GLEN COVE, NY.- The highly anticipated Personal Collection of Tony Rosenthal auction at
Roland Auctions NY on Saturday, September 25th scored big with collectors and dealers alike locally and around the globe.
Prominent Manila based collectors, Kim Camacho and her husband Lito purchased 19 Tony Rosenthal pieces from the auction through online bidding, which seemed to be the preferred method of buying throughout the sale. The Filipino couple begun collecting art while living in New York in the late ’70s. Kim & Lito Camacho have accumulated one of the most impressive private collections in the region.
Southampton based iconic American abstract sculptor Tony Rosenthal (American, 1914-2009) curated and refined his own personal collection, both in the Rosenthal home and upon its Southampton, NY property, over the course of a half century. Now, for the first time ever, the collection was made available at Roland Auctions NY in Glen Cove, NY, in collaboration with the Tony Rosenthal estate.
One piece getting the most attention and media coverage was the 1,000 pound, seven by nine foot "Lovers," Brushed Aluminum relief sculpture with juxtaposed geometric forms, unsigned, date unknown. 80" H x 103" x 12", from The Estate Collection of Tony Rosenthal, which topped its high estimate, selling for $62,500 to a prominent New York dealer bidding on the phone. This piece graced the front yard of Rosenthal’s Southampton, NY property for over twenty years.
Tony Rosenthal is 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. He created different variations of this cube over the years and, not surprisingly, some of these were the most sought after items in the sale. Untitled (Tony Rosenthal's Cube), Polished Bronze variation on the artist's iconic cube sculptures, signed, circa 2008. 12" H x 12" square. This piece was the most prominently displayed sculpture in the Rosenthal home occupying the entrance foyer. From The Estate Collection of Tony Rosenthal. This sold for $23,750, while the Untitled ("Cube" variation), Black Painted Aluminum, revolving cube sculpture with four subdivided square elements of each side on metal stand, unsigned, circa 1980. Cube: 12" H; Stand: 12" x 1, from The Estate Collection of Tony Rosenthal, sold for $22,500.
As the momentum built up earlier in the sale, leading up to some of the most highly anticipated lots, some items selling higher than expected included; "Big Red," Welded And Painted Aluminum, Tony Rosenthal (American, 1914-2009). Large welded and painted aluminum free standing lattice sculpture, signed, circa 1998. 56" H x 67" x 24". This sculpture is illustrated in an earlier state in the book "Tony Rosenthal" by Edward Albee and Sam Hunter, Rizzoli, New York, 1999, on page 17. From The Estate Collection of Tony Rosenthal, which sold for $11,875, Untitled, Welded Brass, Tony Rosenthal (American, 1914-2009). Welded brass abstract relief sculpture, signed and dated "1962". 19 1/2" H x 18"; base: 5" x 8 1/2". A similar work is illustrated in the book "Tony Rosenthal" by Edward Albee and Sam Hunter, Rizzoli, New York, 1999, page 62. From The Estate Collection of Tony Rosenthal. Sold for $8,125 and Echos and Whispers IV, Welded Steel - Tony Rosenthal (American, 1914-2009). Welded steel sculpture from the artist's Accumulation series, unsigned, circa 1998. Sold for $ 6,875.
One high-profile collector in Asia bought up 19 pieces in the auction through online bidding, which seemed to be the preferred method of buying throughout the sale. Online bidding soared quickly, with many other items in the Rosenthal collection selling high, including the "J.S. Bach Fugue" Variation, painted and welded steel sculpture composed of semicircular elements, signed and dated 1989. 94" H x 12" x 11 1/2". From The Estate Collection of Tony Rosenthal. Sold for $8750, the "Black and White Plus Yellow" variation. Painted aluminum sculpture with black, white and yellow elements, signed and dated "1987". 61" H x 35" x 8".This sculpture is identical to a larger version illustrated in the book "Tony Rosenthal" by Edward Albee and Sam Hunter, Rizzoli, New York, 1999, on page 33. From The Estate Collection of Tony Rosenthal. Sold for $8750 and "Echoes and Whispers (The Tall One)." Welded and red painted steel openwork lattice sculpture, unsigned, circa 1997. 120" H x 50" x 26". This sculpture is illustrated in an earlier state (unpainted) in the book "Tony Rosenthal" by Edward Albee and Sam Hunter, Rizzoli, New York, 1999, page15. From The Estate Collection of Tony Rosenthal, which sold for $10,000.
Tony Rosenthal and his wife Cynthia made Southampton their home for over 25 years. The artwork offered in this single artist auction constitutes Tony Rosenthal’s “private reserve”, his complete and intact personal collection, spanning the early 1960’s through the 2000’s. In line with the intentions of the artist himself, the estate directed that these sculptures should enter the public arena. Roland NY is pleased to be the sole conduit introducing the collection and will be working with the estate to represent the Personal Collection of Tony Rosenthal over the next five years. All pieces come with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Cynthia Rosenthal.
Works by Tony Rosenthal are represented in dozens of important museum and institutional collections, among these are: Albright-Knox Art Gallery, The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Chrysler Museum, Cranbrook Art Museum, Guild Hall Museum, Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, National Gallery of Art, Princeton University, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum, and Yale University. His sculptures are also found in notable corporate and private collections.
