Artfact Live! Auction Roundup Important Sale Results from the Artfact Staff
(Boston, MA) – Artfact kicked off the month of November with Freeman’s “Modern & Contemporary Art” sale. The sale, which included 283 works from the Lehman Brothers collection, drew over 800 registered bidders and generated $665,125 in online sales across the Artfact Live! platform and Freeman’s live bidding platform, powered by Artfact. The trend continued throughout the rest of the month, with strong online sales from Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, Artcurial and Koller Auctions.
As the holiday season approaches, Artfact continues to build momentum in the live auction arena, signing five new auction house partners to exclusive live auction agreements in November. Artfact’s newest partners include auction houses in Italy, Austria and the United States, further cementing Artfact’s position as the leading global live auction marketplace.
Freeman’s “Modern & Contemporary Art, including Works from the Lehman Brothers Collection”—November 1, 2009
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997), “I Love Liberty”
Price Realized: $49,000
In the days leading up to Freeman’s November 1st sale, Roy Lichtenstein’s “I Love Liberty” attracted media attention as an iconic image from the landmark Lehman Brothers sale. However on sale day, it was neither the press nor the Lehman connection that caused the print to soar above its $15,000 to $25,000 estimate. Rather, competition from several online bidders made the lot one of the top five sales of the auction— ultimately selling online for $49,000 (including buyers premium).
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/roy-lichtenstein,-american,-1923-1997-,-i-love-1-p-79419f92c1
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries “2009 Fall Feature Fine Art and Antique Auction, Day One”—November 7, 2009
Portrait of poetess Laura Redden Searing in the Studio by Michael George Brennan (Irish, 1840-1871)
Price Realized: $13,000
Estimated at $2,000 to $3,000, this portrait of Laura Redden Searing was a surprise highlight in a two-day auction that generated over $100,000 in online sales. A deaf poetess and journalist, the portrait was painted by Searing’s fiancé, the Irish artist Michael George Brennan (1840-1871). Searing and Brennan met in Italy in 1867, the year the portrait was painted. In 1868, Searing returned to New York. While Searing planned their wedding in the US, Brennan suffered an aneurysm and died in 1871. Housed in a magnificent parcel gilt frame, the portrait depicts a thoughtful Searing studying a landscape, presumably in Brennan’s studio. Thanks to strong online bidding, the portrait quadrupled it pre-auction price estimate— selling online for $13,000.
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/ooc-poetess-searing-portrait-m-brennan-irish-1867-1-p-db8aa9b53b
Artcurial – Briest – Poulain – F. Tajan “Classic and Racing Cars: Luxe, sport et collection”—November 16, 2009
Ferrari 456 GTA—1996
Price Realized: €50,714
Sold without reserve, this blue Ferrari 456 GTA was estimated at €30,000 to €40,000. The 456 GTA’s four-speed automatic transmission was developed in partnership with the UK firm Ricardo and was only the fourth automatic transmission ever offered by Ferrari. On sale day, as bidding on the floor intensified so did online interest— with online and floor bidders battling for the luxury sports car as it first reached and then exceeded its €40,000 high estimate. Ultimately, it was an online bidder who won the day— purchasing the 1997 model for €50,714 (including buyers premium).
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/ferrari-456-gta-1996-zffwp50b000105295-modele-11-c-1c1773840a
Porro & C. “XXth Century Decorative Arts”—November 18, 2009
Venini, “pezzato” glass vase
Price Realized: €8,060
Established in 1925 by Paolo Venini, Venini is among the largest and most successful Murano glass firms still in operation. Known for its modern shapes, colors and styles, the firm attracted the illustrator and caricaturist Fulvio Bianconi after WWII. Bianconi collaborated on and off with Venini from 1947 through the 1990’s and in the 1950’s he developed the “pezzato” or “patches” series for Venini. Circa 1950, the “pezzato” glass vase sold by Porro & C. in its first Artfact Live! sale is decorated with a series of free-form squares or “patches” in bright reds, greens, blues and purples. Estimated at €4,000 to €5,000, the vase generated considerable interest from online bidders both before and during the auction. Exceeding it’s high estimate by over €3,000, the vase sold online for €8,060.
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/venini,-pezzato-glass-vase,-parigi-colour,-186-c-1977606e93
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery “Exceptional Lighting, Antiques, Clocks, Watches & Mission Auction”—November 21, 2009
French Industrial Automated Locomotive Clock
Price Realized: $31,625
Spurred by Louis XIV’s opulent court at Versailles, 17th century French clockmakers began to produce highly ornamented clocks covered in gilt bronze. By the early 20th century, French clocks had begun to take on myriad forms, including locomotives. Both clock and model, Automated Locomotive Clocks came in two styles— American and European. The former came with a gilt bronze cowcatcher while the latter did not. An example of the European style, the Automated Locomotive Clock sold by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery on November 21st was signed “Japy Freres” and has an 8 day time and bell strike movement and a barometer on the boiler, both of which have silvered dials. Estimated at $20,000 to $30,000, the clock, which was listed in excellent condition and good working order, ultimately sold online for $31,625 (including buyers premium).
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/french-industrial-automated-locomotive-clock-10-p-3cce2b9929
Note: Auction lot details and enlarged lot images available at http://www.artfact.com with free registration.
About Artfact:
Founded in 1989, Artfact is the largest global marketplace of fine and decorative arts, antiques, collectibles, and estate auctions. On January 1, 2009, Artfact launched Artfact Live!, its proprietary live auction bidding platform, enabling users to bid real time on auctions being held around the world by its prestigious auction house partners. Currently, over 1,000 fine auctioneers actively list their catalogues with Artfact.com and its U.K. sister site Invaluable.com, reaching the Artfact community of more than 10 million knowledgeable collectors and dealers worldwide. Artfact’s industry leading database includes more than 54 million complete auction results totaling more than $197 billion in value, including information on more than 500,000 international artists. In 2006, Artfact acquired RFC Systems, the leading provider of enterprise software developed specifically for the fine art and antique auction house industry. RFC helps prestigious auction houses around the world manage their businesses by automating their day-to-day operations.
Editor’s Notes:
- Additional background information available.
- Interviews with Doug Ellinger, VP Marketing, dellinger@artfact.com, (617) 746-9882
- Complimentary media subscriptions to the Artfact database available.
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