PARIS.- This week, Christie’s welcomes the art world for four auctions in Paris: a collection’s sale, Danute et Alain Mallart : Bruxelles – Paris – Vilnius , which took place on October 17, an evening sale, Avant-Garde(s) including Thinking Italian , on October 18, a day sale, 20/21 Century Art – Day Sale , on October 19, followed by an online sale, Marc Chagall : Entre Ciel et Terre. Œuvres provenant de l’atelier de l’artiste, running from 9 to 22 of October.
A day before the public opening of Art Basel Paris, Christie’s offered the collection of Danute and Alain Mallart: Bruxelles – Paris – Vilnius which totaled €13,587,808 / $14,771,336, against a pre-sale estimate of €8.3 - 12.4 million.
This marvelous private collection took 30 years to build and pays tribute to the exquisite eyes of their collectors, for collecting works resonating with today’s contemporary art trends. The collection focused not only on art but also on design, and was deeply rooted in European history, with a strong focuse on the most innovative contemporary creation.
This collection celebrated works by contemporary artists, those already internationally renowned and established, as well as young talents. The Feathered Sofa (lot 12) by Marlène Dumas, one of the most influential artists of today’s artistic scene, fetched €1,673,500 and other female artists have also shined during this auction: Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Nets (lot 6) sold for €252,000, Niki de Saint Phalle’s Nana Boas (small) (lot 42) sold for €189,000, Sylvie Fleury’s Marée Noire (green scarab) (lot 53) fetched €44,100 and Berlinde de Bruyckere’s Sans titre, 2009-2010 (lot 71) sold for 75 600 €.
El Anatsui’s emblematic work Baby’s Bedsheet (lot 22), made from used aluminum bottle caps and copper wire, sold for €819,000. Robert Rauschenberg’s Deli Down (Borealis) (lot 19) sold for €781,200 while Anselm Kiefer’s Noah (lot 5) triple its pre-sale estimate, reaching €529,200 and Antony Gormley, Standing Matter XXXI (lot 13) changed hands for €693,000, doubling its pre-sale estimate.
Design pieces accompanied this contemporary art section, by offering works signed by major artists such as Jean-Michel Frank, Jean Dunand, Eugène Printz, Marc du Plantier, Jean Dunand, Diego Giacometti. A rare lamp by Jean-Michel Frank (lot 46) dated 1928-29, sold for €617,400, tripling its low pre-sale estimate. Works by André Dubreuil have sold very successfully: his Paravant (lot 7), a unique piece sold for €277,200, while a pair of candle holders ‘perles’ (lot 33) sold for €81,900, more than five times its low estimate. Eugène Printz talent has also been acclaimed, with a desk (lot 55) selling for €453,600 and a Cabinet (lot 56), reaching €378,000, more than five times its initial estimate.
