Remarkable results
Remarkable results in our March 4 auction
Philippe Geluck - "Le collectionneur" (2017)
“I buy!” – “Wait at least until I've started...” Those could have been the words of auctioneer Tom De Vuyst, who had to tame avid collectors last Saturday. Philippe Geluck's cartoon, lot 569 of the March 4 sale, already predicted the enthusiasm with which art lovers showed up for the exceptional works of art.
The auction room was filled, the telephone panel was on standby and the online bidding platform was also busy. Already during the preceding exhibition, there was a lot of enthusiasm for the carefully composed catalog, which comprises more than 650 works. Expectations were confirmed by the magnificent results: twenty-nine lots raised an amount above € 50,000, eight of which exceeded € 100,000.
Cobra
Cobra art turned out to be in high demand. The offer included several important works, by Pierre Alechinsky amongst others. The large canvas "Ton nez s'allonge" (1970) fetched the highest result at this auction of €243,700. “Poste d'observation” (1987) achieved €128,500.
There was an early composition from 1951 by Corneille, a painting from the last official Cobra year. Interest in this piece was high, and the final result of €83,700 was well above the estimate. There was also an important triptych from 1973 by the same artist with the promising title “Panoramique du quartier rose”, which ended up fetching €50,160.
Pierre Alechinsky - "Ton nez s'allonge" (1970)
Léon Spilliaert - "View of the Visserskaai seen from the studio, Ostend" (1909)
Symbolism
The auction selection included some truly top quality symbolist works of art. “Le secret” (ca. 1902) is an enigmatic and mysterious work by Fernand Khnopff. With € 100,000 it achieved an auction record for a heightened photographic print by this artist, a particular technique of great importance in Khnopff's oeuvre.
Léon Spilliaert managed to inspire collectors with several important pieces. The unsettling “Presentiment” (1902) fetched € 125,000. Important results were also noted for, among others, “View of the Visserskaai seen from the studio, Ostend” (1909), which achieved € 118,750. “The first of May (1920) - Verso: Departure” (1907), a double-sided work, achieved € 50,000. The cover design for the book "Le sculpteur de masques" by Fernand Crommelynck from 1907 also raised € 50,000.
“Autumn, Tiegem” (1911) is a symbolist landscape by Valerius De Saedeleer, impressive in its wideness and serenity. This important painting was sold for €150,000. By George Minne there was a “Kneeling Youth” (1925) in marble, which achieved €32,500.
Hubert Malfait - "The first prize" (1929)
Auction records for Belgian artists
The quotas were very high this auction. A large turnout and busy bidding led to rising results. For example, “The River Lys and the Tempelhoeve in the evening sun” (1918), a masterpiece by Evarist De Buck from his pointillist period, fetched €64,500, the second highest amount ever achieved at auction for this artist, after the record for the painting "Waterfun” two years ago, also held by De Vuyst.
"The first prize" (1929) is an important painting by Hubert Malfait, in which the artist displays a rare sensitivity. The artwork was originally part of the collection of Leo Van Puyvelde, curator of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels. €83,700 is the highest auction result for this artist.
An auction record of € 59,340 was also set for Henri-Victor Wolvens and his painting “Summer pleasures at the beach” (1968). This is a large two meter wide piece, beautifully painted and infused with beach fun. “The pier” (1969) also achieved the very nice amount of € 41,280.
Fans couldn't get enough of Jean-Michel Folon's cheerful works of art. Bidding was fierce both in the saleroom and on the telephones, and important results were noted for his sculptures: € 109,300 for “Sans bagages” (2005) and € 90,100 for “Le chemin” (2005), two bronzes. The fountain “La source” (1999) in red sandstone from Iran raised €64,500.
Rinus Van de Velde was present with an impressive mountain view “Untitled” (2010), a large drawing in Siberian chalk. The final result of €90,100 is an absolute auction record for this artist.
Pablo Atchugarry - "Senza titolo" (1995)
Important international results
As always De Vuyst presents masterpieces from the international art scene, achieving competitive results. For example, € 122,100 was quoted for the whimsical yet elegant sculpture in Carrara marble from 1995 by Pablo Atchugarry. There were two important artworks by Christo: “Wrapped Reichstag” from 1977 reached €93,7508, “Wrapped Reichstag” from 1991 reached €35,000.
“235° Arc” (1986) is an impressive drawing in charcoal, black chalk and collage by Bernar Venet measuring 153 cm high. This important artwork fetched € 77,300. Many collectors had their eye on "Untitled (SF89-126)" (1989) by Sam Francis, in acrylic on paper. The large turnout made that the estimate was exceeded by far, and the final result of € 76,800 was recorded. Philippe Geluck's “Le collectionneur” (2017) is a witty painting. It achieved € 72,550, the second highest amount ever at auction for this artist.
(*All results listed are including sales costs)