Josef Albers (American/German, 1888-1976), ‘Study for Painting: Mirage A,’ 1940, oil on paper, framed. Estimate: $30,000-$50,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center.
LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – On Saturday, Nov. 17, Rago Arts and Auction Center will offer important works from one of the most distinguished collections of 20th century art, the Lydia Winston Malbin Collection. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
Acquired largely in the 1940s through the 1950s, these works have been held by her daughter since a large portion of the collection was auctioned for over $74 million dollars in May of 1990 at Sotheby’s, shortly after Mrs. Malbin’s death in the fall of 1989.
Property offered for sale includes multiple works by Jean Arp. Most notable are a relief Composition sculpture, circa 1954, (originally purchased from Rose Fried Gallery in 1956) and Arp’s well-known bronze Ganymède from 1954. Works on paper by Arp include two Abstract Forms from 1922 that were originally part of the Tristan Tzara collection.
Another major work on paper is Study for Mirage A by Josef Albers, painted in 1940 and purchased by Malbin from Rose Fried in 1946.
The collection also features many works by well-known Italian Futurists including Romance, a 1959 oil by Piero Dorazio, as well as two sculptures by the artist.
There are also two works by Pietro Consagra and a wonderful and large example of Mario Deluigi’s work. Worked in grayish blues and yellows, it is a superb example from 1953-54. There are several other notable sculptures in the collection including L’Oiseau De Fer, an iron sculpture of a bird from 1957 by César (Baldacchini), originally purchased from the artist in 1960.
There’s also a remarkable construction by Victor Vasarely. Ixion from 1964 is composed of two oil paintings on glass that are set 3 inches apart in a metal base. The optical effect is quintessential Vasarely.
Among the other artists with work in the collection are Frans Krajcberg, Etienne Hajdu and Gerrit Benner.
Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Piero Dorazio (Italian, 1927-2005), ‘Romance,’ 1959, oil on canvas, framed. Estimate: $50,000-$70,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center. César (Baldaccini) (French, 1921-1998), ‘L’Oiseau De Fer (Iron Bird),’ 1957, iron (unique). Estimate: $35,000-$55,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center. Pietro Consagra (Italian, 1920-2005), ‘Untitled,’ circa 1960, bronze on travertine base. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center. Jean Arp (French, 1886-1966), ‘Ganymède,’ circa 1958, bronze. Estimate: $60,000-$80,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center.
