MILAN.- Concetto Spaziale by Lucio Fontana, lacerations and graffiti on brass, has more than doubled its pre-sale estimate. The work, dated 1964-65, after a few minutes competition, achieved the price of 1,184,750.
This Concetto Spaziale fetched such a remarkable price thanks to its rarity: in fact Lucio Fontana realized only 9 pieces of the Ottoni series.
Propaganda, a 1962 beautiful Pop artwork by Mario Schifano, coming from a private collection, set the Italian auction record for the artist, reaching 252,750.
Lucio Fontana realized in 1962-63 for one of his major collectors a gold bracelet - Concetto Spaziale - a unique piece (est. 30,000-40,000), which quadrupled its high estimate marking a new world auction record for a jewel designed by an artist: it was sold at 126,750.
Giorgio de Chirico, included in the catalogue with two Manichini from his Neo-metaphysical period, registered successful prices: lot 7, Il Poeta Solitario and lot 4, Il Trovatore were purchased for 192,750 and 264,750.
Raphaelle Blanga, Director of
Sothebys Italy Modern and Contemporary Art department, commented: We are very satisfied by tonights results, especially for the prices achieved by works of small dimensions but highly refined such as the two golden Fontana and the little silver Castellani , that collectors bought for more than their highest estimates.
The sculptures proposed in the sale gave very positive feedback, for example: Fontana (lot 8, Arlecchino, ceramic, 1953, est. 50,000-70,000, sold at 192,750),
Melotti (lot 9, Senza Titolo, 1976, est. 70,000-90,000, sold at 162,750) and the 1968 Semicolonna A, bronze, by Arnaldo Pomodoro, which was sold at 84,750.
All the works by international artists offered, especially those by Stella (lot 46), Albers (lot 27), Wesselmann (lot 50) and Christo (lot 47), were brilliantly sold.
Raphaelle Blanga added: Moreover, we would like to underline the perfect balance between the Italian and the International clients active in the sale, who demonstrated with their purchases a careful research for the extreme rarity of the artworks selected.