Illusory and elusive, Dresden ornaments still charm 100 years later

“People are always so surprised when I show them the tree with the Dresdens and then tell them they are made of paper,” said Bill Steely, collector and publicity chairman for The Golden Glow of Christmas Past, an international collectors club based in Bridgeton, New Jersey.

The small (2-3 inch) ornaments are an elaborate hand-made ruse of embossed paper, gilded or silvered and sometimes painted, with lacy edgings and textural designs so deceiving they look like repoussé metal. But they are actually hollow, fragile ornaments made of many pieces of embossed paper cut and fitted precisely together, then painted with detailed care. The nimble fingers that made these lovely creations belonged to women and children or whole families who lived in or near Dresden, Germany, from 1880 to 1914.

At the time, eastern Germany was a hotbed of ornament production. F.W. Woolworth made his early fortune by visiting Lauscha in Thuringia to bring back colored glass ornaments that subsequently sold out at his US stores. Ornaments of painted, pressed cotton were also made there. In the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) miners and their families spent the winter carving nutcrackers and other decorations. Families in nearby Sebnitz assembled charming ornaments using scraps of fabric and wire.

“It was the Industrial Revolution. The Germans had developed glass-blowing techniques, like using a gas flame that burned hotter and made finer glass. Their chromolithography printing techniques were highly advanced, using up to 28 different plates. And they developed special die presses for making the paper parts of the Dresdens,” noted Steely.

A damp sheet of heavy paper was loaded into the concave part of the press, with the convex pattern die pressed down on top of it. Soon, out popped the rounded side of a horse, or half the side of a dirigible, or half a French horn on its way to being a three-dimensional Dresden ornament. Some Dresdens, called “flats” were two-dimensional and embossed only on one side. Some of the flats were embossed on two sides, with the two embossed halves glued together.

The die embossing press had the advantage of making many, many identical parts at once. Families then came to the 9 or 10 factories in Dresden and Leipzig to collect the parts for home assembly.

“Each family made a small amount (of Dresdens), yet they were produced in large quantities,” noted Steely. “They were paid very little and had to work quickly.”

Even so, the factories got back ornaments of a superb quality. At the time, the Dresdens were the most expensive among the German ornaments. Not everyone could afford them, and many were exported to other countries, including Great Britain and the United States.

Motifs for the Dresden ornaments seem endless. They include insects and animals of the land, sea and sky, both wild and domestic; enough musical instruments to form an orchestra; popular modes of early 20th century transportation including carriages, sleighs and bicycles, steam ships, trains and the new-fangled automobile; figures such as angels and horseback riders; and whimsical objects like clocks, pipes, opera glasses, boots and Champagne bottles.

“They were not just used as Christmas tree ornaments,” said Steely. “They were used on invitations and as place cards with a person’s name on them. Some opened and had a little paper candy bag inside for candy or a small gift. And some were made as crackers, but very few of these exist.”

With the start of World War I in 1914, the production of Dresdens was interrupted. Although they were made again after the war, the level of quality was never the same. If there is one Dresden ornament that seems to signal the end of their era, it is the Dresden shaped like a rather drab World War I tank.

“Collectors value the earlier Dresdens for their artistry,” noted Steely.

As a collector, Steely says his favorite Dresdens are a painted ram’s head with a candy bag, and a chameleon painted in iridescent colors. Although he collects other types of Christmas decorations, he especially enjoys hanging the Dresdens on a Christmas tree each year. When not shining from his tree, his Dresdens are packed carefully away in tissue paper and boxes.

As well they should be. The fragile paper ornaments have survived many Christmases. The overall supply of Dresdens has been depleted with use and time. But demand for them is increasing. Stumbling upon one for a bargain price at a flea market doesn’t happen anymore.

“I haven’t been so lucky,” noted Steely. “There’s a big demand for Dresdens in the American market.”

He cited Bertoia Auctions and Morphy Auctions – both auction-house partners with LiveAuctioneers.com – as good sources for collectors. He also searches for Dresdens in specialty antique shops and at the annual Golden Glow convention. Collectors can start out at $25 (€19) for a simple flat, advancing to hundreds of dollars for a three-dimensional ornament. Very rare examples can sell for over $10,000 (€7,700).

