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Dieses 1918er Buntholz Red and Blue Chair von Gerard A. van de Groenekan, wird am 18. Juni bei der Quittenbaum Designauktion in München versteigert. Foto mit freundlicher Genehmigung von Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen.

Auction Talk Germany: Apple 1 prices spark exciting auction season

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf

This 1918 painted wood ‘Red and Blue Chair’ by Gerard A. van de Groenekan, will be auctioned June 18 at the Quittenbaum Design Auction in Munich. Photo courtesy Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen GmbH.

This 1918 painted wood ‘Red and Blue Chair’ by Gerard A. van de Groenekan, will be auctioned June 18 at the Quittenbaum Design Auction in Munich. Photo courtesy Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen GmbH.

COLOGNE, Germany – Finally warmth, green leaves and the spring auctions in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Auction houses continue to report strong results with a few surprises. Auction Team Breker, Cologne, broke their own record on May 25, selling one of six known functioning Apple 1 computers for $668,000 (€568,000). The 1976 model went to a buyer in Asia who preferred to remain anonymous. This smashes Breker’s own record of $640,000 (€492,000) for an Apple 1 in 2012.

At Sotheby’s in Geneva, Gina Lollobrigida’s pearl and diamond earrings sold for $2,391,321 (€1,843,449) on May 14. The white pearl drops, said to have once belonged to the House of Habsburg, set a new record for natural pearl pendant earrings.

At WestLicht in Vienna, a 1931 gilded Leica camera with reptile leather trim and two lenses sold for an impressive €528,000 ($688,974). It was the most expensive lot at their May 25 camera auction.

Dobiaschofsky, Bern, again reported strong prices at their spring Swiss art auction. A nude study by Félix Vallotton, Torse à l′étoffe bleue, was estimated at €90,000 ($117,424) and ended up fetching €190,000 ($247,895).

Van Ham had a surprise of a different kind, as an impostor Baroque table attributed to 17th century German furniture maker David Roentgen was discovered shortly before their May 18 auction. Department Director Christoph Bouillon expressed doubts over lot 1080, a gilded oval multipurpose table. Through consultation with an expert furniture restorer and use of the Datenbank kritischer Werke (an information source on forged artworks) founded by Van Ham Director Markus Eisenbeis, the table was exposed as a 21st century copy. The police were alerted and the furniture workshop where the modern day piece was made was quickly found. Its maker now faces charges.

Furniture by Abraham und David Roentgen is highly desirable, as the pair crafted exquisite pieces with marquetry patterns and secret drawers for noble families and kings. Museums consider themselves lucky to have Roentgen furniture in their collections. The forged table was estimated to sell for €60,000 to 80,000 ($77,690 to $103,585) if it had been an authentic Roentgen.

Upcoming Auctions:

Bassenge, Berlin, has a selection of U.S. space photography in their June 5 photography auction, including Neil Armstrong’s famous photo of astronaut Buzz Aldrin standing next to the American flag. June 5. www.Bassenge.com

Galerie Kornfeld, Bern, hosts a two-day sale June 13 and 14 with art of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Old Master works, prints, and artist autographs offered in cooperation with Moirandat Company, AG, Basel. www.kornfeld.ch

David Feldman has a specialty stamp auction June 13 and 14 in Geneva, with focus on Olympic stamps the second day of the sale. www.DavidFeldman.com

Auktionshaus Gut Bernstorf, Kranzberg, invites car lovers to an Oldtimer and Automobile Auction on June 15 at the Klassikwelt Bodensee. www.GutBernstorf.de

Quittenbaum’s offers a selection of post-World War II and contemporary furniture, lighting and art at their design auction on June 18. www.Quittenbaum.de

Koller Auktionen, Zurich, holds their spring auctions June 19-22, featuring jewelry and watches, art and design including Swiss art on June 21. www.KollerAuktionen.ch

Dr. Fischer Kunstauktionen holds their annual glass auction in Zwiesel on June 29. www.Auktions-Fischer.de

Auktionshaus Bloss, Merzhausen, holds an art and antiques auction on July 1 and 2. www.Bloss-Auktionen.de

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

This 1918 painted wood ‘Red and Blue Chair’ by Gerard A. van de Groenekan, will be auctioned June 18 at the Quittenbaum Design Auction in Munich. Photo courtesy Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen GmbH.

This 1918 painted wood ‘Red and Blue Chair’ by Gerard A. van de Groenekan, will be auctioned June 18 at the Quittenbaum Design Auction in Munich. Photo courtesy Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen GmbH.

This 1976 Apple 1, which originally sold for $666, set a record price of $668,000 (€568,000). Photo courtesy Auction Team Breker.

This 1976 Apple 1, which originally sold for $666, set a record price of $668,000 (€568,000). Photo courtesy Auction Team Breker.

Actress Gina Lollobrigida wearing the natural pearl drop earrings that set a record price at Sotheby’s Geneva. Photo courtesy Sotheby’s.
Actress Gina Lollobrigida wearing the natural pearl drop earrings that set a record price at Sotheby’s Geneva. Photo courtesy Sotheby’s.
Lot 1080, which caused a stir at Van Ham, was not, as first thought, an 18th century David Roentgen, but a forgery made by a modern-day cabinetmaker. Photo courtesy Van Ham.
Lot 1080, which caused a stir at Van Ham, was not, as first thought, an 18th century David Roentgen, but a forgery made by a modern-day cabinetmaker. Photo courtesy Van Ham.
A letter by artist Paul Gauguin from 1900, part of an auction of artists autographs at Galerie Kornfeld, Bern. Photo courtesy Galerie Kornfeld.
A letter by artist Paul Gauguin from 1900, part of an auction of artists autographs at Galerie Kornfeld, Bern. Photo courtesy Galerie Kornfeld.
Lot 445 at the upcoming Dr. Fischer Glass Auction in the Black Forest, a Louis Comfort Tiffany table lamp called ‘Pond Lily,’ circa 1900. Photo Courtesy Dr. Fischer Kunstauktionen.
Lot 445 at the upcoming Dr. Fischer Glass Auction in the Black Forest, a Louis Comfort Tiffany table lamp called ‘Pond Lily,’ circa 1900. Photo Courtesy Dr. Fischer Kunstauktionen.
Josef Hegenbarth’s 1949 ‘Menschen auf der Straβe’ is estimated at €4,500 ($5,873) at the June 8 sale at Schmidt Kunstauktionen, Dresden. Photo courtesy Schmidt.

Josef Hegenbarth’s 1949 ‘Menschen auf der Straβe’ is estimated at €4,500 ($5,873) at the June 8 sale at Schmidt Kunstauktionen, Dresden. Photo courtesy Schmidt.