The results of the second live online (“live in an empty room”) auction without physical presence of bidders in the room, with three digital sales platforms Invaluable, Drouotlive and bernaerts.live once again proved that online live bidding is well established. This time the exhibition was physically accessible via timeslots and those interested received extra photos and condition reports on the request of our experts. This 'Journey around the world 'auction with artifacts from all over the world was also promoted via videos on Bernaerts' YouTube channel and via social media (FB & Instagram).
A short chronological overview with hammer prices (excl. 28% commission for online bids and 22 (or 23%) for telephone or absentee bids).
Art & Antiques
There was 'Columbus sets foot in America' by Karel van Belle, a canvas from 1928 (dim.: 145 x 370 cm), commissioned by an Antwerp shipowner family, which was sold at € 19000, or six times it's estimate. A few nation horses (est .: 3/4000 euros) of Georg Hendrik Breitner left the room for € 2800 and also five so-called 'Congo' paintings by the Antwerp artist Floris Jespers found a new owners. Coming from an esteemed Brussels collection and dating from the early 1950s, they sold for € 2600, € 5600, € 6600, € 8000 and € 9500 respectively (lots 133, 135, 136, 137 and 134).
A pair of six-armed Thomire candlesticks (lot 14) sold on the phone for € 5,000, and a sculpture, “Obédience” in Carrara marble by 19th-century Italian sculptor Lombardi (lot 32), changed owner for € 8,000.
Emile Vloors, Emile, detail, res.: € 6400
Of Emile Vloors featured an unknown canvas, estimated at 800-1200 euros. The allegorical representation of Spring (lot 87) climbed to no less than € 6400.
“June”, a bronze sculpture of a seated nude by Jan Keustermans (° 1940) sold at € 3600 (lot 107) while also Joseph Cantré's sculptures (lots 108-109) were also tasted. Other prizes: Paul Mathieu (lot 112, € 5500), Fernand Toussaint (lot 90, € 4000), Franz Courtens (lot 65, € 3600).
Ethnography & Asian Art
An unseen ensemble of about 60 'ghurras' (or churn stick holders) was hammered on Tuesday afternoon, June 23. These extremely charming Nepalese wooden tools look modern and contemporary, but with their decoration and design they carry the Hindou belief of the creation of the earth. A detailed description of each lot can still be found in the catalog, based on the elaborate work of the original collector, mr. De Smedt.
The pieces all went between € 100 and € 1200 each, few were retained.
Some African sculptures were mainly sold through Drouotonline, among others. Two female Baoulé figures from Ivory Coast (lot 345-344) went for € 3200 and € 2200 and a female Suku figure from Congo (lot 355) got € 2600. But the surprise from this session came from the Asian corner. A partly gold lacquered bronze Manushi Buddha Sakyamuni, probably 17th century Sino-Tibetan work, went back to its place of origin for € 24000 (lot 304).
Work on Paper
On Wednesday June 24, some nice prizes were noted for literary publications, editions, prints and drawings. For example, the manuscript “Voyage and Italy” by Charles Van Lerberghe (lot 1026) went for € 3000, a first edition of “Théâtre des Fantôche” with handwritten dedication by the same, made € 3200 (lot 1027). “Les Flamandes” by Emile Verhaeren (lot 1025) moved to a new library for € 1700 while an extremely rare gem from Max Elskamp, ”Les sept oeuvres de miséricorde” (lot 1029) was hammered at € 3400. “Bezette Stad” by Paul Van Ostaijen (lot 1040) turned out to be worth € 1700 and the masterpiece “Junkieverdriet” by Jotie “t Hooft, published in 1976, with handwritten dedication (lot 1050) € 2800.
A portrait by Roger Raveel, in colored pencil and gouache, estimated around € 5000 sold smoothly for € 8000 (lot 1205), a lithograph by Pierre Soulages (lot 1219) sold at € 4800 and 'Composition' by Zao Wou-Ki from 1978 (lot 1223) at € 2,000.
Roger Raveel, détail, res.: €8000
Other prizes: Pomology (lot 1003, est .: € 400/500, res. € 2600), Thierry De Cordier (lot 1054, res. € 1300), Walls Paper by Gordon Matta Clark (lot 1085, res. € 1400) , logbook Red Star Line 1925-26 (lot 1118, res. € 550), 'La cathédrale' by James Ensor (lot 1140, res. € 2400), Eugeen Van Mieghem (pastel, lot 1189, res. € 5000).
The six late 19th century photo albums with numerous original views in Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia captivated numerous international bidders who pushed it all to a stunning result of € 144,000 (lots 1122-1127).
Six late 19th. century photobooks with views in the Far East, Japan and Australia. Res.: € 144000