ZURICH.- Koller Auctions’ final auction series of the season featured the highest price realized for a Swiss painting in 2015: CHF 4.2 million / GBP 2.8 million for Albert Anker’s “The Wine Festival.” Results were strong in all departments: rare works such as the two rediscovered Futurist paintings by Jules Schmalzigaug, or two large 1960s Pop Art compositions by Mario Schifano all sold in the six figures, but also works in the mid-range of the market did consistently well, a sign of a healthy and vigorous art market.

PostWar & Contemporary Paintings & Prints, Swiss Art and Watches all attained over 100% sold by value.

Swiss Art
Seven-figure results for Anker
With a turnover of CHF 9 million / GBP 6 million in its 4 December auction, Koller has confirmed its position as one of the market leaders in Swiss Art. A total of 11 works by Albert Anker found buyers, including the top lot of the auction series, “The Wine Festival,” which realised CHF 4.2 million / GBP 2.8 million (lot 3015). This masterwork is one of the last important large-format paintings by the Swiss artist which was still in private hands. Another seven-figure result for Anker was attained for a portrait of a young girl, “Erdbeerimareili” (lot 3024, CHF 1.63 million / GBP 1.09 million). Several private collections were featured in this sale, and the works sold consistently above their pre-sale estimates to a packed saleroom and active telephone bidding. Giovanni Giacometti’s “Bridge over the Maira nearStampa” (lot 3085) changed hands for CHF 360 500 / GBP 240 300, and an important painting by Alexandre Calame, “After the Storm,” sold for CHF 144 500 / GBP 96 300 (lot 3030).

POSTWAR & CONTEMPORARY
Enthusiastic bidding in all price segments, over 130% sold by value
The atmosphere was electric in the saleroom for Koller’s PostWar & Contemporary art auction, from the very first lot by Korean artist Seund Ja Rhee which tripled its estimate, to the last lot, a stunning full-length portrait on a forest green ground by Djamel Tatah which sold for more than five times its pre-sale quote. Lots consistently sparked enthusiastic bidding wars, and the auction boasted a success rate of over 130% sold by value. Among the highlights were two works from the early 1960s by pop artist Mario Schifano that realised CHF 180 500 and CHF 132 500 / GBP 120 300 and 88 300 (lots 3427 and 3424), and a composition by Serge Poliakoff from 1965 that sold for CHF 222 500 / GBP 148 300 (lot 3431). A series of works by artists from the Zurich Concrete Art movement also elicited significant interest, such as Richard Lohse’s 1957 “Group of eight squares and four rectangles” which sold for CHF 84 500 / GBP 56 300 (lot 3415).

PRINTS, MULTIPLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS
Lichtenstein and Warhol, but also Vasarely and Delaunay enjoy success
Roy Lichtenstein’s “Reflections on Crash” led the bidding in Koller’s Prints and Multiples auction, selling for CHF 108 500 / GBP 72 300 (lot 3751). Also among the top lots were two Warhol silkscreens, “Dollar Sign (1)” and “Paramount,” which realized CHF 42 500 and 30 500 / GBP 28 300 and 20 300 (lots 3277 and 3266). Some what less predictably, however, many graphic works by less pricey artists such as Victor Vasarely or Sonia Delaunay also did extremely well, often tripling their estimates. A collection of Picasso ceramics also sold very well. Overall the auction was one of the most successful in Koller’s recent history, with prices realised totalling over 160% of the pre-sale estimates.

Impressionist and Modern Art
Success for rediscovered Futurist paintings
Two rediscovered rare works by Belgian futurist Jules Schmalzigaug offered in Koller’s 4 December auction sold well over their pre-sale estimates, for CHF 240 500 and CHF 192 500 / GBP 160 300 and 128 300. The two paintings were both exhibited in the landmark 1914 Futurist exhibition in Rome, and had remained in the same family ever since (lots 3225 and 3226). The depiction of artists by other artists is fascinating as a rule, and the portrait of Toulouse-Lautrec seated in an outdoor café painted in earth tones by Pierre Bonnard is no exception (lot 3218, CHF 114 500 / GBP 76 300). In a light-filled contrast to the Bonnard, an image of a young boy on the beach at Valencia by Joaquin Sorolla (lot 3239) sold for CHF 198 500 / GBP 132 300.

JEWELLERY
Burma rubies, Ceylon sapphires (and of course diamonds) lead the bidding
The top ten results alone from the jewellery auction totalled nearly CHF 1.5 million / GBP 1 million. A Burma ruby and diamond ring by Meister garnered a hefty CHF 372 500 / GBP 248 300 for the children’s charity SOS Kinderdorf (lot 2079). Soaring above their estimate of CHF 60 000 – 90 000, a pair of diamond earrings from the 1960s sold for CHF 246 500 / GBP 164 300 (lot 2055), and a matching diamond ring found a new owner at CHF 210 500 / GBP 140 300 (lot 2056). Someone will certainly be very pleased this holiday season with the pair of Ceylon sapphire and diamond earrings from the 1960s (lot 2037) that changed hands for CHF 102 500 / GBP 68 300.

WATCHES
Vintage watches continue to dominate the market
The high demand for vintage watches continued in Koller’s second dedicated watch auction, with bidders competing for timepieces from the 50s to the 90s. The top lot was a gold Patek Philippe chronograph from 1994 which realized CHF 65 300 / GBP 43 500 (lot 2551), followed by a quite trendy Rolex Day Date with a coral-colored dial with diamonds from 1995 (lot 2587) which demolished its low estimate of CHF 18 000, selling for CHF 41 300 / GBP 27 500. Subtly elegant, a Patek Philippe “Cuervo y Sobrinos” from 1955 realized CHF 37 700 / GBP 25 100 (lot 2554), and a classic and sporty Breguet Aviator Type XX chronograph from the 1960s soared above its low estimate of CHF 9 000 / GBP 6 000 to reach CHF 24 500 / GBP 16 300 (lot 2514). Over 90% of the lots in the auction found buyers, and the large majority of lots were sold above their pre-sale estimates.