An artist proof color lithograph on paper, signed in pencil by the renowned pop artist Roy Lichtenstein (1923-97), titled “Pyramids” (1969), sold for $10,030 at a two-day, two-session auction held Aug. 8 and 9 by Ahlers & Ogletree in the firm's gallery in Atlanta, Ga. Over the course of the two days, more than 1,000 lots came up for bid.
“Pyramids” was one of two Lichtenstein lithographs that crossed the auction block in the Saturday, Aug. 8, session, which featured modern and contemporary works of art, design and furniture. The Sunday, Aug. 9, session boasted fine items from Atlanta area estates. By the time the final gavel fell late Sunday afternoon, the sale had grossed $815,000, including the buyer's premium.
"This was a very strong auction for us in every regard," said Robert Ahlers of Ahlers & Ogletree. "Around 300 people packed the gallery over the course of the weekend, and an amazing 14,000 others registered to bid online, via LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Bidsquare.com. Over half the winning bids went to online bidders, many of whom were first-timers to our site," said Ahlers.
Ahlers stated the in-person turnout and online participation were particularly strong in the first session. "I took that as a sign that modern and contemporary artworks, design and furniture are a category that is red-hot right now. It's safe to say we will feature these items in future sales. But interest in the local estates was keen, too. Having two sessions proved to be a winning strategy," said Ahlers.
Measuring 18.75-by-41-inches (framed), “Pyramids” presented a graphic image in yellow and black ink on white paper. It depicted the three largest pyramids of Giza, Egypt, in a stylized rendering typical of Lichtenstein's iconic dot matrix pattern: the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Memkaure and the Great Pyramid of Khufu. It was one of an edition of 100+ proofs.
Sculptures did especially well in the sale's first session. A cast and welded bronze Brutalist 12-inch sculpture cube by Bill Tarr (1925-2006), titled “Pebbled Cube,” very heavy and highly textured, brought $5,015; a modernist style polished brass floor sculpture, double-sided, by the Cuban artist Ramon Lago, circa 1986, realized $4,720; and a pair of gilt bronze modern figural sculptures by Hugo Rabaey (Flemish/Dutch, b. 1948), titled “Man and Woman” (1977) sold for $2,360.
A chromed bronze abstract sculpture by Seymour Meyer (1914-2009), titled “Abstact Form” (edition 1 of 9), of amorphous form and standing 21.5-inches tall, fetched $1,888; an abstract expressionist sculpture made from found and re-purposed iron industrial parts by Harry Bouras (b. 1931), titled “Trophy II” (1966), sold for $1,534; and an aluminum sheathed three-panel floor screen by Marvin Arenson (Am., mid-20th century), depicting zodiac signs, made $2,950.
Other lots that breezed past even their high estimates in the first session included a pair of mid-century (circa 1970s) modern swivel armchairs, made in America from chrome and burgundy leather, $1,534; a pair of Grosfeld House tall back open armchairs, also American, circa 1950s, with backs and seats covered in a coral print fabric, $1,298; and a pair of lamps from the 1950s, made by Tommi Parzinger for Stiffel (Illinois, founded 1932), $1,180.
The top lot of the second session (and the top lot of the sale overall) was a collection of four large, narrow vertical framed porcelain Chinese wall plaques with outdoor figural scenes, each plaque about 39.75-by-14-inches (framed). The set went for $32,450. The runner-up lot was an American Federal cherry chest of drawers, probably made in Kentucky circa 1800s, with yellow pine as the secondary wood, having two short over four graduated long drawers ($15,340).
A Chinese blue and white Ming Dynasty porcelain jar with a wooden lid, carrying the Xuande period mark (1390-1435) but likely made in the 19th century, went for $4,720; a 19th-century Chinese porcelain famille rose deep-welled center bowl, dating to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) but possibly earlier, hammered for $3,835; and a pair of late 19th- or early 20th-century Chinese seals, one orange jade the other cast and gilt bronze, hit $1,534.
European furniture pieces got paddles wagging. A set of six Brazilian (Portuguese) 18th-century chip-carved quebracho wood three-legged chairs with tall curved backs finished at $7,670; a 19th-century French Provincial walnut wood enfilade (or buffet) with molded top and rounded corners changed hands for $3,540; and a pair of French Louis XVI-style gilt easy chairs, likely from the 19th or early 20th century, each with an arched crest decorated with gold gilt trim, made $2,124.
English furniture also excited the crowd. A circa 1710 Queen Anne oak lowboy with multi-board top having a molded edge above a frieze fitted with three small drawers brought $1,888; a 19th-century walnut wood canterbury (or sheet music or magazine rack), with the stiles turned in the form of Doric columns, coasted to $1,298; and a circa 1800s George III mahogany demilune sideboard with the center drawer above an arched apron went to a determined bidder for $1,180.
Also from the U.K., a Welsh oak wood Queen Anne-style three drawer dresser (or sever), made circa 1740-1780, with a long, molded top surmounting three cock beaded tiger oak frieze drawers, commanded $2,950; an English circa 1871-1934 Anglo-Indian style mahogany and parcel gilt carved tilt-top dining table, with a tag for the Army & Navy Co-Operative Supply Limited, sold for $1,416; and an English mid-18th century George II (1727-1760) corner chair sold for $944.
Other lots that did well in session two included a cast bronze statue by Pierre Jules Mene (1810-79), titled “Hare Hunting in the Vineyard” (1872), 8-inches tall ($5,605); a framed oil-on-canvas portrait of Sultan Murad III (ruler of the 16th century Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1546-1595) by 20th century Iranian artist Yakup Abbasi ($1,298); and a pair of palatial French 19th-century Sevres-style porcelain gilt bronze mounted vases, since converted to lamps ($1,180).
Ahlers & Ogletree's next big sale will be another two-session affair, slated for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 and 18, also in the firm's Atlanta gallery on Miami Circle. The Saturday, Oct. 17, session will feature important glass and decorative arts; the Sunday, Oct. 18, session will feature premier lots from outstanding Atlanta estates.
To learn more, visit www.AandOAuctions.com.