Fine Art PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Fine Art PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

De Kooning and Iconic Lalanne Sheep for Bonhams New York Sale

Contemporary Art collectors are eagerly awaiting the November 10th sale set to take place at Bonhams New York. The concise and meticulously assembled sale includes key work by legendary Contemporary and Modern figures such as Willem de Kooning, James Rosenquist, Henry Matisse, Lynn Chadwick, Alexander Calder and James Turrell.

Willem-de-KooningAmongst the most coveted lots in the sale is a 1965 piece by Willem de Kooning. Titled Woman in a Landscape, the painting is an oil on paper laid on panel. Vibrantly colored and clearly conveying the feeling of flowing movement, the painting is estimated at $400/600,000. This fully executed small work, rare for the artist during this period, is likely an early study for the artist’s 1966-67 painting The Visit housed in the Tate collection.

Alexander Calder’s Red Pennant, 1966 (est. $100/150,000), is also expected to attract much collector attention. The simple yet striking standing mobile is fresh to the market, having remained in the same family since it was purchased from Perls Galleries circa 1970.

Henri Matisse’s delightful ink line drawing of his grandson Paul is likely to spark intense bidding. Portrait of Paul Matisse V (est. $80/120,000), drawn in 1946 in Nice, is marked by the great master’s playful lyricism (pictured left). It is the fifth drawing from a series of ten that were shown together in 1971 at Thomas Gibson Fine Arts in London.

Two of François-Xavier Lalanne’s iconic sheep sculptures are also highly anticipated. Made of bronze and concrete, the surrealist sheep sculptures are instantly recognizable. Sold as two separate lots, the first to go to block will be Belier, 1998, (pictured top). Featuring curved horns and standing at 37 inches tall, it is estimated at $40/60,000. The second sculpture to be offered, Mouton, 1999, stands at 35 ½ inches tall and carries an estimate of $20/30,000. Additionally, two works from ceramic artist Peter Voulkos will be offered. Both made of Shigaraki clay and fired at the Belvidere Kiln in New Jersey, the artist’s Firebox charger, 1997 is estimated at $12/18,000 and Firebox charger, 1999 is estimated at $10/15,000.

Other notable works to be offered are James Rosenquist’s 1993 painting Gift Wrapped Doll #25 (est.$200/300,000); a bronze and glass topped table by Diego Giacometti (est.$100/150,000); and a unique hologram, XC, 2004 (est.$40/60,000) from James Turrell.

Viewings will begin at the Madison Avenue galleries on November 7th until the morning of the sale which takes place on November 10th at 12PM. The illustrated auction catalog for the sale will be online at www.bonhams.com/us in the weeks preceding the preview and auction. For more information about the department, please visit www.bonhams.com/contemporary