NEW YORK – Capsule Auctions will present two auctions on Thursday, March 17: C2: March Art + Design will start at 11 am Eastern time and will include pieces by Ken Price, Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller, and Robert Rauschenberg, as well as mid-century modern design, Art Deco, and stylized works ranging from the abstract to the figurative. The second sale, titled 20th Century Art, begins at 3 pm Eastern time. A curated auction of contemporary art, it will feature works from the collection of Seymour Stein, the collection of Josie Natori, and the collection of Joyce Kootz, widow of renowned gallerist Sam Kootz. Notable lots include original art by Keith Haring, George Rodrigue, Theodoros Stamos and George Mathieu as well as editions by Niki de Saint Phalle, Robert Indiana and Ellsworth Kelly. Absentee and Internet live bidding for both will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

A unique feature in the C2: March Art + Design sale is a George Nelson for Herman Miller Comprehensive Storage System (CSS), a wall-mounted five-bay shelving system. Four enameled metal rails with lighting, three enameled metal rails, one chest of drawers with laminate top, one letter storage cabinet, one secretary desk with laminate drop-down door, 16 shelves and one sliding-door cabinet make up this sophisticated organizational piece, which is estimated at $5,000-$8,000.

Another design feature in the morning auction is an item by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller – an FSW-6 folding screen from the 50th anniversary edition of the Eames FSW screen. In 1996, Herman Miller released a limited edition of 500 screens produced using their old stock of rosewood, seven years after the company stopped using the endangered wood species. This item is edition 279 of 500 and carries an estimate of $2,000-$4,000.

Art highlights include two large-scale canvas works by American painter Lowell Nesbitt (1933-1993). Vegetable Triptych I and Vegetable Triptych II (both 1977-1998) are two grand still-lifes in a high-contrast style by the realist artist. Nesbitt, known for his large flower paintings, had many subjects he favored: interiors, vegetables and fruits, and on occasion his dog, Eric. Each triptych is individually estimated at $1,000-$2,000.

Another design highlight in the sale comes in the form of lanterns and a lamp by Isamu Noguchi, consisting of a weighted bamboo shaft lamp base which includes two paper shades. Made in Japan, the shades are stamped with Noguchi maker’s mark, and the whole is estimated at $1,000-$1,500. Isamu Noguchi’s lifetime career as a sculptor and designer have made him a household name, and his mark on design history goes back to 1947, when his collaboration with the Herman Miller company resulted in the Noguchi Table, a legendary furniture item. Many Noguchi-designed furniture items are still in production today.

20th Century Art, the afternoon auction, will feature highlights from the renowned collection of Sire Records co-founder and Rock and Roll hall of Fame inductee Seymour Stein. Among them is an original 1983 Keith Haring, Jon-Jon, estimated at $50,000-$80,000. Haring inscribed the verso with the phrase “FOR RENE WITH LOVE” and added a radiant baby illustration in his signature style. Haring (American, 1958-1990) was an icon of New York’s art world, and his style is internationally recognized.

Also from the Stein collection is a work by Neo-Expressionist artist and punk singer Salome (German, b. 1954-). His painting Strand (Beach) from 1982 uses broad strokes of brilliant color, emphasized by the impressive size of the canvas. Its estimate is $12,000-$18,000.

The afternoon sale also features works from the collection of Joyce Kootz, wife of the late Samuel M. Kootz, an early champion of Abstract Expressionist Art. During his career, he bought paintings directly from Pablo Picasso and exhibited work by Hans Hofmann, Conrad Marca-Relli and Georges Mathieu. Included in the auction lineup is an untitled work by Georges Mathieu from 1957, a signed gouache and watercolor on paper estimated at $10,000-$15,000. Mathieu (French, 1921-2012) was known for defining the concept of lyrical abstraction, and theorized heavily on the subject in the form of not only visual art, but also written manifestos.

Keeping in theme with the large-scale Abstract expressionist works from this sale is a work by Greek-American painter Theodoros Stamos (1922-1997) from 1961 titled The Door No. 3. This large oil on canvas, estimated at $50,000-$80,000, features a moody exterior color palette. Part of the so-called “Irascible Eighteen,” Stamos in his early years joined the ranks of Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Clyfford Still and other first-generation Abstract Expressionists.

Another notable work in this sale is American artist George Rodrigue’s Blue Dog (with Blue Spots), which is estimated at $15,000-$25,000. The ink and acrylic work on paper features Rodrigue’s signature blue dog illustration, its iconography inspired by Cajun legend ‘loup-garou’ and embodied by Rodrigue’s dog Tiffany.

For more information contact Capsule Auctions by emailing admin@capsuelauctions.com or calling 212-353-2277.

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