Below is a review of the highlights of our most recent auction, as well as a “best of” from the last 30 years. If you are interested in a particular department, you will find highlights from each collecting category under the appropriate department (see links on the left side of the home page).

Review 2009 (PDF 7MB)





Auctions 30 November - 4 December 2009
Press release
 
Swiss Art - Sale 4. December 2009
Highlights		    

1147   Z27/3019
ALBERT ANKER
“Strickendes Mädchen,” 1888.
Oil on canvas.
63 x 45.5 cm.

Sold for CHF 3 010 000 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
1147   Z27/3043
GIOVANNI GIACOMETTI
Winter landscape near Maloja. 1925.
Oil on canvas. 40 x 45 cm.

Sold for CHF 514 500 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
1147   Z27/3044
RAPHY DALLEVES
Shepherd resting on a mountain trail with a
view of Sion. 1910. Tempera on canvas. 46 x 98 cm.

Sold for CHF 84 000 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
1147   Z27/3041
FERDINAND HODLER
Portrait of a woman. Circa 1914.
Oil on canvas. 40.2 x 29.8 cm

Sold for CHF 312 000 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
 
Albert Anker‘s “Strickendes Mädchen” (Girl Sewing, lot 3019) is the top lot in Koller‘s Swiss Art auction. This 1888 portrait was purchased directly from the artist, and has remained in the same family for the past 120 years. For the past four years it has been on loan to the Kunstmuseum in Bern. A winter landscape by Giovanni Giacometti (lot 3043) depicts his native Maloja in the Swiss Grisons, and belongs to the group of the artist‘s impressionistic works. A fabulous landscape by Valais artist Raphy Dallèves depicts a shepherd sitting peacefully in the majestic landscape of the Swiss Alps (lot 3044). Dallèves, who studied in Paris before returning to his native Sion, was a friend of Ernest Bieler and a member of the “Ecole de Savièse” group of artists. From a German private collection comes Ferdinand Hodler‘s Portrait of a woman (lot 3041). The artist‘s handling of the paint, with thick brushstrokes mingled with carefully chosen shading, the positioning of the head and the graceful treatment of the shoulders are all characteristic of Hodler‘s portraits from the period of 1911-15, which saw the culmination of the artist‘s lifelong fascination with the portrait genre.
Modern Art - Sale of 4 December 2009
Highlights		    

1147   Z27/3259
NOLDE, EMIL
(1867 - 1956 Seebüll)
"Bauernhaus in der Marschlandschaft."
Circa 1920/25. Watercolor on Japan paper.
33 x 45 cm.

Sold for CHF 497 250 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution picture, please click on the image.
1147   Z27/3226
LIEBERMANN, MAX
(1847 Berlin 1935)
"Zwei Reiter in der Allee bei Sakrow." 1924.
Oil on canvas. 9.7 x 11.8 cm.

Sold for CHF 360 000 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution picture, please click on the image.
1147   Z27/3209
VLAMINCK, MAURICE DE
(Paris 1861 - 1958 Rueil-la-Gadelière)
Fruits et Fleurs.
Oil on canvas.
47 x 59.5 cm.

Sold for CHF 110 400 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution picture, please click on the image.

Among the highlights in Koller‘s modern paintings is an oil by Max Liebermann, “Zwei Reiter in der Allee bei Sakrow” (Two
Riders on the Path near Sacrow, lot 3226). Painted in 1924, when the artist had already retired to his home on the Wannsee,
this beautiful painting recalls the many happy hours the artist spent near the grounds of Sacrow castle to the north of Berlin.
The composition, with its high walls of trees enshrining the riders, creates a peaceful and exalted atmosphere.

A wonderful Welsh coastal landscape by Alfred Sisley (lot 3214) “La Baie de Langland” from 1897, is another highlight among
the modern paintings. Among the other modern works offered in this sale are a powerful watercolor by Emile Nolde, “Bauernhaus in der Marschlandschaft” (Farmhouse in a Marsh Landscape, lot 3259) from 1920-25, a charming still life by Louis Valtat from 1925 (lot 3269), and a “Nympheas” canvas by Claude Monet (lot 3242), originally from the collection of the artist‘s son, Michel Monet.
Moderne und Zeitgenössische Kunst - Auktion 4. Dezember 2009
Highlights		    

1147   Z27/3411
APPEL, KAREL
(Amsterdam 1921 - 2006 Zurich)
"Gesicht." 1970. Oil on canvas.
121 x 91 cm.

Sold for CHF 66 000 buyer's premium included

For the high resolution picture please click on the image.
1147   Z27/3423
DE LA VEGA, JORGE
(1930 Buenos Aires 1971)
Untitled. 1967.
Acrylic on canvas. 150 x 150 cm.

