Los Angeles, CA — Tuesday, June 21, 2022, is remembered as the start of summer and being the longest day of the year. More importantly, it was the when the highly anticipated Post-War and Contemporary Art + Design auction took place at John Moran Auctioneers. If you were one of the few who missed it, there were over 275 lots offering fascinating fine art in modern and contemporary paintings, a broad selection of prints and multiples from key artists, brilliant Brutalist and abstract sculptures, divine decorative art, and the most fabulous contemporary and mid-century furniture by local and internationally acclaimed designers. This sale garnered a lot of attention! All three preview days brought in big crowds, and on sale day interested bidders made quite a splash online and on the phone.
In the selection of fine art, a 1960 Jean Jansem still life was the top highlight. This Jansem work, lot 69, brought in a whopping $31,250 (including buyer’s premium). When lot 89 came on the block, all hands were on deck (or should I say, on the phones and computers!) as multiple bidders showed major interest in Deserted Beach. This 1975 oil painting from American artist, Sally Michel came to a final bid of $26,250 (including buyer’s premium).
Two other American artists performed exceptionally well in this sale, Milton Avery and Thomas Nozkowski. Lot 90, the 1941 painting by Avery, Girl on Balcony, achieved $24,700 (including buyer’s premium). A Nozkowski oil painting, lot 114, Untitled (8-50), was all in for $23,750 (including buyer’s premium).
There was a large variety of prints and multiples, including lot 1, a Henri Matisse lithograph that went for $7,500 (including buyer’s premium) and lots 3-9, works by Joan Miro, with final bids as high as $5,625 (including buyer’s premium). One of the biggest and most colorful prints in this sale, lot 17, The Monkey Rope, by Frank Stella, ended with a phone bid of $23,750 (including buyer’s premium). Lot 13, the exquisite color woodcut by Maurits Cornelis Escher, Puddle, was another fan-favorite, hammering in at $28,125 (including buyer’s premium).
“Multiple bidders showed major interest in Deserted Beach. This 1975 oil painting from American artist, Sally Michel came to a final bid of $26,250”
A popular featured collection was a series by Andy Warhol, lots 20-26, a suite of flower screenprints based on images of flowers he found in a wallpaper catalog. The six prints of the Flowers (Hand-Colored) series from 1974 achieved an impressive aggregate total of $73,750 (including buyer’s premium).
Lot 107, a piece by the American abstract artist, Dimitri Hadzi, Terra III, was one of the best examples of Brutalist sculpture offered in this auction. This 1960s work, standing 49” tall, exceeded its estimate, bringing in $25,000 (including buyer’s premium).
A tiny piece that packed a major punch was the 7” x 6” ceramic from Doyle Lane, who was known for his innovative, tactile glazes. Lot 41, a collection of amber and rust color ceramic tiles in a wood frame, had an original estimate of $1,000-1,500 but wowed everyone with a final bid of $7,500 (including buyer’s premium).
Between the capsule collection of designer furniture from a private collector in Los Angeles, some from a Beverly Hills estate, and multiple pieces from various other consigners, there was something for everyone! Lot 144, the “Chin Yin” coffee table by Philip and Kevin LaVerne did well with a price realized of $9,375 (including buyer’s premium). The two 1960s pewter and bronze forms by Silas Seandel, lot 184, became a great addition to a bidder’s living space for $14,300 (including buyer’s premium). Lots 194-196 presented some of the most famous tables in the design world, created by the eccentric artist, Yves Klein. Table IKB, Table Monopink, and Table Monogold, still coveted by collectors, brought in bids of up to $22,100 (including buyer’s premium). The biggest surprise was lots 207 and 208, the two dripping brass console tables by Zhipeng Tan. These 2017 uniquely handcrafted beauties had a modest estimate of $2,000-3,000 each, but were sold together for an amazing aggregate total of $32,500 (including buyer’s premium)!
—Brenda Smith, John Moran Auctioneers
Upcoming Auctions
As we head into the second half of 2022, John Moran Auctioneers continues their summer lineup with the ReDesigned Auction on Tuesday, July 19th, followed by the Art of the American West online-only sale, Tuesday, July 26th. Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming auctions so you don’t miss out on the action, and the treasures!
ReDesigned: Tuesday, July 19th | 12:00 pm PST
Art of the American West: ONLINE Tuesday, July 26th | 10:00 am PST
Made in Mexico: Tuesday, August 23rd | 12:00 pm PST
Summer Modern & Contemporary Fine Art: Tues, Aug 30th |12:00 pm PST
Fine Jewelry: Tuesday, September 13th | 10:00 am PST
For upcoming highlights, online catalogues, and more information on these sales, visit Moran’s website: www.johnmoran.com. Bidding is now available online via Moran’s new mobile app, Moran Mobile, available on both iOS and Android operating systems. Live bidding on a desktop is available through our website; bidding is also supported by telephone or absentee.
Consignments are always welcome:
Email us at [email protected] today!