“At the convention collectors buy, trade and sell,” said Steely. “Because we have collectors of many different kinds of Christmas decorations, during this four-day time period we say it is the largest collection of Christmas anywhere in the world.”

For more information on Dresdens and other types of German Christmas ornaments, visit www.GoldenGlow.org

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Auction Talk Germany: Antiquing in Vienna

Gustav Mahler left Romanticism behind with his new compositions. Sigmund Freud opened a door into the unconscious mind. And the Sucessionist artists, headed by Gustav Klimt, broke away from dusty academic traditions to clear new pathways in art. The flowing line of Jugendstil traveled like a fresh breeze through architecture, typography and furnishings. The Wiener Werkstätte gifted even everyday objects with artistic importance. Art and intellectualism flourished in this café culture.

So much of this legacy can be discovered in Vienna’s antique shops, auction houses and flea markets. The historic city center is clearly St. Stephan’s Cathedral, which comes into view as you walk up Kärntner Strasse. Even there you can find one of the Dorotheum’s many retail shops for estate jewelry, porcelain and silver. But if you walk a few blocks away from the busloads of tourists into the narrower Dorotheergasse, you find the venerable old auction house. Started as a pawn shop in 1707, the company has expanded to include international offices and hosts about 600 auctions per year, selling everything from fine art to classic cars. The surrounding neighborhood is peppered with antique shops.

“We usually recommend Dorotheergasse, Spiegelgasse, Bräunerstraße and Stallburggasse if people are looking for antiques,” noted Cornelia Pirka of the Vienna Tourist Board.

Shop windows in this neighborhood area are so loaded with the remnants of yesteryear that the sparkle of crystal, flash of tarnished bronze and richly hued canvases in gold-rimmed frames make it impossible to walk directly down the street.

Also not to be missed is Wiener Kunst Auktionen GmbH, located in the Palace Kinsky in Freyung Strasse. Their setting is serious and elegant, fitting for their auctions of old masters, fine contemporary paintings and Jugendstil antiques.

Another Vienna auction house that is internationally recognized is WestLicht at Westbahntrasse 40. They hold the record for selling the world’s most expensive camera, a 0 Series 1923 Leica in 2011, for 1,320,000 Euro (nearly $2 million). WestLicht’s next photography and camera auctions are Nov. 23-24. Photography enthusiasts who visit the auction house will be delighted to find WestLicht’s Leica Shop directly next door, fully stocked with new and vintage products.

One needn’t walk far from WestLicht to discover something nearly extinct – a record store. Scout Records, to be exact. But visitors should prepare themselves for stumbling on small antique or secondhand shops throughout the city. Be it old books, coins, stamps or even kitch, you never know what you will find.

For collectors who like to try their luck at a flea market, Vienna has three great choices. The largest is by far the Naschmarkt, where endless food stands and little restaurants give way to endless booths overflowing with trash and treasure. Shoppers were carrying out 1950s furniture and lamps, spice jar sets, silverware, vintage videos, costume jewelry, books and tools. But there was so much more. The Naschmarkt is a weekend institution, and visitors can browse antiques Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., when at closing time the bargaining possibilities increase three-fold.

The trendy Danube Canal, lined with graffiti murals and interesting canal-side cafes, is home to a weekend flea market from May to September. Visitors need only find their way to the Salztorbrücke to enter.

The third browsing point is the Antiquitätenmarkt am Hof, open through mid-November, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

With so many antiquing possibilities, it is only fortunate that Vienna has a café around every corner. Be sure to unwind with coffee and a piece of Sachertorte before plotting out your next shopping trip.

Auction Talk Germany: Kunst und Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg

“We also live in this castle near the beautiful Steinhuder Lake,” said owner and auctioneer Karl-Heinz Frantz.

Frantz, his wife, Ute, and daughter, Anne, all work in the family business. Their mixed breed Weimariner, Lily, is considered part of the team. Frantz started the business in 1969, auctioning only fine art. The auction house has since added antique furniture, porcelain, jewelry and much more to their offerings. In 1995 they bought Schloss Hagenburg as an auction house and home.

