ZURICH.- Strong bidding and numerous results above the pre-sale estimates characterised Koller’s September auctions. The Dr Peter Ducret Collection of 18th-century faence was particularly successful, with 90% of the lots finding buyers and total hammer prices reaching 185% of the low estimates. Pieter Brueghel the Younger’s ‘The Swan Inn’ was another highlight, selling for CHF 1.34 million and becoming the tenth lot to surpass the million-franc mark at Koller this year.
One of the highlights of the autumn auction series was the Collection of Dr Peter Ducret. The son of the esteemed porcelain expert Siegfried Ducret, Dr Ducret devoted his life to the study and collection of 18th-century faence. A remarkable group of trompe-l’oeil serving pieces, many produced by the Hannong dynasty in Strasbourg, attracted particularly spirited bidding. A pair of partridge-form serving dishes fetched CHF 47 500 against an estimate of CHF 12 000/22 000 (lot 1038), while a pair of trompe-l’oeil ducks sold for CHF 46 250 (lot 1017, estimate CHF 28 000/35 000). The collection and its scholarly catalogue attracted faence collectors from around the world, resulting in strong competition throughout the sale.
Pieter Brueghel the Younger’s original composition ‘The Swan Inn’ sold for CHF 1.34 million, well above its upper estimate (lot 3018, estimate CHF 600 000/900 000), making it the tenth lot to sell for more than CHF 1 million at Koller this year. A work by Pieter’s brother, Jan Brueghel the Elder, ‘Road to Market’ from 1606, also surpassed its upper estimate, achieving CHF 646 000 (lot 3025, estimate CHF 350 000/500 000).
Other highlights of the Old Masters auction included a still life by Rachel Ruysch, which sparked intense competition and sold for CHF 462 000, almost six times its upper estimate (lot 3051, estimate CHF 60 000/80 000). A depiction of a village fair by Gillis Mostaert the Elder sold well above its upper estimate for CHF 275 000 (lot 3027, estimate CHF 100 000/150 000), while a 16th-century Dutch painting depicting a money changer and his wife provided one of the surprises of the sale, fetching CHF 250 000, ten times its lower estimate (lot 3007, estimate CHF 25 000/35 000).
The 19th Century Paintings auction also recorded strong results, including a world-record CHF 237 500 for a view of the Lauterbrunnen Valley by Hans Thoma (lot 3212, estimate CHF 60 000/80 000), CHF 156 000 for a landscape by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot (lot 3245, estimate CHF 120 000/150 000) and CHF 125 000 for a winter scene with skaters by Andreas Schelfhout (lot 3219, estimate CHF 40 000/60 000).
