Alexander Calder
Blue flower, red flower
Source: online.wsj.com

Auction houses are well able to play on the human spirit of competition : why, when the market or that the artist begins to stagnate, they throw up for auction soon the whole collection of his iconic works in the hope that the collectors, yielding to the charm of the moment, shlestnutsya in the competition, raising rates through the roof.

So it was last fall in New York, when Sotheby's offered to buyers at once abstract masterpieces eight Gerhard Richter (Gerhard Richter). As a result, the picture flew like hot cakes, and purple abstract, bought Lily Safra (Lily Safra) for 20.8 million dollars, became record holder.

Christie's has used the same move in February to Henry Moore (Henry Moore), sold five works by the sculptor, and again setting a record: the work of "Reclining Figure: Festival" brought 30.1 million dollars while.

seems now it was the turn of Alexander Calder ( Alexander Calder), American avant-garde sculptor, who died in 1976, which became famous for his subtle, moving works of metal.

During the whole of the current economic recession, prices gradually crept up Calder, so Collectors looking for a recognizable product that can be easily sold on the international market. According to dealers, some in private transactions at prices of Calder reached 35 million. However, today this is not the highest prices for works of sculpture: a series of sculptural works, such as Alberto Giacometti bronze (Alberto Giacometti), had already crossed the one hundred millionth and the bar.

May 8 at auction in New York York, Christie's will check the wallets of fans on the strength of the Calder, putting up for sale five sculpture masters, including stand-mobile "Power lily", estimated at 8-12 million dollars, which substantially exceeds the current auction record for sculpture - 6.3 million.

Gorvi Brett (Brett Gorvy), auction house specialist, believes that the price of adequate size and its artistic and historical significance. Working height of 2.5 meters is reminiscent of blooming lilies bud, consisting of a base, from which the thin leaf-plates, and wire "stamens." Dadaist Marcel Duchamp (Marcel Duchamp) Calder exploit the fact to put this work in 1946 in Paris at the gallery Louis Carré. That show has returned to European fans of the beautiful Calder, who after the war is just in need of art with an optimistic sounding.

According to the grandson of the sculptor, Sandy Rouera (Sandy Rower), in the last work of his grandfather this value appeared at auction about 10 years ago. Rouer also noted that "Lily" - the first mobile folding Calder, who started making these sculptures for ease of transportation.

Collectors love standing and hanging mobiles Calder 1940-50-ies century, especially multicompound whose elements are trembling at the slightest breath, like the leaves of the tree, or play as aquarium fish. Collectors, as does the sculptor, the preference for the red color, but for fans of low-key tone will be offered to mobile "Blizzard" in 1950 for $ 3.5 million. It will be at Christie's also a red mobile Untitled 3 million. Both come from the collection of the famous architect and designer Eliot Noyes (Eliot Noyes). Also, Christie's will offer to pay 4 million for his work "Red sachet" in 1954 - hanging mobile, and a million - for color mobile 1975 "Blue flower, red flower».

Sotheby's, in its turn, will offer four Calder sculpture on May 9, among them - "Sumy VI» and red mobile in 1952 at a price of $ 2.5 million.

Prepared by Mary Estrova, AI

Source: artinvestment.ru