Space for new discoveries
Old Masters up and coming
Munich, 27 April 2010, (kk) - Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century are more in demand than ever before, as a result of close to € 700 000* for the auction on 23 April 2010 clearly proves. "This sum makes for a € 100 000* gain to fall 2009, with every object realizing an average increase of 185 percent **", said Robert Ketterer, auctioneer and owner of Ketterer Kunst. He continues: "Two factors are decisive for this development: On the one hand, a concentration on two auctions a year spurs the demand. Other points that open gates for new discoveries are the objects‘ quality, professional cataloging as well as attractive estimates".
Auction’s top lot:Hendrik Willem Mesdag
Die Rückkehr der Fischer.
1890er Jahre
Oil on wood, 51x39,3 cm (20x15.4 in)
Result: € 144.000*
No. 187: H.W. Mesdag - Die Rückkehr der Fischer
€ 90 000* Starting price: € 10 000
No. 115 Karl Blechen – Verwitterter Baumstamm
€ 73 000* Starting price: € 12 000
No. 114: Karl Blechen – Gemäldepaar: Märkische Landschaft
€ 60 000* Starting price: € 1 000
No. 142: Frankreich – Bildnis eines Mannes
€ 33 000* Starting price: € 12 000
No. 113: Karl Blechen – Blechen auf der Wanderschaft
The spring auctions on 23/24 April 2010 were opened by the section of Old Masters and Art of the 19th century, headed by the impressive oil painting "Die Rückkehr der Fischer" (lot 187) by Hendrik Willem Mesdag. Called up at € 30 000, both bidders in the auction room and on the phone as well as written bids entered the race, of which eight interested parties were from the Netherlands. However, eventually a southern German collector carried the painting off, allowing a result of € 144 000*, which is almost a five-fold of the starting price.
The oil painting "Verwitterter Baumstamm" (lot 115, starting price € 10 000) by Karl Blechen, in a size of 25,8 x 20 cm, had made for an even sharper increase a little earlier. A collector from Switzerland offered a total of € 90 000*, and since he attended the auction in person, he took the small and handy watercolor "Blechen auf der Wanderschaft" by the same artist right home with him, of course not without honoring it with a result of € 33 000*. Blechen‘s third work in the auction was almost even more successful, the "Gemäldepaar: Märkische Landschaften" (lot 114) went to a collector from Berlin for a result of € 73 000*.
The auction’s greatest discovery, however, was the "Bildnis eines Mannes" (Portrait of a Man) in a size of 46 x 37,5 cm. Estimated at € 1 200-1 500, the high quality oil painting from the 19th century did not only carry an extremely attractive price, it also did entirely without any attribution, as the only clear point was that it is of French origin. The outstanding provenance Collection Alfred Strölin, Paris and Lausanne alone indicated that potential buyers would have to pay through their nose for this work. The hard bidding skirmish that followed the call-up was proof enough thereof. It was finally brought to a halt and a result of € 60 000* by a Belgian phone bidder.
Eleven works by Christian Friedrich Gille had also been expected with a lot excitement, as a number of 60 both written and phone bids by interested customers clearly proved. The completely occupied auction room made for the rest, and the first "Baum-Studie" (lot 145, starting price € 1 500-2 000) rose to a result of € 26 000* accordingly. A southern German collector allowed a seventeen-fold of the estimate, and stood up to far more than a dozen of both national and international competitors. The "Kürbis-Studie" (lot 148) realized more than a nine-fold of its estimate of € 1.200-1.500 and went to a northern German art dealer for a total of € 11 000*.
An Italian lady showed a strong sense of the special. She was taken with a "Flusslandschaft", made in the succession of Herman Saftleven and called up at € 800. After a grim bidding skirmish her offer of € 7 300* stood up to several German art dealers and one collector from France.
"All sold", that can be said about eight works by Albrecht Dürer, all of which realized results clearly above their starting prices. The same applies to works from Francisco de Goya, which raised, on average, the interest of half a dozen bidders. Harmensz. van Rijn Rembrandt, whose etching "Christus, die Händler aus dem Tempel treibend" was particularly popular, making for a total of more than € 6 000*, was yet another big name on the list.
| Lot no. | Artist (Technique) | Title | Calling price | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 157 | Guérard (oil) | Die Eremitage von … | € 15 000 | € 18 300* |
| 26 | Germany (oil) | Gemäldepaar:Früchtestillleben | € 3 000 | € 6 100* |
| 123 | Compton (watercolor) | Grünersee-Tal ... | € 1 200 | € 4 600* |
| 65 | Niederlande (oil) | Der Brillenverkäufer | € 2 000 | € 5 500* |
| 173 | Klein (etching) | Die Maler auf der Reise | € 600 | € 2 600* |
All unsold objects of the spring auction can be acquired in the post auction sale until late June 2010. Lists with results are available by phone under +49-(0)89-55244-0.
** The percentage indicates the ratio between the starting price (limit) and the hammer price.
| Press inquiries: | Customer inquiries: |
|---|---|
| Ketterer Kunst | Ketterer Kunst |
| Joseph-Wild-Str. 18 | Joseph-Wild-Str. 18 |
| 81829 Munich | 81829 Munich |
| Michaela Derra M.A. | |
| phone:+49-(0)89-55244-152 (Fax: -177) | phone:+49-(0)89-55244-444 (Fax.:-177) |
| e-mail: m.derra@kettererkunst.de | e-mail: info@kettererkunst.com |
