A flurry of activity and enthusiastic bidding was seen at Jackson’s International auction of November 27th, which featured an offering of both modern and vintage masters.
The sale opened with a collection of modern masters, deaccessioned from a private collection. The star of the auction was lot 3, the Keith Haring carved and painted headless figure with engraved surface that sold for over half a million dollars, coming in at $537,500. That was followed by a Keith Haring sumi ink rendering of an iconic Ghetto Blaster. The 38 inch x 50 inch original work dated April 28, 1984 attracted 20 phone bidders and finished at $343,000 against a presale estimate of $70,000-$90,000.
Lot 3- Keith Haring painted wood sculpture measuring 41” x 35”
Sold for $537,500.00
One of the most interesting pieces was a large work by the contemporary artist, Barbara Kruger depicting an assemblage of glass doll eyes titled, Tell Us Something We Don’t Know. The photographic work, dated to 1987, attracted over a dozen phone bidders and ended up selling a little under $200,000, finishing at $193,750. That work was followed by an interesting sculpture by Lynda Benglis depicting one of her well-known forms in the shape of crumpled cloth measuring 43 inches x 30 inches. It sold for $43,750, and an example of Roy Lichtenstein’s Wallpaper With Blue Floor Interior (1992) found a new home at $47,500.
Lot 5- Barbara Kruger
Sold for $193,750.00
Other modern works of note include the Robot Portfolio by Nam June Paik consisting of eight signed lithographs, which finished at $17,500, followed by a 21 inch x 23 inch enamel sign by Jenny Holzer, which did $15,000 and The Hostage by Sophie Calle made $12,500.
Some of the vintage masters worthy of recognition include a small but charming 12 inch x 10 inch humming bird painting by Martin Johnson Heade, which sold for $131,250, a scene of Naples by Giacinto Gigante (1806-1876) measuring 15 inches x 24 inches which sold to the phone for $40,000, a Nocturnal Winter Scene by Norwegian artist Frits Thaulow (1847-1906), sold to a Swedish buyer for $32,500 and an Umbrian School altar screen went back to Italy at $20,000.
Lot 93- Oil on canvas view of Naples by Italian artist Giacinto Gigante
Sold for $40,000.00
Other sales of interest include a small Russian icon measuring 10 inches x 8 inches and dated 1913 with engraved presentation plaque addressed to Grand Duchess Anastasia, sold for $26,250. A 12 inch Irish silver wine cooler or loving cup sold to a British phone bidder for $12,500. A 1920’s Chinese export silver coffee service sold to a Chinese phone bidder for $8,125. Lot 265, a 1965 vintage Rolex GMT Master attracted 26 phone bidders and ended up selling for $35,000 - over ten times the high estimate.
Lot 265- 1965 vintage Rolex GMT Master
Sold for $35,000.00
The sale concluded with a small offering of Asian works, including a group of carved jade plaques which sold for $13,750, a Mughal carved jade lidded urn, which sold for $15,000, an 8 inch carved and gilt wood buddha sold for $8,750, and a Meiji Japanese lacquer plaque sold to a buyer in France for $13,750.