Sold for CHF 360 000 buyer's premium included

For the high resolution picture please click on the image.
1147   Z27/3505A
MAN RAY
(Philadelphia 1890 - 1973 Paris)
"Première Promenade en 1912." 1958.
Oil on canvas. 21.5 x 31.5 cm.

Sold for CHF 246 000 buyer's premium included

For the high resolution picture please click on the image.
 

Z27/3467
NAM JUNE PAIK
Black Torero. 1997.
Height 146 cm, length 123 cm.

Sold for CHF 114 000 buyer's premium included

For the high resolution picture please click on the image.
The contemporary art auction at Koller features a psychedelic pop canvas by Argentine painter Jorge de la Vega (lot 3423). De la Vega, a self-taught artist, songwriter, architect and author, worked in several different styles before turning to Pop Art during his stay in New York in the 1960s. This large canvas from 1967 reflects not only de la Vega‘s view of the psychedelic scene in New York at that time, but an entire esthetic which was to influence his fellow countrymen for decades to come. Another important work in this sale is a monumental canvas by Man Ray, “Première Promenade en 1912” (lot 3505A). Other contemporary works include a colorful composition by Cobra artist Karel Appel (lot 3411), a canvas by French artist Jean-Paul Riopelle, “Printanier” from 1974 (lot 3430), and a 1984 sculpture by John McCracken, “Vision” (lot 3483).

 

Furniture - Sale 3. December 2009
Highlights		    
     
1147   A151 / 1165
PAIR OF HALF-HEIGHT CABINETS WITH LACQUER PANELS,
late Louis XVI, with signature B. MOLITOR (Bernard Molitor, maitre 1787), Paris circa 1800/1830.
120 x 44 x 102 cm.

Sold for CHF 204 000 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
1147   A151/1025
SET OF 4 LOUIS XV STOOLS, Sicily circa 1760.

Sold for CHF 70 800 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
  A151/1208
IMPORTANT IMPERIAL CENTER TABLE "A LA ROENTGEN",
Louis XVI, Russia circa 1790/1800.
149 x 90.5 x (max.)95 cm.

Sold for CHF 96 000 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
  A151/1063A
FRANZ XAVER MESSERSCHMIDT
((1736 Pressburg 1783), beginning of 19th century.
Cast of a so-called “Charakter-Kopf“ from the collection of the
Prince of Lichtenstein in Feldsberg, no. 31, “Geruch, der zum Niesen
reizt.”

Sold for CHF 276 000 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
Composed of several important European and American private collections, Koller‘s furniture auction this December is remarkable for its wide range of styles and the number of unusual pieces of excellent quality. From a German castle collection comes nearly 50 lots of furniture from the Baroque to Neoclassic periods, including two Renaissance hall cupboards (lots 1019 and 1013). Also featured are four Louis XV stools, made in Sicily circa 1760 (lot 1025). Important Baroque pieces from the regions of Mainz and Braunschweig are at the core of a second German private collection, such as an important Mainz walnut and fruitwood marquetry bureau-cabinet (lot 1059). Also made in Mainz, but coming from a Swiss collection, a beautiful bureau-cabinet with a rare opening mechanism (lot 1048) is certain to create a sensation among collectors of “mechanical” furniture. A Régence Boulle marquetry chest of drawers from a French private collection (lot 1098) is attributed to Nicolas Sageot, one of the finest practitioners of this art alongside André-Charles Boulle himself. The Louis XV and Louis XVI periods of French furniture are handsomely represented by a Louis XV lacquer chest of drawers stamped Delorme (lot 1151) from a Swiss collection and, from a German collection, an Imperial Russian Louis XVI center table “à la Roentgen” (lot 1208), so-called because it it is similar in style and execution to the exquisite work of the German cabinetmaker David Roentgen.

