November and December 2010

500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe ~ King Street ~ 4 November

The November 500 Years of Decorative Arts Europe sale will offer over 100 lots with estimates ranging from £3,000 to £200,000. The auction will mostly feature early European furniture, sculptures and tapestries. Highlights include an important piece of Flemish tapestry which depicts the Annunciation, when Archangel Gabriel communicated to Mary that she was bearing the child of God, (estimate: £150,000 - £250,000). A superb North Italian ivory and mother of pearl walnut table is estimated to realise £60,000 to £100,000. The second European Decorative Arts sale of the month at King Street, on 18th November, will be dominated by 18th century English furniture, as well as providing a good cross section of traditional English long-case and table clocks.

September and October 2010

Nineteen to Now ~ Amsterdam ~ 7 September

The forthcoming Nineteen to Now sale will offer a comprehensive selection of stunning paintings, watercolours and drawings dating from 1800 up to the present day. Christie’s is honoured to offer 40 prints within the sale from the private collection of the now retiring master printer, Marcel Kalksma. Kalksma wanted to capitalise on the interaction between the artist and the printer, i.e. himself, and started his own company, The Expedition; a name which symbolized the work modus he envisioned for the enterprise. More often than not, it was he who approached artists he thought interesting and this pro-active tactic rapidly found response with the likes of Marlene Dumas, Joris Geurts, Constant, Jef Diederen and Erik Andriessen. Working so closely with artists and playing such a decisive part in the process, Kalksma found freedom and limitless possibilities in the technique; rather than going for a certain trademark style that people would recognise he interacted with the artist without adding his personal touch;  “I always wanted to be the invisible man.” Illustrated left - Marlene Dumas’ Praying (estimate: €1,500-2,000).

April - June 2010

Registering and bidding at auction
http://www.christies.com/features/guides/buying/register-bid.aspx