Since I had previously brought to your attention the fact that one of
the largest Durer auctions was occurring at Christies on Jan 29, 2013, I
thought I would publish some of the results, for some of the prices
really blew me away.
This auction realized over $6 million in sales. Not all of the
prints sold . Here are a few highlights of some of the surprises:
BUY THE BOOK! CRIMES IN THE ART: THE SECRET CIPHER OF ALBRECHT DÜRER
www.amazon.com/Crimes-Art-Secret-Cipher-Albrecht-ebook/dp/B00FNWKYMO
Price Realized
The ill-assorted Couple (B. 93; M., Holl. 77; S.M.S. 3)
This is a relatively rare image- $50,000
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium
Estimate $30,000 – $50,00
Lot Description
Albrecht Dürer
The ill-assorted Couple
(B. 93; M., Holl. 77; S.M.S. 3)
engraving, circa 1495, without watermark, a fine, dark Meder I a-b impression, printing with touches of burr and with wiping marks in the sky and elsewhere, with thread margins, trimmed to or on the platemark in places, the tip of the lower right corner made up, generally in good condition
P. 5 13/16 x 5 3/8 in. (148 x 137 mm.)
S. 5 7/8 x 5 3/8 in. (149 x 137 mm.)
The ill-assorted Couple
(B. 93; M., Holl. 77; S.M.S. 3)
engraving, circa 1495, without watermark, a fine, dark Meder I a-b impression, printing with touches of burr and with wiping marks in the sky and elsewhere, with thread margins, trimmed to or on the platemark in places, the tip of the lower right corner made up, generally in good condition
P. 5 13/16 x 5 3/8 in. (148 x 137 mm.)
S. 5 7/8 x 5 3/8 in. (149 x 137 mm.)
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, from: The Apocalypse (B. 64; M., Holl. 167; S.M.S. 115)
NOT EVEN A WORMHOLE DETERRED THIS BUYER!
Price Realized
- $290,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
Estimate
- $120,000 – $180,000
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, from: The Apocalypse
(B. 64; M., Holl. 167; S.M.S. 115)
woodcut, circa 1497-98, watermark Imperial Orb (M. 53), a brilliant Meder b proof impression before the German and Latin text editions of 1498, printing with great contrasts and clarity, much relief showing verso, with 10-27 mm. margins, with the usual horizontal drying crease mostly visible verso, a small wormhole in the lower cloud at right, otherwise in excellent condition
B. 15¼ x 11 1/16 in. (388 x 280 mm.)
S. 16 7/8 x 12 in. (428 x 305 mm.)
(B. 64; M., Holl. 167; S.M.S. 115)
woodcut, circa 1497-98, watermark Imperial Orb (M. 53), a brilliant Meder b proof impression before the German and Latin text editions of 1498, printing with great contrasts and clarity, much relief showing verso, with 10-27 mm. margins, with the usual horizontal drying crease mostly visible verso, a small wormhole in the lower cloud at right, otherwise in excellent condition
B. 15¼ x 11 1/16 in. (388 x 280 mm.)
S. 16 7/8 x 12 in. (428 x 305 mm.)
The Bathhouse (B. 128; M., Holl. 266; S.M.S. 107)
Apparently someone has been reading my book and this website! Paper splits didn’t even matter.
Price Realized
- $182,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium
Estimate
- $100,000 – $150,000
The Bathhouse
(B. 128; M., Holl. 266; S.M.S. 107)
woodcut, circa 1496-97, watermark Imperial Orb (M. 53), a very fine, rare lifetime impression, Meder b, with small margins, a short repaired paper split at centre right into the neck of the drinking man, with some associated pale staining, generally in very good condition
B. 15 3/8 x 11 1/16 in. (390 x 282 mm.)
S. 15½ x 11¼ in. (393 x 286 mm.)
(B. 128; M., Holl. 266; S.M.S. 107)
woodcut, circa 1496-97, watermark Imperial Orb (M. 53), a very fine, rare lifetime impression, Meder b, with small margins, a short repaired paper split at centre right into the neck of the drinking man, with some associated pale staining, generally in very good condition
B. 15 3/8 x 11 1/16 in. (390 x 282 mm.)
S. 15½ x 11¼ in. (393 x 286 mm.)
Four naked Women (B. 75; M., Holl. 69; S.M.S. 17)
And I haven’t even started writing about the secrets in this print
$80,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.
