Roland Auctions Tony Rosenthal Collection
September 25th
150 School Street (2 Dosoris Way – for GPS),
Glen Cove, NY 11542
www.rolandauctions.com

GLEN COVE, N.Y. — Southampton, N.Y.-based abstract sculptor Tony Rosenthal (American, 1914-2009) curated and refined his own personal collection, both in the Rosenthal home and upon its Southampton property over the course of a half century. Now, for the first time, the collection will be available to lovers everywhere. As Roland Auctions NY, in collaboration with the Tony Rosenthal estate, will present the personal collection of Tony Rosenthal on Saturday, September 25, at 10 am (ET). The auction event will feature many pieces from the Rosenthal home. “We are grateful to the artist’s estate for the opportunity to bring this truly outstanding artwork into the public sphere,” said Bill Roland.

In preparation of the auction, three of Rosenthal’s favorite pieces, “Lovers,” “Big Red” and “Mandala” variation (from the “Ring” series), were recently on display at this year’s Southampton Fine Arts Fair at the Southampton Arts Center. Previews for the auction will take place on Thursday, September 23, from 10 am until 7 pm and Friday, September 24, from 10 am until 6 pm.
Rosenthal and his wife Cynthia made Southampton their home for more than 25 years. The artwork offered in this single artist auction constitutes Rosenthal’s “private reserve,” his personal collection. This artwork in the collection, spanning the early 1960s through the 2000s, also had the dual function of acting as “filaments” to illuminate or spark Rosenthal’s creative exploration and experimentation with material, form and light.
Rosenthal’s estate, in line with the intentions of the artist himself, has directed that these sculptures should enter the public arena. All pieces come with a certificate of authenticity signed by Cynthia Rosenthal.
Featured throughout the auction are many variations, exemplars and iconic works from small-scale cast bronzes to mid-size maquettes and finally large outdoor sculptures, with one highlight being one of Rosenthal’s favorite pieces called “Lovers,” a brushed aluminum relief sculpture with juxtaposed geometric forms, unsigned, date unknown 80 by 103 by 12 inches ($30/50,000).

Rosenthal was possibly best known for his landmark 15-foot high rotating sculpture, the “Alamo” cube on New York City’s Astor Place. He designed the piece in 1967, when it was accepted as the first permanent contemporary outdoor public sculpture by the City of New York. Other variations of the iconic cube included in this auction are untitled (Tony Rosenthal’s Cube), polished bronze variation, signed, circa 2008, 12 by 12 inches.

A maquette for “Alamo” variation, plywood, is a constructed cube mounted on a single rod for rotation with square metal base, stamped, signed and dated “‘73” ($3/5,000) and the untitled (“Cube” variation), black painted aluminum, revolving cube sculpture with four subdivided square elements of each side on metal stand, unsigned, circa 1980 ($4/6,000).
Other highlights of the collection include “Big Red,” welded and painted aluminum, a large free-standing lattice sculpture, signed, circa 1998, 56 by 67 by 24 inches. This sculpture is illustrated in an earlier state in the book Tony Rosenthal by Edward Albee and Sam Hunter, Rizzoli, New York, 1999. “Mandala” variation (From the “Ring” series) is a circular painted wood construction with steel bolts, steel base and black and white accents, signed, circa 1994-95, 95½ by 95 by 20 inches.

Other pieces taking the spotlight include untitled (From “Accumulation” series), welded red and black painted tubular steel freestanding sculpture, unsigned, circa 1998. 98 by 48 by 24 inches; and untitled (from the “Ring” series), large circular assembled and painted wood sculpture constructed with steel fasteners on a rectangular metal base, signed and dated “1992,” 71½ by 71 by 12 inches.
Roland NY is at 150 School Street. For more information, www.rolandantiques.com or 212-260-2000.’

We are announcing that we will be selling the Contents of American Sculptor Tony Rosenthal’s Estate on Saturday September 25th. He was an American abstract sculptor widely known for his monumental public art sculptures. His works are in several museums around the world.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own pieces from his private collection amassed in his Southampton, NY home and studio over several decades.”

212-260-2000 |
View Online Catalog| info@rolandauctions.com