Private Collections Featuring Works by Warhol, Calder, Bertoia and More Come to Auction at Freema...
09/30/2014 News and Film
On November 2, several private collections featuring works by Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Harry Bertoia, Jean Dubuffet, and Lynda Benglis, among others, will hit the auction block at Freeman 's Modern & Contemporary Art sale.Estimated at $250,000-400,000, Warhol 's “Campbell 's Soup I,” a complete set of ten screenprints, is the centerpiece of the auction. The screenprints were purchased directly from the artist during one of their first showings at Leo Castelli 's gallery in 1968 by Lois Cowles Harrison, most recently of Lakeland, Florida. The daughter of famed Warhol collector Gardner Cowles Jr., who was the founder and publisher of Look Magazine, Cowles Harrison was an avid and early collector of Warhol and other Pop artists. The Soupcans were prominently displayed in her home alongside other top examples of Pop Art graphics and were clearly among the most prized works in her collection. Two other Warhol screenprints from the Lois Cowles Harrison Collection both entitled “Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn)” are estimated at $150,000-250,000 and $60,000-100,000, respectively.Another highlight, “Bushy Tailed-Red,” by Alexander Calder is estimated at $200,000-300,000 and comes from the collection of Mr. & Mrs. Béla Kalman of Boston. A successful commercial photographer whose work was seen in Life Magazine and the New York Times Magazine, Mr. Kalman was also a patron of the arts and penned eleven books, his last on Matisse.More than 30 works from the collection of Nell Day Surber, who was said to be one of “the most powerful women in Cincinnati,” will come to auction as well. Once the city 's director of economic development, Ms. Surber also owned an apartment in New York City. Surber had a great love of the New York art scene and frequented museums and art galleries. Over time, she developed a diverse collection of art ranging from early 1950 's abstraction and 60 's Pop Art to minimalist prints and cutting edge contemporary sculpture. Certain works, including Jean Dubuffet 's Site de Memoir ($30,000-50,000) and Lynda Benglis ' twisted “Graham Hollywood” ($60,000-100,000), reveal a woman who was also drawn to large-scale, bold artistic statements.Last but not least, Freeman 's is also pleased to offer three standout sculptures by Harry Bertoia. The large-scale “Willow” ($30,000-50,000) and the smaller “Bush (Gold Knobs)” ($18,000-25,000) come from a prominent Philadelphia estate, and Sonambient Sculpture ($70,000-100,000), consigned from a private Philadelphia collection, round out the auction.Notable Lots from Freeman 's November 2 Modern & Contemporary Art sale: Lot 104: ANDY WARHOL, (AMERICAN, 1928-1987),"CAMPBELL'S SOUP I," THE COMPLETE SET OF TEN PRINTS, 1968, Estimate: $250,000-400,000 Lot 59: ALEXANDER CALDER, (AMERICAN, 1898-1976), "BUSHY-TAILED RED," 1966, Estimate: $200,000-300,000Lot 102: ANDY WARHOL, (AMERICAN, 1928-1987) "MARILYN MONROE (MARILYN)" 1967, Estimate: $150,000-250,000Lot 65: HARRY BERTOIA, (AMERICAN, 1915-1978), SONAMBIENT SCULPTURE, Estimate: $70,000-100,000Lot 103: ANDY WARHOL, (AMERICAN, 1928-1987), "MARILYN MONROE (MARILYN)," 1967, Estimate: $60,000-100,000Lot 137: LYNDA BENGLIS, (AMERICAN, B. 1941), "GRAHAM HOLLYWOOD" FROM "STARS AND CARS," 1987, Estimate: $60,000-100,000Lot 114: JEAN DUBUFFET, (FRENCH, 1901-1985), "SITE DE MEMOIRE II," Estimate: $30,000-50,000Lot 70: HARRY BERTOIA, (AMERICAN, 1915-1978), "WILLOW," Estimate: $30,000-50,000Lot 68: HARRY BERTOIA, (AMERICAN, 1915-1978), "BUSH (GOLD KNOBS),” 1960. Estimate: $18,000-25,000The Modern & Contemporary Art preview will take place at 1808 Chestnut Street, with viewing times as follows: October 29-31, 2014: 10am-5pm November 1, 2014: 12pm-5pm November 2, 2014: Limited viewing prior to the auctionFor image requests or further media inquiries, please contact: Melissa Geller | 267.414.1228 | mgeller@freemansauction.com Print catalogues may be purchased online or by calling 267-414-1256.