On June 27, Aguttes Auction House and European Evaluators conducted a successful sale of Impressionist, Modern, Southeast Asian, Russian and contemporary art, which realized a grand total of $4,127,548.
The section of Impressionist, Modern and contemporary art started with a bang when an oil on canvas by Henry Moret depicting tall poplar trees bathing in the Breton sunshine doubled its low estimate and sold for $198,000. A peaceful scene by Gustave Loiseau and a tender bronze of a doe and her two fawns by animal sculptor Rembrandt Bugatti came next, both selling within estimate at $63,500 and $136,000, respectively.
Drawings by Jean Cocteau, $5,000, and Sonia Delaunay $14,700, then paved the way for a painting by Cubist artist Albert Gleizes. Painted in 1914, the vibrant and impressive work representing the artist’s mother and sister illustrates Gleizes’ fascination for shapes and their relation to color. Originally estimated $300/440,000, the lot started a bidding frenzy on the phones and in the room, finally selling at $775,000.
André Lanskoy’s abstract period proved to be still very much sought-after when “Une marche avant l’abîme,” an imposing composition from 1965, sold for $210,000. Hans Hartung’s composition from 1958 found a new owner for $109,000 and another dated Christmas 1974 sold above its high at $27,600.
Next, with the room abuzz and the telephone bidders all lined up and ready to go, a wood relief by Brazilian sculptor Sergio Camargo crossed the block. The talented artist never tired of experimenting with light and shadow effects, and this example of his work rapidly triggered a war among bidders on the phone and in the room before selling to a buyer on the phone for $938,000, far exceeding its low estimate of $220,000. A colorful still life by Bernard Buffet did just as well when it almost doubled its high estimate of $58,000, selling at $108,720.
The Southeast Asian and Russian section of the sale began with a portrait of a young woman by the Vietnamese artist Mai Trung Thu and one of his enticing signature works on silk depicting a pretty flautist. Both lots did very well and went, respectively, for $42,000 and $16,200. They were followed by two delicate scrolls by the Chinese artist Qi Baishi. These dainty shrimps and crabs enchanted clients both on the phones and in the room, tripling their estimates and climbing to $105,000 and $65,500, further proof that there is an ever-increasing demand for Southeast Asian art.
A lush rose garden by Russian landscape artist Stanislav Yulianovich Zhukovsky doubled its low estimate of $44,000 and found a new owner for $90,500. This was the first of many Russian paintings to realize a great price. Indeed, the sale continued with a highly original work by Alexis Paul Arapov depicting a tennis match on the beach, which shot past its estimate of $22/30,000 and sold for $58,000. The hammer then fell at $28,000 for an array of pink and white orchids by Lev Chistovsky, and another flower arrangement by Alexander Altmann more than tripled its low estimate of $8,000 when it also went for $28,000.
A portrait of a porcelain-skinned woman by Leonid Frechkop soared above its high estimate of $8,000, finally selling at $26,000, and Sigmund Joseph Menkes’ equally charming portrait of a woman sitting by a window fetched $42,000, twice the high estimate.
Rounding up the sale was a selection of Nineteenth Century paintings by artists such as Henri Duvieux, Jules Dupré and Gaston Latouche. Among the highlights were a tiger by Gustave Surand, which sold for $37,000, and a large oil on canvas depicting three men roaming the countryside in an automobile by Henry Paul Perrault, which almost tripled its estimate and went for $38,200. What better way to seal this sale than with a kiss? Indeed, Victor Emile Prouvé’s portrait of a young girl blowing a kiss was the perfect finish and it found a happy buyer for $37,000.
All prices reported include the buyer’s premium.
Aguttes and European Evaluators are currently preparing sales of Russian, Southeast Asian, Modern and Impressionist paintings to be conducted this fall. For information, contact Frédéric Thut at 917-282-6044, 212-759 9803 or email fthut@fthut.eu .
