contemporary

May Art Sales to Bring Records and Liquidity

The Impressionist and Modern Art sales on May 4 and 5, 2010 are likely to confirm a continued climb in art auction pricing. We're now six months or so into the badly needed upswing, and there's plenty of room for optimism. Not only are the presale estimates and sales on the way up, but the number of pieces being resold quickly is on the rise, as well. This means that there's a high degree of liquidity in the art market: collectors can sell easily and without worry (as long as the inventory doesn't suck, in which case there's no hope, of course).

The increase in art market liquidity is due in part to the return of guaranteed minimum pricing, in which the auction houses assume some sales risk for attractive or desirable pieces that they feel can beat the numbers and attract buyers and sellers of other strong works. According to ArtPrice, there are "tens of millions of dollars for major works" committed via guaranteed minimum pricing, indicating that confidence is up.

It's the price guarantees that have led to the arrival of some strong pieces at the early may auctions this year, including pieces from the collections of Mrs Sidney Francis Brody, Raymond and Miriam Klein, Bernard Goldberg and Michael Crichton. Brody's works alone could fetch up to $150 million. The high estimate for Christie's is $300 million, a target that doesn't include the top lot, "Nude, Green Leaves" by Pablo Picasso, which as Jared Paul Stern revealed in a recent column is expected to bring in as much as $90 million. Other artists with eight-figure estimates include Henri Matisse, and Alberto Giacometti.

Don't just look for good news – also a expect a few records to b set. Sotheby's has high hopes for pieces by Salvador Dali and Auguste Rodin.

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Tags: alberto giacometti, art auction, art auctions, art market, artist, Artists, auction, auction houses, auction-house, auctions, Christie, Christies, ChristiesAuction, ChristiesAuctionHouse, contemporary, contemporary art, giacometti, Henri Matisse, impressionist, impressionists, michael crichton, modern art, Pablo Picasso, picasso, rodin, Salvador Dali, Sotheby, sothebys

Another Rough Night For The Art Auction Market

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

Another day, another day of art auction misery, the third in a long week for art sellers. At the Phillips de Pury & Co.'s New York auction the sales were far below event the low estimate of $23 million, coming in at $9.6 million with two-fifths of the lots not selling. Even usual hot sellers like Damien Hirst whose `Beautiful Artemis Thor Neptune Odin Delusional Sapphic Inspirational Hypnosis Painting,'' was part of a series that appeared in September 2007 during a runway show of his collection for Levi Strauss & Co. at the Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea couldn't find a buyer at $1.8 million.

So what artists are still alluring? The star of the Phillips de Pury auction was Donald Judd's 1977 vertical progression of 10 blue, stainless steel stacks, shown at right, which sold for $3.2 million, lower than presale estimate range of $4 million to $6 million but still a good showing in this market (and a Judd sculpture also sold earlier this week to Eli Broad). While the works may have been of a lower tier than comparable Christie's and Sotheby's auctions, the risk was also smaller. Bloomberg reports that Phillips de Pury guaranteed just one work in the auction, a glowing neon text by Kendell Geers, which had a low estimate of $60,000 and sold for $56,250.

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Tags: art, auction, contemporary, damien hirst, DamienHirst, donald judd, DonaldJudd

Roman Abramovich, Last Week's Big Art Spender

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

It seems that whenever a question of big spending comes up all around the world, one name is always bandied about. Mukesh Ambani may be the world's richest man but it's Roman Abramovich who does the most spending. And he was at it again last week busy at both Sotheby's and Christie's. The Art Newspaper reports that the Russian billionaire bought both Francis Bacon's Triptych, 1976, which sold at Sotheby's New York for $86.3 million and Lucian Freud's Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, 1995, which sold at Christie's for $33.6 million. Why the interest in art from a man who is more famous for his real estate and his huge yachts? Apparently he's looking to furnish his London home. and his girlfriend, Dasha Zhukova, is also an art lover who is planning to is to open a new gallery in Moscow specializing in contemporary art.

