SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- The fall Fine Prints auction at
Bonhams, October 23 in San Francisco, brought an impressive $1.7 million, led by the $338,500 sale of Richard Diebenkorns Green. The largely-green etching surpassed its pre-sale estimate of $200,000-300,000 to top the auctions highlights, and its sale marks the second-highest amount ever paid for the work at auction. Another work by Diebenkorn Blue, woodcut in colors, sold well, bringing $37,500 (est. $40,000-60,000).
The auction also celebrated top lots by Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Childe Hassam and Salvador Dali. Of impressive note, falling perfectly within their pre-sale estimate ranges were Mirós André Breton, Constellations, a lithograph and 21 pochoir reproductions, with text by André Breton, which brought $60,000 (est. $50,000-70,000) and a portrait by Picasso La Dame à la Collerette (Portrait de Jacqueline à la Fraise) linocut in brown, black and shades of grey, which brought $50,000 (est. $40,000-60,000).
The Fine Prints Department Director at Bonhams, Judith Eurich, said of the sale: We were extremely thrilled with the sale results. The contemporary art market, in particular, is very robust as their results were strong, and often exceeded the estimates.
Various Warhol works performed very well in the auction. Among them were Black Rhinoceros, from Endangered Species, a colored screenprint which brought $43,750 (est. $25,000-35,000); 25 Cats Name(d) Sam and One Blue Pussy, comprising 18 offset lithographs, with lettering by Warhol's mother, Julia Warhola, which sold for $40,000 (est. $25,000-35,000); One Plate, from Mick Jagger, a colored screenprint, signed by the artist and Mick Jagger, which took in $30,000 (est. $25,000-35,000); and Kiku, comprising three colored screenprints, which claimed $27,500 (est. $15,000-20,000).
Notable lots, which soared above their estimates, continued with Hassams The White Kimono, etching featuring a woman before a fireplace in her kimono, which brought $26,250 (est. $8,000-12,000) and Dalis Imaginations and Objects of the Future, comprising 10 drypoint etchings, which took in $25,000 (est. $10,000-15,000).