If anyone had predicted a year ago that within months a painting by Van Gogh would sell for more than $50 million, he would quickly have gone the way of Vincent himself-into the land of white coats, padded cells and high walls. But it did happen. And no one, however sober, is about to predict what will happen this year.
The world record for a painting this time last year stood at little more than $14 million, so in the space of 12 months the record has nearly quadrupled. On that basis we could be looking at a record this time next January in the realm of $200 million.
It does not bear thinking about; that sort of sum could feed Ethiopia or keep Joan Collins in the style to which she has become accustomed. Instead, let us lower our sights and look at more definite things-such as the auction sales already scheduled.
The largest media event will undoubtedly be the offering in New York of Andy Warhol`s collection. Beginning April 23, it will run for 10 days and will inevitably be dubbed ”Warhol Week.”
The surprise of the collection is to find how ”straight” Warhol was in much of his taste: Old Master paintings, 18th-Century furniture, gilt mirrors. All this juxtaposed with such exotica as a framed wig.
The season, however, will kick off in early February with a sale of important English silver. The star item in that sale is a pair of wonderful George II ambassadorial wine coolers, made in 1727 for the fourth earl of Chesterfield. Sotheby`s says they are among the most important pieces of English silver to appear at auction.
`A WIT AMONG LORDS`
The coolers bear the maker`s mark of Paul Crespin, struck over that of Paul de Lamerie. In this context, ”ambassadorial” means they were issued by the Jewel Office when Philip Dormer, the fourth earl, was appointed ambassador to the Hague. The fourth earl was the man described by Sam Johnson as ”a wit among lords and a lord among wits” and by George II as a ”little gossiping tea table scoundrel.”
After the successful sale of Viennese paintings in 1986, Sotheby`s is to hold another on Feb. 10, with Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka all represented. Perhaps more attractive for many will be a whole raft of second-division names from this school, with prices starting at about $900. The names to look out for here are Happel, Von Hartenkampf, Zasche and Buchta. There is a market in the making here, and it is worth watching.
The same week (Feb. 12) sees a sale of fine English furniture, including a suite of Chippendale chairs and armchairs ($110,000 to $145,000) and an important pair of George III mahogany armchairs ($27,000-$36,000).
Still in February, Sotheby`s is holding its first sale devoted entirely to early 18th-Century English and Continental ceramics and glass. The Continental side is strong on Italian majolica and French and German porcelain.
OLD MASTERS, TOO
The early season sees a change of flavor for New York, which is normally strongest in contemporary and modern works. But the next two months sees the Guterman Collection of Old Master paintings (mainly Dutch)and the Old Master prints collection formed by Albert Blum.
Most of the Blum collection was acquired before World War II, so dealers will be interested in these images, many of which will be fresh to the market. Names such as Durer, Cranach, Rembrandt and Lucas van Leyden are all included. This will provide an opportunity to see whether the market is holding up in the new year after the financial storms of October and November.
Both the main auction houses say they are optimistic, and that consignments of material for sale by them are better than ever.
But no Van Goghs-yet. –