Estimate
- $30,000 – $50,000
Four naked Women
(B. 75; M., Holl. 69; S.M.S. 17)
engraving, 1497, without watermark, a fine, early impression, probably Meder a, printing with burr and tone in the sphere and elsewhere, trimmed inside the platemark but retaining a fillet of blank paper in places outside the borderline, a few tiny nicks at the sheet edges, otherwise in good condition
S. 7 3/8 x 5¼ in. (187 x 133 mm.)
(B. 75; M., Holl. 69; S.M.S. 17)
engraving, 1497, without watermark, a fine, early impression, probably Meder a, printing with burr and tone in the sphere and elsewhere, trimmed inside the platemark but retaining a fillet of blank paper in places outside the borderline, a few tiny nicks at the sheet edges, otherwise in good condition
S. 7 3/8 x 5¼ in. (187 x 133 mm.)
The Dream of the Doctor (B. 76; M., Holl. 70; S.M.S. 18)
But I did write about the meaning of this print, which used to be a rather obscure ignored print at auction. No longer. This may be a world record now. People are listening
Price Realized
- $206,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.
Estimate
- $80,000 – $120,000
The Dream of the Doctor
(B. 76; M., Holl. 70; S.M.S. 18)
engraving, circa 1498, without watermark, a very fine, rich and black Meder a-b impression, with burr in the darkest areas, printing with very faint wiping marks below, trimmed inside the platemark on three sides but retaining a fillet of blank paper outside the borderline, trimmed on or just inside the platemark above, in excellent condition
S. 7 3/8 x 4 5/8 in. (187 x 118 mm.)
engraving, circa 1498, without watermark, a very fine, rich and black Meder a-b impression, with burr in the darkest areas, printing with very faint wiping marks below, trimmed inside the platemark on three sides but retaining a fillet of blank paper outside the borderline, trimmed on or just inside the platemark above, in excellent condition
S. 7 3/8 x 4 5/8 in. (187 x 118 mm.)
Coat of Arms with a Skull (B. 101; M., Holl. 98; S.M.S. 37)
Another surprise. This print has always been famous, I wonder what the buyer would think knowing it’s about syphilis
Price Realized
- $338,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.
Estimate
- $250,000 – $350,000
Coat of Arms with a Skull
(B. 101; M., Holl. 98; S.M.S. 37)
engraving, 1503, without watermark, a magnificent, early Meder a impression, printing with sparkling contrasts and utmost clarity and subtlety, with touches of burr in the scrollwork and elsewhere, trimmed to or just inside the platemark but retaining a fillet of blank paper outside the borderline on all sides, in excellent condition
S. 8 7/8 x 6 5/16 in. (225 x 160 mm.)
(B. 101; M., Holl. 98; S.M.S. 37)
engraving, 1503, without watermark, a magnificent, early Meder a impression, printing with sparkling contrasts and utmost clarity and subtlety, with touches of burr in the scrollwork and elsewhere, trimmed to or just inside the platemark but retaining a fillet of blank paper outside the borderline on all sides, in excellent condition
S. 8 7/8 x 6 5/16 in. (225 x 160 mm.)
Adam and Eve (B., M,. Holl. 1; S.M.S. 39)
Never a surprise what Adam and Eva sells for. If they only knew it’s real meaning.
Price Realized $662,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.
Estimate
- $300,000 – $500,000
(B., M,. Holl. 1; S.M.S. 39)
engraving, 1504, watermark Bull’s Head (M. 62), a very fine Meder IIa impression, printing very clearly and with good contrasts, trimmed on or just inside the platemark but retaining a fillet of blank paper on all sides, a horizontal crease, partially split at Adam’s right thigh but mostly visible verso, otherwise in very good condition
S. 9 15/16 x 7 11/16 in. (252 x 195 mm.)
engraving, 1504, watermark Bull’s Head (M. 62), a very fine Meder IIa impression, printing very clearly and with good contrasts, trimmed on or just inside the platemark but retaining a fillet of blank paper on all sides, a horizontal crease, partially split at Adam’s right thigh but mostly visible verso, otherwise in very good condition
S. 9 15/16 x 7 11/16 in. (252 x 195 mm.)
Saint Eustace (B. 57; M., Holl. 60; S.M.S. 32)
This may have been a world record.
Price Realized
- $722,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium
Saint Eustace
(B. 57; M., Holl. 60; S.M.S. 32)
engraving, circa 1501, watermark High Crown (M. 20), a superb, early Meder b impression, very rich and black, yet printing with astonishing clarity, with burr in the trees and elsewhere, with thread margins on three sides, trimmed on or just within the platemark below but retaining a fillet of blank paper outside the subject, laid down along the edges onto an 18th century album sheet, a small surface abrasion on the muzzle of the second dog from the right, generally in very good, original condition
P. 14 x 10¼ in. (357 x 260 mm.)
S. 14 1/8 x 10 15/16 in. (358 x 262 mm.)
(B. 57; M., Holl. 60; S.M.S. 32)
engraving, circa 1501, watermark High Crown (M. 20), a superb, early Meder b impression, very rich and black, yet printing with astonishing clarity, with burr in the trees and elsewhere, with thread margins on three sides, trimmed on or just within the platemark below but retaining a fillet of blank paper outside the subject, laid down along the edges onto an 18th century album sheet, a small surface abrasion on the muzzle of the second dog from the right, generally in very good, original condition
P. 14 x 10¼ in. (357 x 260 mm.)
S. 14 1/8 x 10 15/16 in. (358 x 262 mm.)
Melencolia I (B. 74; M., Holl. 75; S.M.S. 71)
Without a watermark even!
