On Tuesday 10th November, Bonhams hosted their hugely successful Greek sale, with a selection of works ranging from 19th Century classic art to high-profile modern and contemporary pieces, achieving world record prices. Across the entire sale, nearly 90% were sold by value.
The much anticipated feature of the sale was Constantinos Maleas’ (1879-1928) View of the Acropolis, exhibited at Paris in 1919, during a collective exhibition of modern Greek artists of the “Omada Texnis”. Exceeding its estimate, the stunning piece went on to sell for a staggering £311,200.
Another star lot within the auction was Nude A’ by Yiannis Moralis, depicting a feminine nude as a glowing time-softened marble statue. Expected to reach £120,000-180,000, its final hammer price was £276,000 for the spectacular piece imparting a sense of Doric dignity and Ionian elegance.
An expressionistic formulation of a labyrinthine architectural complex by Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika (1906-1994) entitled Calligraphy of a town was another much sought-after work within the sale. It reached £168,000 from an estimate of £80,000-120,000.
Further major lots included Spyros Papaloukas (1892-1957) vision of Mt. Athos, skete of the Three Hierarchs and the Holy Trinity which sold for £168,000. Théodore Jacques Ralli’s depiction of Resting in a Greek monastery also achieved £156,000. Michalis Economou, Houses by the sea also exceeded estimate of £60,000-£80,000 achieving £102,000.
Michaela Vergottis, Bonhams London Specialist in Greek Art comments: “Once again we had a packed saleroom with a real buzz and enthusiastic bidding. The Greek Art Market continues to shrug off any economic blues.”
World records included:
1. Gysis for a drawing by the artist
2. Papaloucas – lot 23
3. Mavroidis – lot 35
4. Coulendianos – Crete – lot 66
5. Moralis – for a sculpture – lot 91
6. Zouni – lot 102
7. Samaras – lot 119 record for a Greek sale – 3rd most expensive internationally
8. Christou – lot 121
9. Vergi – lot 133
10. Kalogeropoulou – lot 153
11. Ktistopoulou – lot 161
12. Harissis – lot 125
13. Maleas – lot 18 – 2nd most expensive
14. Ghika – lot 33 – 3rd most expensive
15. Moralis – lot 90 – 5th most expensive
16. Condopoulos – lot 51 – 4th most expensive
www.bonhams.com/greek
