News-Antique.com - Nov 22,2007 - Tonight’s auction totaled $21,671,000, was 90% sold and set 12 new world auction records. The resurging interest from international collectors for Latin American Art was apparent and bidding activity was heated throughout the sale. Especially noteworthy was the persistent demand for modern Mexican paintings —Tamayo was 100% sold — and concrete & geometric South American abstraction, including for works by Hlito, Asis, and Camargo. The sale revealed several interested features of the Latin American market: the record for Remedios Varo at $1.27 million and for Amelia Pelaez at $457,000 underlined the strong presence of women artists in the Latin American realm; the new world auction record for a sculpture by Botero at $1.6 million confirmed his position as the preeminent living Latin American artist; and Ramos Martinez fetching $1.2 million, the 4th consecutive time this artist realizes over $1 million in our sales, emphasized Ramos Martinez’s strong performance at auction. From the very first lot, Angel Botello’s Nina Durmiendo which set a record at $397,000, nearly 7 times the high estimate, to the fabulous new record for the Botero sculpture, the sale enthused a full room, dozens of telephone bidders, as well as bidders online.
ARTIST RECORDS
Latin American Evening Sale
November 19, 2007
12 Records Established
Lot 1
Angel Botello, Niña durmiendo, 1939
Sold for $397,000
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
(Previous Record $ 85,000, Madre e hija arreglando flores, 1979, Sotheby's New York: Friday, June 4, 1999 [Lot 228] Oil on Canvas laid on Panel)
Lot 15
Remedios Varo, Exploración de las fuentes del río Orinoco, 1959
Sold for $1,273,000
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
(Previous Record $ 825,000, HACIA LA TORRE, 1961, Christie's New York: Tuesday, May 1, 1990 [Lot 23] Oil on Masonite)
Lot 21
Jose Gurvich, Constructivo con caballos, 1952
Sold for $169,000
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
(Previous Record $ 52,875, Construcción en blanco y negro, 1962, New York: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 [Lot 37] Tempera w/gesso on burlap & wire mesh)
Lot 34
Amelia Pelaez, Un jardín, 1945
Sold for $457,000
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
(Previous Record $ 310,500, Sin título, 1950, Christie's New York: Tuesday, November 24, 1998 [Lot 41] Medium Oil on Canvas)
Lot 52
Fernando Botero, Mujer fumando, 1986
Sold for $1,609,000
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A SCULPTURE BY THE ARTIST
(previous record $ 1,052,000 PREMIUM, Bird, 1988-, Sotheby's New York: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 [Lot 13] Medium bronze)
Lot 53
Enio Iommi, Linea especial, 1948
Sold for $29,800
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
(Previous Record $ 24,000, Formas dinámicas, 1948-, Christie's New York: Friday, June 1, 2007 [Lot 92] Medium welded iron rod and marble)
Lot 54
Alfredo Hlito, Construcción, 1945
Sold for $85,000
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
(Previous Record $ 43,125, Development of a theme, 1952, Sotheby's New York: Tuesday, November 25, 1997 [Lot 22] Medium Oil on Canvas)
Lot 59
Antonio Asis, Untitled, 1959
Sold for $73,000
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
(Previous Record $ 48,000, Composition in
