A massive, golden tin-covered abstract sculpture by renowned modern artist Mathias Goeritz far exceeded pre-auction expectations to become the star of Clars Auction Gallery’s September 12&13, 2009 auction, realizing $159,950*. The piece was the standout of a sale that featured strong results for a variety of artworks and decorative items, several of which were deaccessed from the collection of the Denver Art Museum.
Works by Goeritz (German/Mexican, 1915-1990) are featured in the permanent collections of several art institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Clars originally assigned this piece an auction estimate of $50,000-100,000, but after a fierce round of international phone bidding, the striking work ultimately sold for more than 50 percent above estimate.
A fine Yosemite Valley landscape by noted American landscape artist Thomas Hill (1829-1908) was another standout of the sale, generating quite a bit of interest and selling for $21,330. Two European ship paintings also garnered attention and high prices: Boat on Stormy Seas, by the Russian Ivan K. Aivazovsky (1817-1900) fetched $41,475, while a harbor scene by Dutch artist Isaac Willaerts (1620-1693) realized $22,515.
Decorative items held their own, as well, particularly an 18th-century American school girl needlework alphabet sampler, which sold for $26,070, well above its $4000-6000 estimate. The piece is exceptional, featuring a floral border, several naïve family portraits and the inscription “Elizabeth Field Wrought . . . in the 11th year of Life . . . October 26th, 1766.” A Tiffany hanging shade, circa 1900, also stood out, realizing $17,775, and an ornate German silver figural gilt cup and cover, circa 1630, fetched $14,220.
On a different note, a 2004 Mercedes SL 500 coupe was another item of interest this weekend, selling for $38,513. Next, Clars prepares for its upcoming October estate sale, which will feature additional items of interest from the collections of the Denver Art Museum.
* All prices include buyer’s premium
