MUNICH.- In this auction almost every second buyer was a new customer. Bids for Old Masters & Art of the 19th Century in Munich came from all over the world - from Europe over Brazil, Russia, China all the way to the U.S.A. “This led to a never seen before average increase of an incredible 130% per sold object”, said Robert Ketterer.

Consigned as a Dutch study sheet of unknown authorship (lot 43), it turned out the auction’s most expensive lot, which thanks to the intensive research by experts of Ketterer Kunst could be ascribed to the Dutch artist Jacques de Gheyn II, the best drawer before Rembrandt, just in time before the auction. The heated bidding skirmish that broke out between renowned collectors and art dealers from France, Germany, England and Holland, was won by the acknowledged art dealer Bellinger, who offered the result of € 177.000* on behalf of an American museum.

“I am extremely proud of this result, which topped the last result obtained in London two years ago by more than hundred percent ”, said Robert Ketterer. In the end, it turned out the artist’s third-most expensive work **.

The excitement continued when a little later a series of graphic works by Albrecht Dürer (lots 55-65) and Harmensz. Rembrand van Rijns (lots 84-86) were called up. All 14 lots were sold with remarkable increases.

The auction’s both second-most expensive and top lot of the section of 19th century paintings and sculptures was Edward Theodore Compton‘s “Auftrieb am Matterhorn“ (lot 166) with a result of € 36.600*, it went to one of the many new customers. A southern German collector had put down a written bid with still quite some room left and thus relegated competitors from Germany, Northern Italy and Slovakia to places second and beyond.

The section of 19th century works on paper is led by Adolph von Menzel‘s “Porträt eines Mannes“ (lot 142). A private collector from Belgium stood his ground against strong German competition and took the charcoal and pencil drawing home for a result of € 23.750*.