Review 2011 (PDF 7MB) - Koller Auktionen

Dear Readers
2011 was for us a markedly successful auction year. Our family business not only ranks number one amongst the
Swiss auction houses, but is one of the auction houses with the strongest turnover in Europe.
We have at our disposal one of the broadest ranges of works at auction, from classic furniture, gems, porcelain and
silver to jewellery and wristwatches; from old master paintings, drawings, books and early manuscripts, to classic
modern art, Swiss art, design, carpets and Asian art - everything which meets the required standards.
The results achieved show not only that rare high quality paintings can reach record prices even in an uncertain
financial climate, but that traditional works such as 18th and 19th century furniture, old master paintings, 19th
century paintings and objects in silver and porcelain still attract high prices.
Swiss Art – World Records for Albert Anker
In 2011 we enjoyed great success with Swiss Art. Amongst the works by Albert Anker three different records
were broken: CHF 503 000 was paid by a collector for a charcoal drawing of a girl knitting – this is the highest
price ever paid for a drawing by this artist. Never have single portraits by Anker attracted such high prices as in
June, when two portraits of children, a boy and a girl, painted as a pair, were sold together for CHF 7.28 million.
At the end of the year, the painting “Die grosse Schwester” (the elder sister) made a spectacular 7.38 million,
clearly a world record for this Swiss artist. In addition we have a work by Giovanni Giacometti priced at CHF
1.63 million and CHF 572 000 for an early landscape painting by Ferdinand Hodler, which also far exceeded
expectations. With Swiss art alone in the past year we made a turnover of CHF 29 million.
Modern art – CHF 1.4 million for Pierre Auguste Renoir’s “Gabrielle”
A painting by Renoir from circa 1900 was sold to a Russian private collector for CHF 1.4 million. The final price
of CHF 549 000 for “Saint-Tropez. Le Hamac sous les Pins” is one of the highest ever made at auction for a work
by Henri Lebasque. René Magritte’s gouache “La Mémoire” made an outstanding CHF 871 000.
The highlight of the auction of Modern Prints was the sale of the woodcut “Wintermondnacht” by Ernst Ludwig
Kirchner. This was worth CHF 767 000 to an American collector and, according to the database artnet.com, this
is the fourth highest auction price for a Kirchner print worldwide.
Old Masters – World record for the pupil of Rembrandt, Jacques des Rousseaux
In March, with a well-conserved portrait by Jacques des Rousseaux, a pupil of Rembrandt, we made the sum of
CHF 526 000 which was also a world record for this artist. For many years we have regularly achieved top prices
for 17th century still lifes. The most recent example is the sum of CHF 228 000 for a floral painting by Elias van
den Broeck – also a record. The “Holy Family” was produced by the Antwerp artist known as the “Master of the
Mansi Magdalena” in the early 16th century and brought another world record in September with the price of
CHF 312 000.
Furniture – The Redding Collection
This year with 18th and 19th century furniture alone we have had a turnover of more than CHF 15 million. Few
auction houses can produce such a result in this sector. The highlight of the year was the auction of the renowned
Zurich dealer Richard Redding; his 140 objects reached top prices. Two large chandeliers of French provenance
which were offered in December sold to a European collector for CHF 612 000.
A Worldwide network – 8500 bidders, buyers from 58 countries
In the past year we held more than 30 auctions, many of them with special catalogues, and for which 8500 bidders
were registered. The works at auction were consigned from 26 countries and sold to 58.
We are proud of being one of the few auction houses worldwide of this size which reMayns in the hands of the
family of the founder and is still run by the family. At the same time, we have an international presence with
representative offices in Geneva, Munich, Düsseldorf, London, Moscow and Beijing, which ensures direct and
personal contact with our clientele throughout Europe.
We would be most pleased to be able to act on your behalf again in 2012.
With best regards
Cyril Koller