 

Silver - Sale 30. November 2009
Highlights		    

1147   A151/1714
GOLD CUTLERY SET.
14 carat yellow gold. Solingen, 20th century.Dragon.

Sold for CHF 25 080 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution picture, please click on the image.
1147   A151 / 1635
SET OF 4 SILVER CANDLESTICKS, maker‘s mark John
Winter & Co., Sheffield circa 1782/83. H 30 cm.

Sold for CHF 12 000 buyer's premium incl.

For a high-resolution picture, please click on the image.
A rare suite of eighteen silver-gilt plates by Tiffany & Co, circa 1890, is the star lot of Koller‘s silver auction (lot 1678). Among the 18th century silver, two series of George III candlesticks, from London and Sheffield, are certain to elicit interest among aficionados of Georgian silver (lots 1627 and 1635).

 

 

Jewelry and Wristwatches - Sale 1. December 2009
Highlights

 

  

1147   A151/2030
PAIR OF DIAMOND EARRINGS AND A PENDANT,
each earring with 1 diamond of 10.2 resp. 9.4
carats. Pendant with 1 diamond of 11.81 carats,
old cut, with diamond entourage of 0.40 carats.

Sold for CHF 324 000 buyer's premium incl.

Please click on the image for the high resolution picture.
1147   A151/2141
ART NOUVEAU DIAMOND AND ENAMEL PENDANT / BROOCH,
attributed to Antoine Bricteux, circa 1900.

Sold for CHF 26 400 buyer's premium incl.

Please click on the image for the high resolution picture.
1147   A151/2013
PAIR OF GOLD AND DIAMOND BRACELETS / NECKLACE
BY DAVID WEBB, New York, 1950s.
Set with 248 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling circa 12.4 carats.

Sold for CHF 28 800 buyer's premium incl.

Please click on the image for the high resolution picture.
1147   A151/2076
CARTIER ART DECO PLATINUM AND DIAMOND BRACELET, circa 1920.
Set with 295 diamonds totaling over 11 carats.

Sold for CHF 36 000 buyer's premium incl.

Please click on the image for the high resolution picture.
A series of stunning diamond jewelry is featured in Koller‘s auction this December. An Art Deco diamond bracelet by Cartier is inlaid with nearly 300 diamonds (lot 2076). Designed by New York jeweler David Webb, a pair of 1950s gold and diamond bracelets can be combined to form a necklace (lot 2013). One of the most prestigious works in the sale is a pair of diamond earrings / pendants (lot 2030), also from the 1950s, each set with a brilliant-cut diamond weighing 10.2 and 9.4 carats.
Carpets - Sale 3. Dezember 2009
Highlights		    

1147   A151/1413
DEBIR KESHAN
Palace carpet, ca. 1930

CHF 60 000 / 80 000
EUR 37 800 / 50 300

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
1147   A151/1489
TAEBRIZ, antique.

CHF 16 000 / 20 000
EUR 10 100 / 12 500

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
1147   A151/1431
HERIZ, antique.

CHF 12 000 / 15 000
EUR 7 500 / 9 400

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
1147   A151/1405
AUBUSSON, old.

CHF 15 000 / 20 000
EUR 9 400 / 12 600

For a high-resolution image, please click on the picture.
Tribal Art - Auction 30 November 2009
Highlights		    

1147   Afrika11/118
SENUFO FIGURE OF A BIRD,
Ivory Coast. H 223 cm.

Sold for CHF 180 000 buyer's premium incl.

For the high resolution picture please click on the image.
1147   Afrika11/117
SENUFO FIGURE
Ivory Coast.
H 105 cm.

Sold for CHF 19 200 buyer's premium incl.

For the high resolution picture please click on the image.
1147   Afrika11/144
BAULE FIGURE
Ivory Coast.
H 69 cm.

Sold for CHF 21 600 buyer's premium incl.

For the high resolution picture please click on the image.
The collection of Ralph Bänziger will be presented in this December‘s Tribal Art auction at Koller. The Zurich architect had
a sure eye for masterpieces from the Ivory Coast, in particular a monumental Senufo figure of a bird (lot 118) which, through its inclusion in numerous exhibitions and publications, can be counted among the most well-known sculptures in African art.

Among the works from other provenances, a Mali Bamana female figure made for the “Jo” society rituals is outstanding for its beauty and rarity (lot 138).