[Thanks, Lana]

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Tags: art, contemporary, expire-images2009-5-19, francis bacon, lucien freud, roman abramovich, RomanAbramovich

Nava Wall Clock Time Bodoni

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Timepieces / Watches

Home decor items like clocks aren't easy to give as gifts, but if you know just the person (or maybe are looking to upgrade your own home's look before the hordes of family arrive) you might find yourself in the market. This Nava Wall Clock Time Bodoni Green will fit either a contemporary home or one with a bend towards the whimsical. It has some of the numbers, but not all, and even though they all appear to have slipped off to one side in a clump they're amazingly still in the appropriate places. Aluminum and plexiglass, gift boxed, 17.5" diam., $148.

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Tags: bodoni, clock, contemporary, modern, nava, time, timepiece, timepieces, whimsical, whimsy

"Forward in Time" Wooden Floor Clock

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Timepieces / Watches

This design strikes me as something out of a dream -- a little curvy and abstract, slightly warped and out-of-whack looking, but in a very peaceful and artistic way. For being a modern contemporary design it also has a nice "warm fuzzy" vibe. It's the "Forward in Time" wooden floor clock, and created by Brian Hubel it's made of thick-skinned black cherry with ebony accents on the clock face. Available in the extremely limited edition of only 5, this clock stands 70"H x 23"W x 13.5"D and goes for $6600.

Via Wists

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Tags: brian hubel, BrianHubel, cherry, clock, contemporary, forward in time, ForwardInTime, modern, time, time piece, TimePiece, wood, wooden

Trevor O'Neil's "Dulce de Leche Divan"

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

It sounds like a dessert, but the Dulce de Leche Divan by Trevor O'Neil is a contemporary sofa that's both stylish and eco-friendly. Made of recycled cork and birch, this sofa is simple and contemporary in design. Besides neutral/natural colors (it looks almost unfinished) clean lines with rounded soft edges make this an inviting seat, although with no back it's probably not the best for real relaxing -- sit up straight! Only available in the one color scheme, and notice the handy built-in end tables on either side. $5,800

Via Born Rich

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Tags: contemporary, cork, corks, couch, decor, furniture, modern, oneill, recycle, recycled, seat, sit, sitting, sofa, trevor oneill, TrevorOneill

Swarovski Contemporary Lighting

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Swarovski crystals are all over everything these days, and interior lighting is no exception. Except in this case we're not talking a crystal chandelier, but crystal used in a different way for unique lighting patterns and beauty. New in a line of contemporary lighting from Swarovski is the Crystal StarLED, the Crystal StarLED Deluxe, and the Atlas Select.

There's a lot going on with these new collections, including both different lighting styles and different bulb arrangements. The one pictured here, the Melody, is one of my personal favorites.

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Tags: contemporary, crystal, crystals, illumination, LED, light, lighting, swarovski

Dylan Designer Contemporary Bed

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

You can spend all kinds of time and energy decorating your bedroom with accessories and accents to get a look that makes a statement, or you could just get a bed like this Dylan Designer Contemporary Bed. Its design leaves it looking like it's floating, supported only by the one side. It's constructed of metal with soft leather upholstery and is available in five colors and two sizes.

It's so simple it will blend well into many different styles of decor, although I think it will look best when not surrounded by a lot of clutter or detail. $5,456

Via Born Rich

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Tags: bed, bedding, bedroom, contemporary, dylan, dylan designer contemporary bed, DylanDesignerContemporaryBed, float, floating, sleep

George Nelson Eye Clock

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

I'm usually pretty positive and like most of what I post on here, but I also get creeped out fairly easily and can honestly say this George Nelson Eye Clock design is not for me. I just don't need a large mechanical eye staring down at me while I'm trying to work, or relax and watch TV, or whatever. But designed in 1957 and reissued by Vitra, it's amazingly timeless (tacky pun intended!) in its appeal. Even if I'm not crazy about it I can appreciate the unique design and the fact that it really doesn't look like it was originally born 50 years ago. £196

Via Retro To Go

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Tags: clock, clocks, contemporary, eye, eyeball, george nelson, GeorgeNelson, modern, nelson, retro, time, timepiece, vitra

Iannone Graphic Armoire

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Green

Michael Iannone's eco-friendly furniture makes use of reclaimed materials and simple modern design. The doors on this stunning armoire are made from Kirie, an engineered product constructed from reclaimed stalks of the Sorghum plant. The stalks are joined together using formaldehyde-free adhesive, creating a strong yet lightweight environmentally friendly substitute for wood.

