Collection Saint Laurent at Christie's: 8 world records in one evening!
ARTinvestment.RU   24 февраля 2009

February 23, records in the house Christie's rained like a horn of plenty, millions estimeyty looked very humbly ...

Trading Results on February 23 at Christie's records are replete with.

World Record for the largest private collection, sold at auction.

Record for the most important auctions in Europe.

Top-lot auction was a canvas by Henri Matisse «Narcissus and cloth in blue and pink colors» (1911) spent at an auction za35, 9 million /46.4 million dollars and set world price record on works by the artist at auction.

7 world records in the canvases of artists.

8 works were sold for amounts exceeding 5 million euro (each).

25 works were sold for amounts in excess of 1 million euro (each).

3 works were acquired by museums in advance (Orsay Museum - Pompidou Center).

At yesterday's session of bidding, which marked the beginning of the auction an outstanding collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berger, presented in conjunction with the Christie's auction house Pierre Bergé & Associates, was invited to the greatest private collection of Impressionist and modern paintings by arches of magnificent Grand Palais. With the participation of 1 200 collectors from around the world has sold 59 works in the total amount of 206 million euros (266 million dollars). A world record in the private collection ever to appear on the auction, and the record for the biggest auction in Europe. Top lot was a canvas by Henri Matisse «Narcissus and cloth in blue and pink colors», in 1911, spent with the tender for 35.9 million euros (46.4 million dollars and set a new world record price for the artist's work sold at auction. Eight works were sold for amounts exceeding 5 million euro. 25 works have gone to tender for amounts exceeding 1 million Euro. participated in the bidding collectors from Europe (70%) and American (30%). Seven world records were set on canvas Matisse, Brancusi, Mondrian, de Chirico, Dushan, Klee and Ensora.

Thomas Seydou, Head of International Department «The Art of Impressionism and Modernism» : "These great auctions, which reached a record amount of revenue for the auction held in Europe, and which was sold the most distinguished private collection in the world, took place thanks to two great people: Ivu Saint Laurent and Pierre Berger. Collectors gathered in a huge room, which ever capacity auction, Christie's, have responded to, perhaps, only in the life of an opportunity to buy part of the famous collection, which has not appeared on the art market for over 50 years. We have witnessed a fierce bidding war with a large number of customers on the phone on the rare and exceptional works, each with impeccable provenansom and is in excellent condition. These trades, which undoubtedly will go down in history, have demonstrated unwavering interest in the arts of impressionism and modernism - a category that for a long period, is very popular among collectors ».

Among the top auction lots

Three work of Henri Matisse. Sumptuous Still Life «Narcissus and cloth in blue and pink colors» (1911), gone to tender for 35.9 million euros (46.4 million dollars) when estimeyte 12-18 million euro, and the previous world record price for artist's canvas, sold at auction. Expressive canvas «dancer» (1937-1938), sold for 6.7 million euros (8.7 million dollars), with estimeyte 4-6 million euro, and the picture «Naked on the beach» (1909), pushed to the auction for 8,2 million Euro (10.6 million dollars), with estimeyte 4-6 million euro.

«Portrait of Madame LR», a wonderful example of early wooden sculptures of Constantin Brancusi , sold for 29.1 million euros (37.7 million dollars), with estimeyte 15-20 million euro, and the previous world record price for the artist's work sold at auction. The sculpture was purchased by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berger in 1970 with its first owner, the artist Fernand Leger. Leger bought the sculpture from the author, instead of giving cloth, a few years later in 1918, the time they became acquainted with Brancusi.

Three abstract paintings Piet Mondrian , each of which are the key stages of the artist, expressing the degree of tension between line, shape and color, and provides evidence of an artist searching purity and balance, were sold above its prior high estimeytov. «Composition in blue, red, yellow and black» (1922) has gone to tender for 21.5 million euros (27.9 million dollars), with estimeyte 7-10 million euros, and has established a world record price for artist's canvas, sold with auction. «Composition with the bars 2» (1918) has gone to tender for 14.4 million euros (18.6 million dollars), with estimeyte 7-10 million euros, and «Composition I» (1920) was sold for 7 million euros (9 million dollars) at estimeyte 5-7 million euro.

greatest canvases Fernand Leger 1918 and 1919 years, created during the heyday of the creative artist, riveted the attention of collectors: «Composition (factory)» (1918) was sold for 5, 5 million euro (7.2 million dollars), with 6-8 million estimeyte evro.Kartina «A cup of tea» (1921) went at auction for 11.4 million euros (14.8 million dollars), with estimeyte 10-15 million Euro.

Among other lots auction:

An elegant piece Alexander Koldera «Dancers and Scope», sold for 1.5 million euros (2 million dollars), while estimeyte 1-2 million euro.

Masterpiece, bottle perfume, La Belle Haleine - Eau de Voilette Marcel Duchamp , created with the participation of Ray Mann in 1921, became a struggle for collectors in the room and eventually was sold for 8 , 9 million euro (11.5 million dollars), exceeding estimeyt (1-1,5 million euros) in about nine times and setting a world record price for a work of the artist at auction.

also participated in the bidding canvas James Ensora «Despair Piero», is the greatest work of the artist, does not appear at auction for more than 25 years and exposed to estimeytom 2-3 million euros, in the end went with the auction for 4.9 million euro (6.4 million dollars), setting a world record for the artist's work sold at auction.

Source: Press Releases Christie's