ZURICH.- Koller's end-of-year auctions were characterised by extremely active bidding in every collecting category, with total hammer prices realising 150% of the lower estimates - a sign of a very healthy auction market, and a fitting end to an exceptionally successful year for the Zurich auction house.

PostWar & Contemporary, Prints & Multiples - 3 December

Two works by Czech artist Zdenek Sykora soared above their pre-sale estimates: 'Lines no. 12', 1981, realised CHF 1.03 million (lot 3469, CHF 150 000/250 000), and 'Lines no. 93', 1992, sold for CHF 488 000 (lot 3470, CHF 80 000/140 000). Both were from the artist's best-known series of partially computer-generated works, and will enter private collections in his homeland. Op-Art was also actively disputed during the auction, with 'Rot-Grüne Energie II', 1971, by Günter Fruhtrunk tripling its estimate at CHF 97 900 (lot 3424, CHF 30 000/50 000). A small-format work by Willem de Kooning found a new owner at CHF 534 000 (lot 3444, CHF 600 000/900 000), and a magnificent composition by Jean-Paul Riopelle, 'Noyauttage', 1957, changed hands for CHF 171 000 (lot 3407, CHF 120 000/180 000). A colour screenprint from the 1975 'Mick Jagger' series by Andy Warhol set a new auction record for this print at CHF 110 000 (lot 3664, CHF 24 000/28 000). Records were also set for 'The Oval Office' by Roy Lichtenstein (lot 3659, CHF 53 980), and a ceramic by Pablo Picasso, 'Vase / Femme deux anses hautes' (lot 3611, CHF 53 980).

Swiss Art - 2 December

Works by internationally known artists such as Félix Vallotton, Ferdinand Hodler, Cuno Amiet and Giovanni Segantini sold well, alongside more typically Swiss artists like Adolf Dietrich, Clara Porges and Rudolf Koller. Anker's exceedingly charming 'Girl with two kittens' sold for CHF 1.98 million (lot 3006, CHF 1.5/2 million), followed by Vallotton's vibrant composition 'La Liseuse', 1922, which doubled its lower estimate at CHF 523 000 (lot 3035, CHF 250 000/350 000). 'Il Ciabattino' (The Shoemaker) by Giovanni Segantini changed hands for CHF 354 000 (lot 3011, CHF 250 000/350 000). Among the top lots by Cuno Amiet was an expressionistic portrait of one of his favourite models, Hilda Trog, which more than quadrupled its estimate at CHF 146 000 (lot 3022, CHF 30 000/40 000). Ferdinand Hodler's 'Pastures on Lake Geneva', circa 1882, sold for well above the upper estimate at CHF 244 000 (lot 3017, CHF 130 000/180 000).

Impressionist & Modern Art - 2 December

A rare sculptural subject for Ossip Zadine, 'Oiseau' (Bird), 1929, more than doubled its lower estimate at CHF 409 000 (lot 3242, CHF 160 000/220 000). A view of Paris' Rue de Clignancourt by Gustave Loiseau was the subject of an unexpected bidding battle between two private collectors that pushed the final price up to more than six times the upper estimate, CHF 439 000 (lot 3213, CHF 50 000/70 000). Another work by Loiseau in the auction, 'Bord de la rivière, la Seine à Portejoie', circa 1901, also sold well above the estimate at CHF 274 000 (lot 3206, CHF 70 000/120 000). Works by Paul Klee (lot 3233, CHF 305 000), Walter Dexel (lot 3239, CHF 238 000), and Phillip Bauknecht (lot 3225, CHF 165 000) were also among the highlights of the Modern auction.

Watches & Jewellery - 1 December

A Patek Philippe 'Grand Complication' wristwatch from 2013 sold for a world record CHF 1.11 million (lot 2845, CHF 400 000/700 000). This watch could only be specially ordered, and the buyer needed to be personally approved by the CEO of Patek Philippe before each watch was made.