ROME – The Rome auction house Gioielli di Carta is holding the most important bankruptcy auction of the last 40 years: the sale of the collection of entrepreneur Vincenzo Maria Angelini, who was involved in a large investigation for bribery in the health sector in Abruzzo. The sale offers an exceptional property at moderate prices, ranging from the Neapolitan 17th century to Lucio Fontana, from Rembrandt and Dürer’s etchings to Ancien Régime and Empire furnishings, and even a rare Roman sarcophagus.
The auction is structured in a different way than traditional auctions: collectors who are interested in the lots presented by the auction house can make their bids at any time on the auction house’s website, or LiveAuctioneers.com up at a certain date, like on eBay. Lots that have reached 100percent of the lowest estimate in the first half of the month are hammered on the last day of the month; lots that have reached this threshold in the second half of the month are hammered on the 15th of the following month. At midnight on the expiration day, the lot is hammered if there have been no offers for the last 30 minutes before the deadline, otherwise the time for bidding is extended by another 30 minutes, and this continues until a bid is successful for at least half an hour. This modality makes the game compelling, and it also gives customers the opportunity to take home some lots in advance, without waiting until the end of the whole auction (Dec.18).
The next hammer date is Nov.15: on that day the lots listed below will be sold. That means, there are still some days to win the lots at affordable prices. In particular, it is worth noting two works in the catalog 1 by two of the most beloved and well-known Italian artists at the international level: Lucio Fontana and Giorgio Morandi. Other paintings that will be hammered on the same day are by Franco Gentilini, Ottone Rosai and Mario Tozzi.
The Fontana is a yellow “teatrino” (little theatre) from 1965 with an estimate of €100,000 ($134,337). The work is recorded in the catalogue raisonné of the artist and can be exported abroad. The “teatrini” belong to the Fontana’s last production. The artist invented them between 1964 and 1966. They present shaped and painted wooden frames that enclose monochrome perforated canvases. They are reminiscent of a theater stage with scenes. The reference to the theater emphasizes the act of looking, while the shapes and figures on the canvas cast their shadow as if it was a picture in motion.
The Morandi painting is one of the classic still life paintings of the Bolognese artist. It is recorded in the catalogue raisonné of the artist, as well. Throughout his life Morandi, who was an isolated figure, but always aware of the contemporary avant-garde movements, has tirelessly repeated the same subjects: still lifes with bottles and jars from his home or his studio, through which he searched for a universal order. The work carries an estimate of €360,000.
The work by Ottone Rosai is a painting from the mid-30s and represents a peasant. It is a typical subject of the painter, who often dedicated himself to portraying humble people caught in the daily attitudes. The estimate is €17,000.
By Gentilini there is a painting from 1957 representing a motif typical of the artist: a cathedral, depicted with his characteristic technique that mixes paint and sand. The style is the one developed by the artist in 1950s, meaning compositions distinguished by a geometric essentiality, almost two-dimensional, full of color effects. The estimate is €10,500.
Finally, the other painting that is going to be hammered on Nov.15 is a work of Mario Tozzi’s last production period, L’Apparizione from 1967. It was realized when the artist returned to painting after a long period of inactivity due to illness during the 1940s and 1950s. It depicts one of the artist’s favorite motifs, a woman’s profile. The estimate is €25,000.
Catalog 1, paintings:
Catalog 1, lot 68 Lucio Fontana (€100.000) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722264_lucio-fontana
Catalog 1, lot 51 Franco Gentilini (€10.500) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722230_franco-gentilini
Catalog 1, lot 53 Ottone Rosai (€17.000) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722234_ottone-rosai
Catalog 1, lot 56 Giorgio Morandi (€360.000) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722240_giorgio-morandi
Catalog 1, lot 57 Mario Tozzi (€25.000) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722242_mario-tozzi
Catalog 1:
Catalog 1, lot 14 Sebastiano Ricci, Cerchia di (€10.000) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722156_sebastiano-ricci
Catalog 1, lot 15 Sebastiano Ricci, Cerchia di (€10.000) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722158_sebastiano-ricci
Catalog 1, lot 75 Mario Schifano https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722278_mario-schifano
Catalog 1, lot 89 Giuseppe Alesiani (€300) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722306_giuseppe-alesiani
Catalog 1, lot 108 Joan Mirò (€1.000) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722344_joan-mir
Catalog 2:
Catalog 2, lot 11 Importante cornice barocca da specchiera (€7.500) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722914_cornice-sormontata-da-corona-produzione-italiana-o
Catalog 2, lot 30 Sei poltrone Luigi XVI (€1.800) www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18722952_sei-poltroncine-in-stile-luigi-xv-produzione-francese
Catalog 2, lot 62 Dormeuse (€2.000) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18723016_dormeuse-francia-o-piemonte-xix-secolo-noce-massello-e
Catalog 2, lot 78 Coppia di mantovane (€2.000) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18723048_coppia-di-mantovane-con-putti-musicanti-fine-800-legno
Catalog 2, lot 97 Arredo per stanza libreria (€1.500) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18723086_arredo-per-stanza-libreria-i-basi-e-specchiera
Catalog 2, lot 108 Fontana monumentale (€1.000) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18723108_fontana-monumentale-da-giardino-prodotta-dallazienda
ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE
