Nobody wanted to let the etching of a world-class German artist slip through their fingers at “Bares für Rares”. Just to be on the safe side, Horst Lichter asked his expert again whether the picture was art at all…
The seller inherited the work of art from her grandfather, who was a painter himself and “left us some graphics!” The expert Bianca Berding was impressed by the drypoint etching by the “extraordinarily prominent German painter, sculptor and graphic artist Max Beckmann”.
The artist, who was born in 1884, was born in 1884 with his expressive and figure-heavy style, which can also be clearly seen in the present etching, the expert explained. His garish, expressive pictures “tell about his horrible experiences as a medical soldier in the First World War,” says Berding.
The etching with the title “Two Autooffizier” number 15 is part of a portfolio with a total of 19 pictures. Paul Cassirer is shown on the far right, “one of the best-known and busiest gallerists in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century, if not in all of Europe,” said Berding. In 1907 Beckmann had his first exhibition there.
The portfolio was published in 1919 in an edition of 100 and is “actively traded”, the expert continued. The couple asked for 1,500 euros for this specimen in good condition. According to Berding, “It will be very, very expensive once the complete portfolio is available. That achieves between 50,000 and 60,000 euros!”
“Ohha!” Lights was amazed at the high price for the complete work. But Berding did not appraise much more than the desired price for the individual sheet: 1,100 to 1,600 euros. It only remained to be seen how much dealers were willing to pay for an etching by the world-famous artist.
In any case, Friedrich Häusser first had to decipher the artist’s name: “I read Beckmann or Keckmann!” the dealer struggled in the close-up of the etching on handmade paper. After the painter’s name had been clarified, Wolfgang Pauritsch started with a bid of 300 euros. But that was quickly outbid.
Walter Lehnertz and Julian Schmitz-Avila drove the price up to 600 euros. But the others did not remain silent either. “Now everyone has submitted at least one bid. That’s strong!” Pauritsch murmured. And the end was still not in sight. Because Susanne Steiger also threatened: “I’ll give you two too!” and raised it to 700 euros.
“I didn’t want it, but I’ll put it in four figures: 1,000 euros!” announced Schmitz-Avila. But his pain threshold was probably not yet reached. Because in the exchange of blows with Pauritsch, the price continued to climb. “No bad bids, eh!” Pauritsch joked with the seller, who countered calmly: “It’s not a bad picture either!”
Added to this was the good condition of the etching and of course the name Beckmann, so that Schmitz-Avila was the last to bid 1,400 euros. However, the seller hesitated to accept the bid. Actually, they had hoped for something more. But in the end “it’s a fair price” and Schmitz-Avila was happy about a Beckmann. “Wow, what a name!”
Another item on the show, a mariage ring with diamonds, was sold to dealer Susanne Steiger for 1,100 euros. According to Wendela Horz, “the shape and setting of the ring head indicated that it was a button from 1800.” Horz estimated it at 700 to 900 euros, slightly higher than the asking price of 600 euros.
A postcard with autographs from the Borussia Dortmund team from 1955 was estimated by Detlev Kümmel as “an authentic testimony!” at 100 to 150 euros. The desired price was 70 euros, Julian Schmitz-Avila even paid 170 euros as a self-confessed BVB fan.
An Art Nouveau vase by Julian Dressler, who founded his well-known Bohemian ceramics company in 1880, was appraised by Bianca Berding at between 200 and 250 euros. The seller of the faience piece from 1900 only wanted 50 euros. Dealer Wolfgang Pauritsch paid 400 euros because of the beautiful color gradient.
According to expert Wendela Horz, a jewelry watch made of platinum in the Art Deco style from the period between 1920 and 1940 was only worth 800 euros. Although the seller wanted her watch to be worth 1,500 euros, she still accepted the retailer’s card. Because the watch was only in the safe at home. Dealer Susanne Steiger paid 750 euros
A designer lamp from the 1970s with the model name “Pipistrello” was designed in 1965 by the Italian architect Gae Aulenti. The desired price of 500 euros was increased to up to 600 euros by expert Detlev Kümmel. Dealer Friedrich Häusser bought the lamp for 450 euros.
This article was written by Natalie Cada
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The original of this post “Bares for Rares”: Horst Lichter questions the work of a famous artist” comes from Teleschau.
