Copenhagen –The CoBrA Sale at Bruun Rasmussen achieved a total result of more than 6 million euros (Tuesday 6 December). Auction world record prices were achieved for works by Corneille and Stephen Gilbert.
One of the highlights of the evening was the sale of a painting by the Dutch artist Corneille. After a long bidding battle followed by thunderous applause, L’Orchestre de Jazz Be Bop (Hommage à Charlie Parker) achieved €532,401, more than three times its low estimate (estimate: €150,000 to 200,000), making it a world record for a work by the artist sold at auction. Another painting by Corneille entitled Peinture dated 1952 achieved €354,934, the second highest price for a work by the artist.
Another world record was achieved for a work sold at auction with a 1948 oil on canvas by Scottish artist Stephen Gilbert which achieved €81,600 against an estimate of €10,000 to €13,500. Exhibited at the Salon des Surindépendants in Paris in 1948, this painting attracted the attention of Danish artist Asger Jorn, who suggested that Stephen Gilbert join the CoBrA group. He participated in the first edition of the group’s journal and was involved in the two major exhibitions: the Bregnerød Congress in August 1949, and the exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam where he collaborated with Constant Nieuwenhuys.
Niels Raben, Head of Bruun Rasmussen’s Modern and Contemporary Paintings department, said: ” We are delighted to have achieved record prices for Corneille and Stephen Gilbert. This sale shows that paintings by the CoBrA Group are still sought-after by collectors throughout Europe. The sale also created a synergy between Bonhams’ European offices and salerooms in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and finally Copenhagen.”
Other highlights of the 120-lot sale included:
- Le forgeron aveugle – d’un mythe muet by Asger Jorn, which had never been on the market before, sold for €372,680. A 1958 painting by Dutch artist Karel Appel entitled Grosses Tier verschlingt kleines Tier (The large animal swallows the small one), exhibited at the 22nd Venice Biennale in 1964 and from a private collection, sold for €293,900.
- A 1966 oil on canvas by Belgian artist Pierre Alechinsky entitled Au Tholonet achieved €293,900. Another work by Alechinsky entitled Bronzes de Toiture (1981) fetched € 161,400.
- The plaster sculpture by Sonja Ferlov Mancoba, one of the few female artists of the CoBrA movement, made €51,609 with an estimate of €13,000-17,000.
More CoBrA at Online Auction
Tuesday’s CoBrA auction will be followed by an Online Auction until 13 December from 6 pm. View the offered CoBrA works at the Online Auction: https://bruun-rasmussen.dk/m/auctions/1007390
