ZURICH.- Koller’s December auctions feature an important collection of Swiss Art, including a rare large-format painting by Albert Anker, “The Wine Festival.” Otherwise the focus is on the 20th century, with paintings and sculpture by Max Beckmann, Mario Schifano, and Tony Cragg, important graphic works by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, a limited edition steel sofa by designer Ron Arad, and an important animalier bronze sculpture by Rembrandt Bugatti. An extremely rare Patek Philippe “World Time” watch from 1948 is the top lot in the watches auction, and the jewelry auction features a “fancy” diamond ring from a rival firm to Fabergé.

Swiss Art
Outstanding works from an important private collection
The first part of an important Zurich private collection of Swiss Art will be auctioned this December at Koller, and includes the auction’s top lot: Albert Anker’s “Wine Festival” (lot 3015). One of the first important paintings acquired by the collector, it was purchased for a relatively modest sum in the 1970s from a Swiss wine grower who needed funds to repair his roof. The collector chose well: the painting’s large-scale format and the wide variety of figures present are very rare in Anker’s oeuvre, and it is expected to bring between CHF 3.5 and 5 million / GBP 2.4 – 3.4 million.

From the same collection comes Albert Anker’s portrait of a young girl inspired by Jeremias Gotthelf’s 1850 novel “Das Erdbeeri-Mareili” (Strawberry Mary), estimated at CHF 1.3 – 1.8 million / GBP 900 000 – 1.2 million (lot 3024), and a dramatic work by Alexandre Calame, “Après l’orage” (After the Storm), for CHF 80 000 – 140 000 / GBP 55 000 – 95 000 (lot 3030). Other highlights in the auction include works by Johann Gottfried Steffan and Robert Zünd, as well as an important group works by Suisse Romande artists such as François Diday, Karl Girardet, François Bocion and Gustave Castan.

Impressionist & Modern Art
A work from the height of Beckmann’s fame and two rare Futurist paintings
“Anemones“ by Max Beckmann (lot 3230) is a charismatic work from the most successful period of the artist’s career in Germany. The painting dates from 1932, the year in which an entire room dedicated to Beckmann’s paintings was opened with great pomp in the Berlin National Gallery. The artist’s fortunes were soon to change, however, as the following year he was declared a “cultural Bolshevik” by Hitler and fired from his post as professor at the Frankfurt Städelschule Academy of Art. Eventually he would be forced to flee from Germany altogether. This still life from happier days is estimated between CHF 180 000 and 240 000 / GBP 120 000 – 160 000.

Particularly rare are two paintings from the small but fascinating oeuvre of Belgian futurist Jules Schmalzigaug (lots 3225 and 3226). The works are part of a series of six paintings exhibited in the groundbreaking 1914 exhibition in Rome, “Esposizione Libera Futurista Internazionale.” They have remained in the same Italian private collection ever since, and represent the artist’s most avant-garde period, during the years before his suicide in 1917 (estimates CHF 60 000 – 100 000 / GBP 40 000 – 70 000 and CHF 15 000 – 25 000 / 10 000 – 15 000).

Other important Modern works in the sale include a stimulating work by Raoul Dufy, “Nu dans un paysage“ (lot 3263, CHF 200 000 – 250 000 / GBP 135 000 – 170 000), “Le paysan en rouge” by Marc Chagall, a painting the artist worked on between 1975 and 1978 (lot 3268, CHF 250 000 – 350 000 / GBP 170 000 – 240 000), and a nighttime depiction of a Paris carrousel by Nicolas Tarkhoff (lot 3212, CHF 65 000 – 100 000 / GBP 45 000 – 65 000).

PostWar & Contemporary
Two early diptychs by a pioneer of Pop Art
The PostWar & Contemporary auction at Koller features two early 1960s diptychs by Mario Schifano, from an Italian private collection. Schifano can be counted among the most important and influential exponents of Pop Art in Europe, and the two present works illustrate the development of his own pictorial and formal expression, influenced by the European tradition (lots 3424 and 3427, CHF 90 000 – 140 000 / GBP 60 000 – 95 000 and CHF 100 000 – 200 000 / GBP 65 000 – 135 000).

Gerhard Richter’s 1972 “Vermalung” in tones of brown will be offered for CHF 80 000 – 120 000 / GBP 55 000 – 80 000 (lot 3459). Connsoisseurs of monumental sculpture will be tempted by the over two-meter-high steel sculpture by British artist Tony Cragg (lot 3485, CHF 330 000 – 400 000 / GBP 230 000 – 270 000). The auction also features a trio of Concrete Art works by three of its most important Zurich artists: Verena Loewensberg, Gottfried Honegger and Richard Paul Lohse (lots 3413 – 3415, estimates up to CHF 50 000 / GBP 34 000).

The work by Honegger (lot 3414) will be the subject of a lecture by Dr. Beatrice Steiner in Koller’s Zurich galleries on 26 November.

