Keith Haring sculpture commands $537,500 at Jackson’s auction

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – A flurry of activity and enthusiastic bidding was seen at Jackson’s International auction of Nov. 27, which featured an offering of both modern and vintage masters. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

The sale opened with a collection of modern masters, deaccessioned from a private collection. The star of the auction was lot 3, the Keith Haring carved and painted headless figure with engraved surface that sold for $537,500. That was followed by a Keith Haring sumi ink rendering of an iconic Ghetto Blaster. The 38-by-50-inch original work dated April 28, 1984 attracted 20 phone bidders and finished at $343,000 against a presale estimate of $70,000-$90,000.

One of the most interesting pieces was a large work by contemporary artist Barbara Kruger depicting an assemblage of glass doll eyes titled, Tell Us Something We Don’t Know (below). The photographic work, dated to 1987, attracted over a dozen phone bidders and ended up selling a little under $200,000, finishing at $193,750.

That work was followed by an interesting sculpture by Lynda Benglis depicting one of her well-known forms in the shape of crumpled cloth measuring 43 inches x 30 inches. It sold for $43,750, and an example of Roy Lichtenstein’s Wallpaper With Blue Floor Interior (1992) found a new home at $47,500.

Other modern works of note included the Robot Portfolio by Nam June Paik consisting of eight signed lithographs, which finished at $17,500, followed by a 21-by-23-inch enamel sign by Jenny Holzer, which did $15,000 and The Hostage by Sophie Calle made $12,500.

Some of the vintage masters worthy of recognition include a small but charming 12-by-10-inch humming bird painting by Martin Johnson Heade, which sold for $131,250, a scene of Naples by Giacinto Gigante (1806-1876) measuring 15 inches by 24 inches which sold for $40,000, a Nocturnal Winter Scene by Norwegian artist Frits Thaulow (1847-1906), sold to a Swedish buyer for $32,500 and an Umbrian School altar screen went back to Italy at $20,000.

Other sales of interest include a small Russian icon measuring 10 by 8 inches and dated 1913 with an engraved presentation plaque addressed to Grand Duchess Anastasia, sold for $26,250. A 12-inch Irish silver wine cooler or loving cup sold to a British phone bidder for $12,500. A 1920s Chinese export silver coffee service sold to a Chinese phone bidder for $8,125. Lot 265, a 1965 vintage Rolex GMT Master attracted 26 phone bidders and ended up selling for $35,000, over 10 times the high estimate.

The sale concluded with a small offering of Asian works, including a group of carved jade plaques which sold for $13,750, a Mughal carved jade lidded urn, which sold for $15,000, an 8-inch carved and gilt wood buddha sold for $8,750, and a Meiji Japanese lacquer plaque sold to a buyer in France for $13,750.