Swann Galleries’ annual auction of rare and important Art Nouveau posters on December 20, which featured works by masters of the medium, became the auction house’s most successful poster sale to date, totaling just under $1 million.
The auction’s star item was the rare 1899 poster promoting the Parisian nightclub Le Grillon by Jacques Villon, 1899, which sold for $67,200. Also drawing a lot of attention from bidders was Fernand Toussaint’s colorful coffee advertisement, “Café Jacqmotte,” Brussels, 1896, which brought an auction record price of $50,400; and Manuel Orazi’s “Theatre de Loie Fuller,” Paris, 1900, a record $43,200.
There were many images featuring beautiful women by famed Art Nouveau designer Alphonse Mucha, including “Les Fleurs,” a set of four decorative panels, Paris, 1898, $45,600; one of his advertisements for Job rolling papers, Paris, 1896, $26,400; “La Samaritaine,” Paris, 1897, $21,600; “Dawn & Dusk,” set of two posters, Paris, 1899, $14,400; “La Dame aux Camelias,” Paris, 1896, $14,400; “Champagne Ruinart,” Paris, 1896, $12,250; and an untitled pencil, ink and watercolor drawing, $15,600.
Works by Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen, known for his depictions of cats, included an oil on canvas, “Winter Cat,” $43,200; and a poster advertising a veterinarian practice, “Clinique Cheron,” Paris, 1905, $38,400.
Highlights by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec included his posters for performers May Milton, 1895, $21,600, and Troupe de Mlle Eglantine, 1896, $26,400; and a rare ephemera item, a theater program for L’Argent, Paris, 1895, a record $14,400.
Other standouts included Felix Vallotton’s poster for the art gallery from which the Art Nouveau movement got its name, “L’Art Nouveau Exposition Permanente,” circa 1896, $15,600; two volumes of Les Maitres de L’Affiche, with 96 plates, 1897–98, $16,800; and a huge six-sheet extravaganza, “Tout Paris a la Revue des Folies Bergère” by Adrien Barrère, circa 1902, $22,800.
German and Austrian highlights included Ludwig Hohlwein’s “Hermann Scherrer,” Munich, 1907, $10,200; and Bertold Löffler’s poster for the Secession exhibition “Kunstschau,” Vienna, 1908, $24,500; while a Czech poster for a costume ball, Zlaty Vek, Prague, 1904 brought $7,200.
In keeping with the season were several images promoting winter sports and activities, such as Achille Beltrame’s department store advertisement “E.&A. Mele & Cie,” featuring ice skaters, Milan, 1901, $5,280; and early skiing posters, including Louis Tauzin’s “Les Vosges,” $5,520; Emile Cardinaux’s look at the snow-capped Matterhorn for Zermatt, Zurich, 1908, $8,400; and Francisco Tamango’s “Chamonix/Mont Blanc,” Paris, 1910, $12,000.
All prices reported include the buyer’s premium. Swann Auction Galleries is at 104 East 25th Street. For information, www.swanngalleries.com or contact Gael Zafrany at 212-254-4710, extension 53.
