IF IT’S A PICASSO PRINT RATHER THAN A HALLMARK CARD YOU NEED FOR CHRISTMAS, TRY BONHAMS A GIFT THAT WILL KEEP ON GIVING FOR YEARS
If your thoughts already turn to Christmas shopping for someone special, Bonhams sale of Prints on 15th December provides Picasso, Chagal, Toulouse-Lautrec and Andy Warhol at prices that range from £8,000 - £60,000. They promise a Christmas surprise for that lucky someone that will be hard to forget.
Robert Kennan, Head of Prints at Bonhams, says: “This sale offers a wonderful opportunity to buy something really special for someone you love that would make a major impact. Works by some of our greatest modern and contemporary artists are available at prices that are more affordable than you may realize. And if you buy wisely this will be gift that keeps giving as its value appreciates over the years.”
A work by Marc Chagall (Russian/French, 1887-1985), titled, Les Saltimbanques (Mourlot 591), is a colour lithograph, from 1969, on Arches paper, a signed artist’s proof, 735 x 535mm (28 5/6 x 21in)(SH). Unframed it is estimated to sell for £9,000-11,000.
A wonderful work by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864-1901) of a bicycle race titled `Cycle Michael’ (Wittrock P25, Adriani 188) is a lithograph from 1896, printed in olive green, with the artist's monogram and dated, from an edition of 200, though few exist in such good condition. Estimate is £8,000-12,000. Cycling had become a fashionable sport in Paris after Dunlop’s invention of the rubber tyre in 1889 and the velodromes became meeting-places for elegant society. Drawn to anything that attracted high or low society, Lautrec was fascinated by the new sport and in 1896 was commissioned to produce a poster advertising “Simpson’s Lever Chain”. This first bold design shows the English cyclist Michael at the front of the field, with his famous tooth-pick in mouth. The sports journalist Frantz Reichel stands on the right, while Choppy Warburton, Michael’s trainer, is seen to the left, busy with his bag.
A mysterious dark haired woman is just one of a kaleidoscope of feminine beauty contained in Pablo Picasso’s (Spanish, 1881-1973) album of 41 etchings, `Gongora’ - Vingt Poèmes (Cramer 51), 1948, numbered 108/250, with accompanying poems by the legendary 16th century Spanish poet Luis de Gongora y Argote, printed by Lacourière, Paris, in the original covers and slipcase. Estimate £25,000-30,000.
An iconic image of Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987)(Feldman & Schellmann II.29) is a screenprint made in 1967, printed in colours, on wove, signed in pencil and numbered 184/250, published by Factory Editions, New York. Its estimate is £40,000-60,000.
Speaking about the recent performance of Prints at sale Robert comments: “Prints have withstood the worst of the recession very well. Our last sale sold over 90%, which is amazing. The present sale has some great works on offer, particularly Warhol’s “Marilyn”, which is in superb condition.”
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Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further seven throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 50 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com.
