The vintage Czech photography performed extremely well in last week’s sale at Villa Grisebach in Berlin, but softness in the upper price ranges of the broader sale ultimately dampened the results. The overall Buy-In rate hovered over 30%, but the many positive surprises weren’t enough to bring in the Total Sale Proceeds within the pre sale estimate range.
The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):
| Summary Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Total Lots | 312 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | €796000 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | €1111100 |
| Total Lots Sold | 206 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 106 |
| Buy In % | 33.97% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | €719073 |
Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post):
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 288 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | 194 |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | 94 |
| Low Buy In % | 32.64% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | €695100 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | €495323 |
| Mid Total Lots | 23 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 11 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 12 |
| Mid Buy In % | 52.17% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | €371000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | €188750 |
| Total High Lots | 1 |
| Total High Lots Sold | 1 |
| Total High Lots Bought In | 0 |
| High Buy In % | 0.00% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots | €45000 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | €35000 |
The top lot by High estimate was lot 2132, Irving Penn, 3 New Guinea Men, (2 with Pipes), 1970/1983, estimated at €35000-45000; it was also the top outcome of the sale at €35000
96.60% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were a total of 25 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):
Lot 2014, Arthur Benda, Werbephoto fur Palmolive, 1937, estimated at €400-600, sold at €2750
Lot 2015, Arthur Benda, Ohne Titel (Frauenportrait), 1920s, estimated at €400-600, sold at €4375
Lot 2073, Nina and Cary Hess, Der Maler Max Beckmann, 1928, estimated at €400-600, sold at €1375
Lot 2109, Max Lohr, Fahrt in den Morgen, 1930, estimated at €700-900, sold at €4375
Lot 2116, Manasse, Zigartette gefallig, 1928, estimated at €500-700, sold at €1875
Lot 2157, Sam Shaw, Marilyn Monroe in Central Park, 1957/2004, estimated at €1200-1500, sold at €5750
Lot 2164, W. Eugene Smith, Worker with raised arms, aus der Serie Taft & Ohio Railroad, 1949/1950s, estimated at €1500-2500, sold at €5250
Lot 2170, Sasha Stone, Akt, aus der Serie Femmes, 1933, estimated at €1500-2000, sold at €6500 (image above, right, via Villa Grisebach)
Lot 2180, Raymond Voinquel, Portrait d’un assassin, 1949, estimated at €200-400, sold at €875
Lot 2188, Josef Bartuška, Ohne Titel (Frau mit Gasmaske), 1930s, estimated at €300-500, sold at €4500
Lot 2189, Josef Bartuška, Ohne Titel (Wasserspiegelung), 1930s, estimated at €300-500, sold at €1750
Lot 2190, Josef Bartuška, Ohne Titel (Bein und Fahrrad), 1930s, estimated at €600-800, sold at €4375
Lot 2192, Ladislav Emil Berka, Po desti, Praha, 1930-1931, estimated at €400-600, sold at €1250
Lot 2195, Ladislav Emil Berka, Klavesy Praha, 1930, estimated at €400-600, sold at €4750
Lot 2198, František Drtikol, Ohne Titel (Zwei Frauen), 1923, estimated at €400-600, sold at €2750
Lot 2207, Jaroslav Kysela, Ohne Titel (Grammophon und Klavier), 1936, estimated at €600-800, sold at €4375
Lot 2210, Grete Popper, Erster Schnee, 1933, estimated at €400-600, sold at €1750
Lot 2213, Jaroslav Rössler, Ohne Titel (Frankreich), 1927-1935, estimated at €300-500, sold at €1250
Lot 2215, Jaroslav Rössler, Ohne Titel (Uber den Dachern), estimated at €1000-1500, sold at €6875
Lot 2216, Jaroslav Rössler, Composition – Exit, 1963, estimated at €800-1200, sold at €4500
Lot 2217, Jaroslav Rössler, Ohne Titel (Stilleben mit Ei), 1958, estimated at €1000-1500, sold at €8500 (image above, middle via Villa Grisebach)
Lot 2222, František Vobecký, Tanec (Tanz), 1935, estimated at €600-800, sold at €3250
Lot 2223, František Vobecký, melancholicky den, 1936, estimated at €600-800, sold at €8750 (image above, left, via Villa Grisebach)
Lot 2243, Abe Frajndlich, Art Blakey, Sweet Basil’s, New York City, April 20, 1986, 1986/2001, estimated at €700-900, sold at €2375
Lot 2249, Doug Hall, Abandoned Arcade #2, Naples, 1999, estimated at €1000-1500, sold at €3500
Complete lot by lot results can be found here.