Price Realized
- $530,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium
Estimate
- $400,000 – $600,000
Melencolia I
(B. 74; M., Holl. 75; S.M.S. 71)
engraving, 1514, without watermark, a very fine, rich Meder IIa impression, printing very darkly in the shadows, on a large sheet with wide margins, with inky plate edges in places, with a horizontal central crease, mostly visible in the margins and verso, some pale scattered foxing in the margins, in excellent condition
P. 9 3/8 x 7 7/16 in. (239 x 189 mm.)
S. 13 3/8 x 10 5/8 in. (341 x 270 mm.)
engraving, 1514, without watermark, a very fine, rich Meder IIa impression, printing very darkly in the shadows, on a large sheet with wide margins, with inky plate edges in places, with a horizontal central crease, mostly visible in the margins and verso, some pale scattered foxing in the margins, in excellent condition
P. 9 3/8 x 7 7/16 in. (239 x 189 mm.)
S. 13 3/8 x 10 5/8 in. (341 x 270 mm.)
Saint Jerome in his Study (B. 60; M., Holl. 59; S.M.S. 70)
Close to the world record. Check out the secret of the lion.
Price Realized
- $362,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium
Estimate
- $300,000 – $500,000
Saint Jerome in his Study
(B. 60; M., Holl. 59; S.M.S. 70)
engraving, 1514, without watermark, a very fine, bright Meder a impression, printing with remarkable clarity, with margins, in excellent condition
P. 9 13/16 x 7½ in. (249 x 190 mm.)
S. 10 3/8 x 7 7/8 in. (264 x 200 mm.)
(B. 60; M., Holl. 59; S.M.S. 70)
engraving, 1514, without watermark, a very fine, bright Meder a impression, printing with remarkable clarity, with margins, in excellent condition
P. 9 13/16 x 7½ in. (249 x 190 mm.)
S. 10 3/8 x 7 7/8 in. (264 x 200 mm.)
The Rhinoceros (B. 136; M., Holl. 241; S.M.S. 241)
THIS IS THE ONE THAT BLEW MY MIND! I believe this is a world record.
Durer made this print as a souvenir print about this sensational creature that was brought to Europe, equivalent to freak images published in the National Enquirer. He had done the same with the Monstrous Pig of Landser in 1496. Alas, the rhino drowned when the ship carrying it sank.
Price Realized
- $866,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium .
Estimate
- $100,000 – $150,000
The Rhinoceros
(B. 136; M., Holl. 241; S.M.S. 241)
woodcut with letterpress text, 1515, watermark Anchor in Circle (M. 171), a very good impression of this rare and important woodcut, first edition (of eight), with the complete letterpress text above, with thread margins or trimmed to the borderline at left and right, trimmed just inside the borderline below and to the text above, a small abrasion in the monogram, otherwise in good condition
(B. 136; M., Holl. 241; S.M.S. 241)
woodcut with letterpress text, 1515, watermark Anchor in Circle (M. 171), a very good impression of this rare and important woodcut, first edition (of eight), with the complete letterpress text above, with thread margins or trimmed to the borderline at left and right, trimmed just inside the borderline below and to the text above, a small abrasion in the monogram, otherwise in good condition
Saint Anthony reading (B. 58; M., Holl. 51; S.M.S. 87)
One of Durer’s Hungarian Trophies.
Price Realized
- $386,500
- Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium
Estimate
- $100,000 – $150,000
Saint Anthony reading
(B. 58; M., Holl. 51; S.M.S. 87)
engraving, 1519, without watermark, a superb Meder a impression, with narrow margins, in excellent condition
P. 3 7/8 x 5 5/8 in. (99 x 143 mm.)
S. 4 3/8 x 5¾ in. (111 x 146 mm.)
For more about this topic, please go through http://www.albrechtdurerblog.com/.
engraving, 1519, without watermark, a superb Meder a impression, with narrow margins, in excellent condition
P. 3 7/8 x 5 5/8 in. (99 x 143 mm.)
S. 4 3/8 x 5¾ in. (111 x 146 mm.)
For more about this topic, please go through http://www.albrechtdurerblog.com/.
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