With an overall result of more than € 2,6 million* in the October Ketterer Kunst auctions, the autumn season saw quite a promising beginning. “34 percent new bidders alone in the section of Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century – almost 10 percent more than in spring – once more confirm the ever increasing appeal of art“, comments Robert Ketterer on the first part of his autumn auctions**. Another fact that proves art’s increasing approval is the average increase per lot of 50 percent in the section of Modern Art.
The company owner continues: “Besides the quality, the aspect of art as a crisis-proof means of investment is particularly striking. Nine results beyond the € 20.000 mark in the two auctions of Art from the 20th and 21st century of up to € 20.000 deliver proof thereof.“
Thus one has good reason to look forward to the main auction on 10 December, 2011.
The auction’s focal points were on:
1. Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century
2. Modern Art with the special auction Side lines of the German Avant-garde
3. Post War/Contemporary Art
on 1. Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century
The section of Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century opened the three-day auction marathon, it was led by Ludwig Ferdinand Schnorr von Carolsfeld’s ”Heimkehr des verlorenen Sohnes“, which was formerly in possession of the collection Schäfer in Schweinfurt. Called up at € 75.000, a private collector from the Berlin/Brandenburg area awarded the colorful oriental scene with the result of €98.820* and thus set a new world record price*** for a work by the artist.
on 2. Modern Art with Sidelines of the German Avant-garde
This section is headed by Max Schwimmer’s oil painting ”Der Einarmige“ , a work from the special auction Sidelines of the German Avant-garde, which achieved almost a threefold of its € 28.000 starting price and accordingly realized the auction’s second-sharpest increase after Otto Wilfried’s ”Jahrmarkt“ (starting price: € 1.800, result: € 11.875*). A bidder in the auction room from Southern Germany stood his ground against all competitors in the auction room and on the phones as well as against all written bids. He made the unusual self-portrait sure for himself for a result of € 80.520* and thus set a new world record price ***.
The special auction, which realized three times last year’s turnover, saw Elfriede Lohse-Wächtler’s ”Frauenporträt“ as one of its highlights. Starting at € 5.500, an Austrian private collector honored the work with a result of € 18.750*.
Two watercolors by Hermann Scherer, each called up at € 3.200 showing ”Badende am Bergbach“, caused a severe bidding skirmish, with more than half a dozen bidders on the phones. Again it was an Austrian who succeeded, winning the two works from 1924/26 for € 11.875* and € 12.500* respectively.
Another lot from the top realms in the auction of Modern Art of up to € 20.000 is Karl Schmidt-Rottluff’s ”Winterwald“. Despite strong head wind from all directions, a collector from the Berlin region won the race and raised the pastel from a starting price of € 8.000 to a result of € 35.380*, accordingly, the 263 percent increase were the auction’s third-sharpest.
The same region, however, a different buyer will be the new home of Conrad Felixmüller’s oil painting ”Vor dem Spiegel“. The impressive work, which also adorns the catalog’s title, achieved more than a four-fold of its starting price of € 8.000 and was eventually raised to a result of € 34.160*.
On 3. Post War/Contemporary Art
The highest result in this section was achieved by Fritz Winter’s ”Rot vor Blau“. The oil painting from 1966 went to a private collector from Switzerland, who asserted himself against strong competition which mostly came from Germany. Eventually, he won the work for a result of € 43.920*.
Just slightly below this mark is Andy Warhol’s ”Girl Standing“ which climbed to a result of € 41.480*. Called up at € 10.000 the filigree India ink work went to a collector from Southern Germany whose written bid would have allowed more clearance.
Yet another lot beyond the € 20.000 mark is Karl Hartung’s bronze ”Delfoss“, which realized almost four times its starting price of € 5.500. In the end it went to North-Rhine Westphalia for € 20.625*.
Eight works by ZERO artists proved to be much sought-after, as they were sold with increases that went far beyond their estimates. While Otto Piene’s ”Squeeze“ peaked at € 13.420* with a starting price of € 3.200 and Günther Uecker’s “Raum zerteilter Vorstellung“ made for a result of € 15.860*, Heinz Mack’s ”Kleiner Park (Chromatische Konstellation) led the triumvirate with a result of € 16.470* (starting price € 4.800).
There was quite a rush when works by Italian artist’s such as Achille Perilli (startring price: € 7.000, result € 15.860*), Piero Dorazio (starting price: € 3.000, result: € 9.760*), Piero Manzoni (starting price: € 1.600, result: € 7.320*) and Lucio Fontana (starting price: € 3.000, result: € 6.344*) were called up. Naturally, it was particularly the phone lines to Italy that ran hot.
