Clement Meadmore, ‘Around and About,’ 1971, $76,900. Wright image.
“Living Contemporary was a good start to the fall auction season. We’re looking forward to our upcoming auctions and we’ll continue to present the finest modern design to the marketplace,” says Wright’s founder and president, Richard Wright.
The Living Contemporary auction netted strong sales for artworks by artists as varied as Clement Meadmore, Bernard Buffet and Harry Bertoia.
The top seller was lot 118, Meadmore’s Around and About, 1971, which achieved $76,900. The welded and enameled Cor-ten steel sculpture measured 28 inches high by 35 inches wide.
Lot 347, Ralph Humphrey’s Okun, 1969, an oil on shaped canvas, 24.5 x 108.25 inches, sold for $20,000 It was the highest price paid at auction for a Humphrey work in the last 20 years.
Lot 351, Takesada Matsutani’s Drop A, 1970, acrylic and latex on canvas, brought $9,375, easily surpassing its $5,000 estimate.
Lot 396, International Harvester, a 1991 oil on linen painting by Jim Lutes, reaped $14,000, a new auction record for the American artist.
These strong auction results represent Wright’s continual championing of works by underserved artists.
Also selling well were Lot 232 a pair of Mario Bellini’s Le Bambole chairs, 1972, for $27,500; Lot 236, a Paul Evans wall-mounted faceted cabinet, circa 1975, for $52,500; and Lot 219, an attractive coffee table by French architect and designer Michel Mangematin, 1958, for $6,250. The timeless design of this table is of exceptional quality and has tracked significantly higher prices in past auctions.
Possibly the best lot passed that was passed was the Osvaldo Borsani D70 sofa, 1954. The innovative D70 sofa designed by Borsani is adjustable, allowing it to assume many different positions. Its smart, industrial aesthetic makes it iconic among Italian modern designs.
Wright’s next auction is Modern Design on Oct, 18. Modern Design features mid-century classics by icons such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson & Associates and highly sought-after works by modern masters such as Jean Prouvé, Pierre Jeanneret and Harry Bertoia.
For details phone Wright at 312-235-4183.
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Clement Meadmore, ‘Around and About,’ 1971, $76,900. Wright image. Mario Bellini, pair of Le Bambole chairs, 1972, $27,500. Wright image. Paul Evans, wall-mounted faceted cabinet, c. 1975, $52,500. Wright image. Ralph Humphrey, ‘Okun,’ 1969, $20,000. Wright image. Takesada Matsutani, ‘Drop A,’ 1970, $9,375. Wright image. Jim Lutes, ‘International Harvester,’ 1991, $14,000. Wright image.
