The house’s two-part auction fell short of the low estimate but still became its second-best showing ever by dollar value
Author Archives: artNews
Estimate: €335,000-400,000 / DKK2,500,000-3,000,000
Following the success of the first CoBrA sale last year in Copenhagen, where several records were set, notably for Corneille and Stephen Gilbert, the Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network, presents a new CoBrA sale on 5 December at its new premises in Lyngby. A touring exhibition featuring a selection of paintings will begin in Amsterdam from 14 to 15 November, then travel to Brussels from 17 to 19 November at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr, before concluding in Copenhagen with the auction on 5 December. An online sale will take place from 29 November to 12 December.
The CoBrA group, made up of Danish artists Asger Jorn and Carl-Henning Pedersen, Dutch artists Karel Appel and Constant Anton Nieuwenhuys and Belgian artists Corneille, Pierre Alechinsky and Christian Dotremont, was founded in Paris in November 1948. It was later joined by French artists, Jean-Michel Atlan and Jacques Doucet. This international collaboration was short-lived, as CoBrA disappeared in November 1951 after three exhibitions and the publication of eight issues of its journal. The first exhibition, in Amsterdam in 1949, was a bombshell for a public baffled by this new language.
Niels Raben, Head of Bruun Rasmussen’s Department of Modern and Contemporary Paintings, said: “Once again this year, we have decided to pay tribute to the great CoBrA painting movement, and have found some exceptional works from private collections in Denmark and elsewhere. We will be exhibiting them in Amsterdam and then Brussels before offering them at auction in our new venue in Lyngby, Denmark.
The sale features a particularly strong selection of works by Corneille, Jorn, Appel and Alechinsky, who were major figures in the CoBrA movement.
A 1949 oil on canvas by Corneille entitled Mon canal chante will be offered with an estimate of €335,000-400,000 (DKK 2,500,000-3,000,000). It comes from the renowned Birch gallery in Copenhagen, which has promoted CoBrA artists.
“CoBrA was my school”, says Pierre Alechinsky. Two paintings will be offered in this sale: Noyé (Drowned), an oil on canvas circa 1960 from Galerie Ariel in Paris, is estimated at €270,000-310,000 (DKK 2-3 million) and Lucioles (Fireflies), an acrylic on paper laid down on canvas from a private Danish collection, is offered with an estimate of €400,000-470,000 (DKK 3-5 million).
Estimate: €270,000-310,000 (DKK 2,000,000-3,000,000)
A beautiful, brightly coloured oil by Asger Jorn entitled Bel Air (Beautiful sky) from 1971 has a fine pedigree after being acquired from the Birch Gallery and exhibited in all the major CoBrA exhibitions in Norway, France and Denmark. The estimate is between €270,000 and €335,000 (DKK 2,000,000 – 2,500,000).
Estimate: €270,000-335,000 (DKK 2,000,000-2,500,000)
Finally, a fine 1957 painting by Karel Appel purchased from Galerie Moderne in Silkeborg then in a private collection is estimated at €200,000-270,000 (DKK 1,500,000-2,000,000). Karel Appel moved to France in 1950. His work was actively supported by critics such as Michel Ragon and Michel Tapié, who saw Appel’s work as the European equivalent of American abstract expressionism.
Estimate: €200,000-270,000 (DKK 1,500,000-2,000,000)
Bonhams Amsterdam
De Lairessestraat 154 – 1075 HL Amsterdam
14 & 15 November from 11:00am to 5:00pm
Champagne reception & lecture by Maarten Bertheux on 15 November 2023, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Bonhams Brussels
Chaussée de Charleroi, 89 – 1060 Brussels
17 November from 2:00 to 6:00pm
18 & 19 November from 11:00am to 6:00pm
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Story submitted by Bonhams. The World Art News (WAN) is not liable for the content of this publication. All statements and views expressed herein are opinions only. Act at your own risk. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. © The World Art News
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The Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI) urgently called for the safety of Afghan artists who are categorically persecuted by the Taliban as demonstrated in a new report launched today: Artistic Exodus: Afghan Artists Fleeing Taliban Rule. The report, produced in partnership with UC Berkeley Law Pro Bono Program, brings to light the abuse of people working in music, visual arts, performing arts, film and television, literature, museums, cultural heritage sites and arts education since the regime regained control of Afghanistan two years ago.