Graphic Works, Multiples and Photography
Views of Love, War and Money by Haring, Lichtenstein and Warhol
Numerous important graphic works will be offered in this sale, notably a large-format color lithograph and screenprint by Roy Lichtenstein entitled “Reflections on crash” (1990), inspired by a comic book about the Second World War (lot 3751, CHF 90 000 – 140 000 / GBP 60 000 – 95 000), and Andy Warhol’s screenprint “Dollar Sign (1)” from 1982 (lot 3722, CHF 22 000 – 28 000 / GBP 15 000 – 19 000). Love, not money, is the subject of two graphic works offered in this sale: one by Marc Chagall, “Bataille de Fleurs” (lot 3703, CHF 10 000 – 15 000 / GBP 7 000 – 10 000), and another by Keith Haring, “Untitled” from 1989, showing a couple united by a heart (lot 3774, CHF 9 000 – 14 000 / GBP 6 000 – 9 000).

Watches
A Rare Patek Philippe World Time Wristwatch
Some rare vintage classics will be offered among the circa 140 lots in Koller’s Watches auction. A World Time Patek Philippe wristwatch from 1948 is one of fifteen from this sought-after brand to be offered in this auction, and certainly the rarest (lot 2592, CHF 80 000 – 120 000 / GBP 55 000 – 80 000). A Vacheron Constantin rose gold “Two-tone” wristwatch, also from the 40s, is a model of understated elegance (lot 2634, CHF 12 000 – 20 000 / GBP 8 000 – 13 000). Rolex is also well represented in this sale, for example by a Cosmograph Daytona (lot 2635, CHF 20 000 – 35 000 / GBP 13 000 – 24 000), and a 1995 Day Date with brilliant-cut diamonds and a coral dial (lot 2587, CHF 18 000 – 28 000 / GBP 12 000 – 19 000).

Jewelry
A Ring to Rival Fabergé
Among the top lots in the 280-lot jewelry auction are two “fancy” diamond rings: a sporty and elegant example with a 14.22 ct cushion-cut diamond (lot 2102, CHF 200 000 – 300 000 / GBP 135 000 – 200 000), and another also with a cushion-cut diamond, designed in 1937 by the workshop of Alexander Tillander (lot 2149). A rival of Fabergé during the last years of the Czarist Atelier Tillander ring with design from the Tillander archives, lot 2149 regime, Tillander left St. Petersburg during the revolution and returned to his native Finland, where he founded the Atelier Tillander, which continues to produce fine jewelry today (CHF 200 000 – 300 000 / GBP 135 000 – 200 000). A stunning Burma ruby and diamond ring from E. Meister will be auctioned to benefit the children’s charity SOS-Kinderdorf (lot 2079, CHF 150 000 – 200 000 / GBP 100 000 – 135 000).

Design
Works by the Maison Jansen for the Château Solveig and the first “Model D” sofa by Ron Arad
The Maison Jansen’s headquarters on the rue de l’Annonciation in Paris was for many years one of the world’s leading centers for interior design. The “Red Room” and “Blue Room” in the White House, ordered by Jacqueline Kennedy, are but two examples of their creations for prestigious clients. In the 1930s, British socialite Francis Francis hired the Maison Jansen to decorate his Swiss residence, the Château Solveig on the Lake of Geneva. Two works from this decorating scheme, conserved by the Francis family until now, will be offered in Koller’s design auction: a writing desk with armchair in birds-eye maple, leather and bronze, both illustrated in James Archer Abbott’s 2006 monograph on Jansen (lot 1203, CHF 5 000 – 7 000 / GBP 3 500 – 4 500). Another highlight of the Design auction is Ron Arad’s sleek and elegant polished steel Model D sofa, the first in a series of 20 produced by the Israeli designer in 1994 (lot 1284, CHF 120 000 – 160 000 / GBP 80 000 – 110 000).

Art Nouveau & Art Deco
Sculptures by Rembrandt Bugatti and Marcel-André Bouraine
A beautifully-modeled bronze by Rembrandt Bugatti, “Vache meuglant,” is the top lot of the Art Nouveau & Art Deco auction at Koller (lot 1146A, CHF 50 000 – 80 000 / GBP 35 000 – 55 000). Bugatti (1884-1916), the son of designer Carlo Bugatti, was one of the most talented and innovative animalier sculptors of his time. His iconic Dancing Elephant sculpture was later used by his brother Ettore’s car-making firm as a hood ornament for the Type 41. Marcel Bouraine’s sculpture (lot 1145) could easily illustrate an encyclopedia entry for Art Deco Sculpture. The French sculptor’s work embodies all of the classic characteristics of the period: sleek lines, stylized animal figures and geometric outlines. “Diana with Fawns” from circa 1920 is estimated at CHF 8 000 – 12 000 / GBP 5 000 – 8 000).