Rare Kollwitz Drawing at Gray’s Auctioneers Premiere Sale of 2013 Gray’s January 30th Auction features a brilliant array of fine art. Highlights include major works by artists such as Hans Erni, Degas, Rodin, Picasso, Miro, Dali, Chagall, and Käthe Kollwitz.
News-Antique.com - Jan 16,2013 - Grays is beginning the year with their 64th auction on January 30 featuring fine works of art by Rodin, Picasso and Miró, and a rare Käthe Kollwitz drawing. The large-scale original charcoal drawing by German Expressionist Käthe Kollwitz entitled Abschied (Farewell) was discovered by auctioneer Deba Gray to the delight of the consignor who was unaware of its rarity. Gray recognized the work as a study for Köllwitz’s etching Tod, Frau und Kind (Death Woman and Child), ca. 1910.
The auction also features a whimsical watercolor by the Catalan artist Joan Miró titled, Man, Moon and Tree (Lot 45). This watercolor is a wonderful example of Miró’s oft quoted philosophy “The spectacle of the sky overwhelms me. I’m overwhelmed when I see, in an immense sky, the crescent of the moon, or the sun. There, in my pictures, tiny forms in huge empty spaces. Empty spaces, empty horizons, empty plains - everything which is bare has always greatly impressed me” (from Twentieth-Century Artist’s on Art, 1958).
Gray’s first auction of 2013 features an extraordinarily strong selection of fine works of art. The list continues with Degas’ iconic bronze Le Tub. Cast shortly after 1919 this bronze was examined by Clare Vincent, Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, who determined it was an authentic cast made by the Hébrard Foundry. Charles Millard called Le Tub “The most original, not only of his own pieces , but of all 19th century sculptures.” (C.W.Millard, op, cit., page 107).
In May 1942, Martin Fabian published the Historie Naturelle by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, illustrated by Picasso. This auction features La Langouste, a full sheet artist’s proof on Vidalon wove paper with Ambroise Vollard watermark. It is signed and number II/V in pencil, together with an original cover page.
Other notable works in this well-rounded auction include a stunning life-sized marble by William Calder Marshall entitled Country Girl, signed and dated 1882 on the base, a muscular bronze by Alfred Boucher entitled Le Terrassier signed on the base, and a captivating Hans Erni tempera on paper entitled Boy Leaning on Table #75, signed and dated 'Erni 53' on the lower left. Lot 41 is a drawing by Marc Chagall, depicting a head in profile that is signed with a personal dedication. Furniture includes a late 19th/early 20th century English heavily carved walnut buffet. And the decorative arts portion of the auction is highlighted by a pair of Louis Comfort Tiffany Favrile glass shades with a gold damascene pattern.
The January 30 auction will take place at Gray’s spacious showrooms, located at