Artistic expression is now criminalized in the country, with punishments including extrajudicial killings, arrests, arbitrary detention and public humiliation; women and girls have been banned from pursuing arts education and careers; art and cultural sites have been destroyed and removed from public spaces; and arts and cultural institutions, including museums and archives, have been either nearly or completely shut down.
“Kabul did not fall once for us, it fell three times: the first when the Taliban took it, the second when they destroyed our paintings, and the third when they banned girls from going to school,” says Yama Farhad, visual artist and muralist with ArtLords. Farhad has had the laser of a sniper rifle aimed at his head while painting a mural, forcing him to abandon the project for his safety and that of his crew. Other members of the ArtLords group have been wrongfully imprisoned, physically attacked and received death threats.
Many artists in Afghanistan are in hiding, have destroyed, hidden or left behind their artworks and tools, live in dire economic situations due to being unable to practise their craft and earn a living, and are in constant fear of Taliban persecution. Despite the circumstances, international immigration and resettlement assistance has been extremely limited.
“The horrific conditions that Afghan artists face in their home country and the overt targeting of these groups by the Taliban should logically infer a well-founded fear of persecution for Afghan artists openly practising their craft,” says Sanjay Sethi, AFI Co-Executive Director. “That’s why we’re calling for the prima facie recognition of Afghan artists as refugees, meaning that they are automatically considered a refugee and therefore entitled to lawful, permanent residency in a safe host country, unless there is evidence to the contrary.”
2021 Kabul airlift | Courtesy of Fatimah Hossaini
Thus far, states have not prioritised Afghan artists for resettlement, with the exception of Germany, which has created a special pathway for artists and creative workers to seek humanitarian admission into the country. Germany approved humanitarian visa applications for more than 37,000 Afghans from August 2021 to October 2022, and it continues to offer a pathway for artists to enter the country though the Bundesaufnahmeprogramm. On the other hand, the United States – partly responsible for the destabilisation of Afghanistan after their precipitous withdrawal from the country in August 2021 – has not offered similar assistance and has even denied entry to Afghan artists with approved visa petitions.
AFI has provided legal and resettlement assistance to more than 1,100 Afghan artists and their family members since the beginning of the Taliban takeover and has communicated with hundreds of others in distress as they struggle for personal and professional survival. The new report tells the stories of some of these visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, archeologists and curators to highlight the real life impacts of the political crisis in Afghanistan and subsequent forced migration.
“Leaving the country is a painful feeling, but [figuring out] how to leave was a big challenge for me and I was alone,” says Shaista Langari, visual artist and women’s rights activist, who faced additional dangers both living in Afghanistan and while fleeing as a female artist.
Given the hostile environment for creatives at home and the lack of institutional support for the artists abroad, the rich artistic tradition of Afghanistan that stretches back millennia and is fundamental to Afghan cultural identity is facing obliteration. Afghan artists who have relocated to other countries need help in resettlement, such as access to basic services including housing and healthcare, as well as support to rebuild their creative careers in their host communities. The provision of such services can help to ensure that host countries fulfil their international legal obligation to protect Afghans’ cultural rights and safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of the Afghan people.
“Art is also a powerful tool in creating social and political change and one of the last hopes for resisting violence and oppression in Afghanistan, whether through artists in the country or those abroad and feeding back into it,” says Omaid Sharifi, Artlords Co-founder/President.
AFI calls on the international community to maintain pressure on the Taliban to implement critical recommendations by UN special procedures and bodies and to press governments to provide immigration relief and implement best practices aimed at supporting artists at risk. We call on all state and non-state actors to offer additional support to Afghan artists seeking asylum and for legal aid organizations to increase assistance for Afghans to determine their eligibility and apply for refugee status, humanitarian parole, and temporary or long term visas.
Nasrin Belali speaks with a reporter about her archeological work at the National Museum of Afghanistan | Courtesy of Nasrin Belali
The report also highlights how arts and cultural institutions, universities, and arts-oriented non-profits can assist in Afghan artist relocation and resettlement through sponsored fellowships and work opportunities. Finally, we highlight the need for increased humanitarian aid and other forms of support for the thousands of artists still in Afghanistan that continue to face persecution from the Taliban.
Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI) is dedicated to safeguarding the right to artistic freedom and facilitates pro bono immigration representation and resettlement assistance for international artists at risk. Led by immigration and human rights attorneys, the organization anchors its work to the shared commitment of protecting and celebrating cultural diversity, human dignity and freedom of artistic expression. Beyond AFI’s work to provide holistic relocation and resettlement opportunities for artists under threat, it is also focused on the advancement of creative cultural exchange and the improvement of conditions for artists in their home countries.
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Story submitted by Artistic Freedom Initiative. The World Art News (WAN) is not liable for the content of this publication. All statements and views expressed herein are opinions only. Act at your own risk. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. © The World Art News
The Helen and David Milling Collection, featuring the finest British and American art pottery and glass from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, will be showcased at Bonhams this December. Over the span of half a century, the Michigan couple meticulously assembled an exceptional collection from some of the era’s most renowned potters, designers, and artists. This distinguished assortment comprises more than 350 lots, to be presented across three sales this December: 20th Century Decorative Arts and Ceramics on December 5 in London, Modern Decorative Art & Design on December 12 in New York, and the dedicated Helen and David Milling Online auction from December 8–18 at Bonhams Skinner.
Helen and David, both with backgrounds in the arts and architecture, cultivated a fascination for Arts and Crafts ceramics, Art Nouveau tiles, and American iridescent shades from an early age. Following their marriage, their passion for collecting deepened. United by their love for the Art Nouveau movement and inspired by Robert Schmutzler’s book, “Art Nouveau” (1964), they were drawn to vibrant colors and fantastical designs.
Their focus extended to English Art Nouveau tiles and American iridescent lamp shades crafted by Tiffany Studios, Quezal, and Steuben. Over time, their collection expanded to encompass Arts & Crafts designs, including ceramics by notable makers such as William De Morgan (1839-1917), Walter Crane (1845-1915), and Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833-1898) for William Morris (1834-1896). The resulting collection pays homage to the Victorian era and reflects a lifelong commitment to acquiring high-quality works.
The December 5 sale in London will feature 79 works from the collection, including the noteworthy ‘Hearing,’ an Important ‘Senses’ ceramic figural panel designed by Walter Crane (British, 1845-1915) for Pilkington’s, circa 1900. Estimated at £8,000 – 12,000, this rare panel depicts a classical maiden cupping one ear with her hand and holding a lyre in the other. Also featured is the ‘Alfred Ye Greate’ panel, after Ford Maddox Brown, 1900 by Harold Steward Rathbone (British 1858-1929) for Della Robbia Pottery, estimated at £3,000 – 5,000. This molded ceramic panel in two sections depicts the Saxon King Alfred and is painted in colors and glazed.
The Modern Decorative Art & Design sale on December 12 in New York will include 52 works, with a highlight being a mosaic panel designed by Louis C. Tiffany, circa 1890, estimated at $30,000 – 50,000. Rare examples of Tiffany Studios’ mosaic panels commissioned for specific interiors and architectural projects are highly sought after. Another notable piece is William De Morgan’s (1839-1917) Three-tile Frieze, circa 1890-1900, estimated at $15,000 – 25,000, featuring fantasy birds in the triple-lustre-glaze technique introduced at the Fulham factory.
The online sale at Bonhams Skinner from December 8 – 18 will offer over 200 lots from the collection, showcasing a diverse range of ceramics and tiles primarily from Victorian England, extending to American Arts and Crafts. The collection encompasses works from renowned design firms of the period, including Royal Doulton, Martin Brothers, Maw & Co., Pilkington, and Wedgwood, reflecting Helen and David Milling’s broad interest in design movements such as Gothic Revival, Aesthetic Movement, Arts and Crafts, and Art Nouveau.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and collectables, collectors’ cars and a luxury division, which includes jewellery, designer fashion, watches, wine, and whisky. In 2021 and 2022, Bonhams made a number of important acquisitions which form the wider Bonhams network. These include: Bukowskis, Bruun Rasmussen, Bonhams Skinner and Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr.
Top lots for 2022 included a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder (Sold for US$4,185,000), a pair of blue and white octagonal candlesticks (Sold for HK$30,453,00/ US$3,911,913), La femme en rouge au fond bleu by Chaïm Soutine (Sold for £1,842,300/ US$2,236,940), and a rare emerald and diamond Cartier bracelet (Sold for US$3,240,375).
Story submitted by Bonhams. The World Art News (WAN) is not liable for the content of this publication. All statements and views expressed herein are opinions only. Act at your own risk. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. © The World Art News