakably the work of Günther Uecker (1988 „Weißer Wind“, 130.000 – 150.000 €) whose nail pictures have become as much a signature style as the blue of his brother-in-law, Yves Klein. For the „Exil“ – legendary Berlin bar and his own favourite hang-out – Martin Kippenberger created his Dinner in Exil(e) dedicating it to a waiter named Attila („Abendessen im Exil“, 130.000 – 180.000 €). Maria Lassnig's Melon eaters come across in her typical expressive and vividly coloured style  („Melonenesser“ 100.000 – 150.000 €).

Street art also stages a return. In 2004, the great unknown artist known as Banksy toured Berlin leaving behind the traffic sign now available at this auction. A number of actionist artists have left their mark on the back of the sign while its centre shows Banksy's famous rat in typical stencilled/spray paint technique (35.000 - 45.000 €).

Silver will leave its mark at the auction on 29th November 2007: Three graces support the glass bowl of a splendid ornamental centrepiece from London made of gilt silver. The armorial engraving indicates the Wedderburn Family, Baronets of Balindean, the maker's mark Eduard, John & William Barnard, 1837 (14.000 - 18.000 €).

Created around 1870, the statuette of a harlequin with two clocks is set with numerous rubies and sapphires, its silver cap decorated with translucent green enamel (8.000 - 12.000 €). A particularly rare Early Renaissance double barrel beaker of gilt silver features an engraved angel figure, two coat-of-arms on the beaker's base, with its socket lid bearing an inscribed dedication dating to the year 1791 (8.000 - 12.000 €). Two drinking horns made of buffalo horn, mounted with silver, and resting on eagle claw feet come from St. Petersburg and were made around 1880 (12.000 - 16.000 €). A range of enchanting gold boxes includes an enamel and gold box from Paris  from the France of Louis XV. (5.000 - 8.000 €) along with a precious Rococo gold box (4.000 – 6.000 €). The auction will present a total of approximately 450 lots, with a wide selection of Russian silver, collector's items from the Renaissance to art nouveau, English silver, early German silver from Augsburg and Nürnberg, as well as a particularly comprehensive range of Viennese silver.

Jewellery and Watches will provide a suitably sparkling finish to the event 30th November 2007 with such highlights as an exceedingly precious eighteen-carat white gold necklace set with brilliants to a total weight of ca. 92,4 ct (110.000 – 160.000 €) or an unusually versatile platinum and white gold necklace from Paris set with old-cut brilliants and smaller diamonds: the central segment can be unscrewed and disassembled into two separate parts which can be worn as brooches (50.000 – 80.000 €). A set of charming pendant ear clips in the form of tulips  is made of platinum and white gold and set with diamonds and brilliants (14.000 - 21.000 €), while a particularly exquisite gold and silver brooch set with old-cut brilliants dates to circa 1900 (9.000 – 13.000 €). Offering a fine example of classic elegance will be a necklace of cultured South Sea pearls (15.000 – 20.000 €). The watch selection offers such fascinating items as an eighteen-carat gold gentleman's pocket watch automaton made in France around 1820 (6.500 – 9.500 €).

	Carl Spitzweg
	Egon Schiele
	Marc Chagall
	Demetre Chiparus
	Günter Uecker
	Maria Lassnig
	Ornamental centrepiece from London
	Brooch set with old-cut brilliants
	Press Information