ZURICH.- Koller’s June auctions feature large-scale works by Anselm Kiefer and Tony Cragg, works by Pissarro, Renoir and Corinth from significant moments in their careers, an important triptych by Giovanni Giacometti, as well as fine watches, jewellery and 20th century decorative arts.

Swiss Art – An important triptych by Giovanni Giacometti for the first time at auction
In time for the 10th anniversary of Koller’s stand-alone Swiss Art auctions, Koller will offer an important and well-known painting by Giovanni Giacometti, “The Panorama of Flims”. Giacometti, the father of artists Alberto and Diego Giacometti, painted the oil on canvas triptych in 1904 for the luxurious Hotel Waldhaus, now called Waldhaus Flims Mountain Resort & Spa, to mark the opening of the hotel’s new casino. The painting remains one of Giacometti’s seminal works (lot 3057, CHF 3 – 4 million). Click here for a detailed press release about the work. Other highlights of the Swiss Art auction include “Soup for the poor,” a genre scene by Albert Anker, from the same private collection as Anker’s “Wine Festival” which realised CHF 4.2 million in Koller’s December Swiss Art sale (lot 3021, CHF 1.2 – 1.5 million), and a depiction of waves on a winter lake by Adolf Dietrich, estimated at CHF 70 000 – 100 000 (lot 3080).

Impressionist & Modern Art – Works from key periods in the careers of Pissarro, Renoir, and Corinth
The June 24 auction at Koller contains three works by celebrated Modern artists, which were all created at a crucial moment in each artist’s career. “Paysage avec meules, Osny” was painted by Camille Pissarro in 1883, at the end of the summer he spent painting with Gaugin in the countryside near Paris, and when the members of the Impressionist group were all embarking on new directions (lot 3210, CHF 800 000 – 1.2 million). “La partie de croquet” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (lot 3213, CHF 450 000 – 550 000) dates from circa 1895, a period during which Renoir used light and fleeting brushstrokes and blurred contours, in a quest for artistic freedom. Lovis Corinth’s “Zinnias” was created towards the end of the artist’s life, and the bold impasto technique and rich colours of this work make it a wonderful example of Corinth’s late still lifes (lot 3222, CHF 350 000 – 500 000).

PostWar & Contemporary – Large-format sculptures by Kiefer and Cragg, works by Poliakoff and Shiraga lead the field
The 25 June auction will be dominated, both in value and sheer physical size, by two massive sculptures by artists Tony Cragg and Anselm Kiefer. Cragg’s “Discussions” is a fascinating work from his “Rational-Beings” series, in which human faces appear in natural forms (lot 3471, CHF 300 000 – 400 000). Cragg’s work is currently the subject of an important retrospective at the Von der Heydt Museum in Wuppertal, Germany. Anselm Kiefer’s “Nigredo-Albedo-Rubedo” takes the form of a giant book sprouting dried sunflower stalks, and is inspired by European mysticism and medieval alchemy (lot 3480, CHF 300 000 – 400 000). Works by Kiefer in this form and size only rarely come to auction. A wonderfully vibrant painting by Japanese artist Kazuo Shiraga (lot 3439, CHF 70 000 – 100 000) is a stellar example of early 1960s action painting by this important member of the GUTAI artistic movement.

Graphic Works, Multiples and Photography – Kirchner and Picasso alongside Nan Goldin and Julian Opie
An expressive etching by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, “The Wanderer” (lot 3609), made during his residency in Switzerland, will be offered for CHF 15 000 – 20 000, alongside several other prints by the same artist. A series of lithographs by Pablo Picasso, including two versions of “Inès et son enfant” from 1947, illustrate Picasso’s extraordinary use of lithography to capture unique phases in his work (lots 3613 and 3612, CHF 12 000 – 18 000 / 10 000 – 15 000). Among the contemporary works in this sale, Nan Goldin’s “Self-portrait in Blue Bathroom, London 1980” is a haunting photograph from the artist’s “Ballad of Sexual Dependency” series from the early-mid 1980s (lot 3727, CHF 10 000 – 15 000). A series of multiples by contemporary British artist Julian Opie, “Boat”, “Sheep” and “Pebbles” seem to float on the wall where they are hung, and with their simple lines emanate a pastoral yet intense energy (lots 3735 – 3737, CHF 5 000 – 7 000 each).

Watches – Jumbo Nautilus by Patek Philippe
The Watches auction on 22 June features a Patek Philippe Jumbo Nautilus watch by Patek Philippe from circa 1977 (lot 2545, HF 25 000 – 28 000). The Nautilus, made of polished steel, broke with the tradition of solid gold luxury watches, and Patek’s advertisement at the time underscored just how revolutionary this was, exclaiming: “One of the world’s most expensive watches is made of steel!” Other highlights from the auction include a rare Rolex GMT master from circa 1958 (lot 2579, CHF 10 000 – 18 000), this one of more traditional yellow gold, and a Blancpain Tourbillon 2100 Automatic in white gold, estimated at CHF 20 000 – 30 000 (lot 2526).

Jewellery – Van Cleef & Arpels dream set
Ten carats of diamonds will adorn the lucky purchaser of the top lot in the jewellery auction on 22 June, a diamond necklace with bracelet and matching ear pendants by Van Cleef & Arpels (lot 2060, CHF 280 000 – 380 000). Several rings in the auction are also projected to sell in the six-figure range, including a ruby and diamond ring with a 10.47 ct. Mozambique ruby (lot 2056, CHF 250 000 – 350 000), and a gold ring set with diamonds and a nearly 12 ct. Columbian emerald, estimated at CHF 200 000 – 300 000 (lot 2066). A pair of ruby and diamond ear pendants by Yessayan is certain to make someone feel very loved: each boasts a dozen ruby hearts surrounded by diamonds and is surmounted by a diamond-set heart-shaped clip (lot 2054, CHF 12 000 – 18 000).

Art Nouveau & Art Deco / Design – Art Deco lions and truisms by Jenny Holzer
An Art Deco “Lions” vase by French glassmaker Gabriel Argy-Rousseau is very rarely found in this highly attractive combination of the colours blue, aqua and green (lot 1089, CHF 25 000 – 35 000). A very fine patinated bronze and ivory “Starfish” sculpture by Demeter H. Chiparus will also be auctioned on 24 June, with an estimate of CHF 25 000 – 35 000 (lot 1129). Koller’s design auction on the following day will feature a collaboration between designer Philippe Starck and contemporary artist Jenny Holzer. The “HOOO!!!” lamp was produced in a limited edition of 49, and shows a running text by Holzer realised by Moritz Waldmeyer in LED lights (lot 1311, CHF 15 000 – 25 000). Several Art Deco pieces acquired directly from designer Jean-Michel Frank will be offered in the 25 June sale, including a “Colonne” lamp from 1931-32 for CHF 20 000 – 30 000 (lot 1213).