Beauty, and value, is in the eye of the beholder. The magic of auctions is sometimes you get a coveted item at a steep discount, and other times buyers pay far more than expected for hidden treasures. On April 23, Palm Beach Modern held its Spring 2022 auction, featuring over 560 lots of contemporary art, design, jewelry, fashion and more.
Palm Beach Modern Auctions is a boutique auction house specializing in 20th century art, furniture, and decorative arts based in West Palm Beach. Consigning with Palm Beach Modern Auctions is easy, all one has to do is send in a photo of their item and complete a form, before shipping it in a month or two prior to auction. Here are a few of the most noteworthy lots that sold at Palm Beach Modern Auctions last month for far above their estimates.
The most expensive sold lot of the sale was also a surprise, selling for four times its high estimate. This floral still life by David Bates titled Oriental Lilies was estimated at $30,000-50,000 and ultimately was hammered for $200,000. Bates' bold figural work is found in the collections of esteemed museums including the Whitney, the Smithsonian and the Met.
Israel abstract and kinetic artist Yaacob Agam was represented in the sale with a colorful acrylic on aluminum wall sculpture titled Paris. Originally estimated at $80,000-120,000, its next owner took it home for $160,000.
Andy Warhol's prints are icons of pop art and continue to draw high bids. This complete collection included all ten works from Warhol's 1986 "Cowboys & Indians" series featuring portraits of John Wayne, Annie Oakley, General Custer, Northwest Coast Mask, Kachina dolls, Plains Indian Shield, Mother and Child, Geronimo, Indian Head Nickel and Teddy Roosevelt. The screenprints are stamped on reverse "copyrighted Andy Warhol 1986. Publisher: Gaultney-Klineman Art, New York." Originally estimated at $3,000-5,000, the set sold for $22,000.
Another 10-part collection of high-achieving screen prints were by Josef Albers. The ten color screenprints from the "Homage to the Square" suite and the portfolio cover of 1962 sold for $75,000, surpassing its $40,000-60,000 pre-auction estimate.
Learn more about consigning at Palm Beach Modern Auctions and keep an eye on their upcoming sales here.