The striking floral pattern is achieved with an overlay of gloss white laminate that is GREENGUARD certified. The cabinet itself is constructed from birch plywood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, ensuring that it comes from well-managed, sustainable forests.

Inside this gorgeous armoire are three adjustable shelves and two dovetailed drawers. The piece measures 70" high by 40" wide by 22" deep. In the hands of Iannone, green is beautiful. $3995.

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Tags: armoire, birch, contemporary, decor, eco friendly, EcoFriendly, floral, furniture, green, green furniture, GreenFurniture, greenguard, iannone, kirie, laminate, modern design, ModernDesign, sorghum

Horchow Contemporary Outdoor Furniture

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Although these chairs don't look outrageously comfortable for lounging around in on a lazy Sunday afternoon, they more than make up for it in bold artistic style. And they're not completely devoid of creature comforts, designed for a natural reclining position and treated to prevent heat retention on those sizzling summer days. As part of a three-piece set including a table, a chair, and a chaise, the Horchow Contemporary Outdoor Furniture collection will create an outdoor atmosphere all on its own with few to no other accessories needed. Made of metal and fiberglass, the pieces will develop a patina over time, giving them even more character. $1849-$3099 each piece.

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Tags: chair, chairs, chaise, chaises, contemporary, furniture, horchow, horchow contemporary outdoor furniture, HorchowContemporaryOutdoorFurniture, modern, outdoor, patio, table, tables

Austin Contemporary, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Wow, just wow. Today's find is in Austin, Texas, a ultra-modern renovation of a commercial building from 1860. The facade maintains the old look but that is all that remains of the building's former life. It is now a four-story contemporary home which is dressed to impress with luxury finishes. The home has four bedrooms, a library, home theater, three-car garage and the finishing touch, a fourth floor sky lounge with a lap pool, deck, spa and lawn. And look, you are conveniently located next to a Subway which is where you might be eating to afford this home. It is listed at $7.5 million. After the jump, your view of Texas politics.

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Tags: austin, contemporary, estate of the day, texas real estate

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Svenska Mobler, Worship At The Altar of Swedish Modernism

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Sometimes, confronted with the myriad home decor choices in the world it is hard to know what to choose. It often becomes a process of determining what your aesthetic preferences are by trial and error. You can hire a talented interior designer, discuss your likes and dislikes and come up with a plan. A more direct route sometimes is to just find an antique store or dealer that shares your vision. If you've got a weakness for Swedish modernism than you need to become acquainted with the rather dapper Andrew Wilder of Svenska Mobler. A quick perusal of his website reveals his distinctive taste. He finds treasures that follow a fairly tight design parameter, simple, modern, eternally chic, a 1960s decor magazine brought to vivid life. The Orrefors crystal and chrome sconces shown here are super 1960s fabulousness and sell for $2,200.

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Tags: contemporary, design, furniture, modernism, svenska mobler, SvenskaMobler, sweden

Michael Graves Showpiece, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

I've seen pictures of this Michael Graves house before. it's Michael Graves at his most humorous. Designed to look like a set of circus tenst, this home in Redding, Connecticut sits on 30 acres that includes an infinity-edge pool, tennis court and a large garden. The home itself has four bedrooms and isn't as wacky inside as the exterior might lead you to believe. It had a striking circular staircase and many windows to take in the views of the countryside. It's playful, it's iconic, but will it sell? A recent price reduction brings it under $6 million to $5.975 million. After the jump, could you live here?

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Tags: contemporary, estate of the day, michael graves, MichaelGraves, real estate, reddiing

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