“If you have a clean modern hall, it’s not such a good background for antiques,” Frantz noted. “The Schloss has the painted ceilings, the plaster moldings, it’s a very nice setting for the auctions.”

Like many old castles, Schloss Hagenburg has changed in design and size since its first inception. Its most extensive renovation was undertaken by Princess Juliane in the late 1700s, who dreamed of creating a palace of pleasures. As anyone who has renovated can appreciate, the work took longer than expected. Both the designer, Clemens August von Vagedes, and the princess, did not live to see the project completed.

Visitors today enter the castle through a central portico supported by Tuscan columns. A white stork nests in the middle chimney of the main building. The little Steinhuder Lake is connected to the castle by a small canal. The grounds open onto a wooded park filled with songbirds.

It’s easy to find a reason to visit, as Frantz not only holds three to four auctions per year, but also sells antique furniture, jewelry and even real estate year-round.

“Sometimes we get antiques from someone cleaning out a house, and then we get the house to sell too, because the people are moving away,” said Frantz.

“We don’t specialize in any particular style,” he added. “We auction what we get. Every auction is another happening.”

Schloss Hagenburg’s next auction on June 30 features a large collection of Chinese furniture, porcelain and bronzes. Details can be found at www.SchlossHagenburg.de

Outstanding Prices & Upcoming Sales

Items with historical significance are selling well. Auction Team Breker, Cologne, reported that a 1938 Enigma ciphering machine – used for sending and decoding secret messages during World War II – sold for 81,158 euros ($100,000), at their spring auction of Science, Technology and Toys. the machine went for over 10 times its estimated price. Their next auction of Photography and Film is set for Sept. 22. www.Breker.com

A world record price for the most expensive camera ever sold was set by Viennese auction house WestLicht this spring. A 1923 test camera from the Leica 0-Series, estimated at 300,000 euros ($379,000), was pushed to an astonishing 2,160,000 euros ($2,729,857), through a flurry of floor, telephone and Internet bids. This is the fifth time WestLicht can say it has auctioned the most expensive camera in the world. They will hold photo and camera auctions on Nov. 23 and 24. www.Westlicht-Auction.com

Schwarzenbach Auktions Zurich are accepting items for their next international postage stamp through the end of July. The auction on Oct. 19 and 20 will included single lots from Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Europe and overseas. For details visit www.Schwarzenbach-Auktion.ch

Auktionshaus Gut Bernstorf in Kranzberg, Germany, will hold a large art and antique auction on July 14. www.GutBernstorf.de

Staying modest has made Antico Mondo a friend to toy collectors

Managing Director Christian Gärtner is proud that Antico Mondo has maintained its modest quarters since its founding in 1999, while still managing to serve an enthusiastic audience of international toy collectors. There are no plans to move into a fancy auction hall, as this would considerably raise overhead.

Antico Mondo remains constant with its 12.50 euros ($16.35) consignment fee plus VAT, with no additional commission charged to the seller. This attractive option brings in a wide variety of interesting toys for their auctions, which are held four times a year in March, June, September and December.

Colorful tin toys, model trains and cars, dolls, teddy bears and figurines from 1900 to 1970 form the basis of these sales. But for some time now Antico Mondo has also been offering historic advertisements and writing instruments.

In their March auction lot 8564, a 13.2 inches by 20.4 inches enameled Persil sign from the 1930s, fetched 2,600 euros ($3,400). Persil laundry soap is still a familiar brand in Germany today, and the sign, featuring a woman hanging out fresh laundry on a windy day, was one of only three known in existence. While many enamel signs in the auction went for 30, 50 or 100 euros, the rarity and unblemished quality of the Persil sign contributed to its value.

A top highlight at the auction was lot 4028, a model 2014 tin train station made by the firm Märklin, in Göppingen, Baden-Wurttemberg. This item brought 15,000 euros ($19,620). While the prewar, first edition train station was in good original condition, tiny details such as the elaborate mansard roof and the well-dressed figures waiting on the platform made this toy special.

But in the end, it’s the memory bridge to childhood and play that spark a universal interest in antique toys. Antico Mondo will hold their next auction on June 9. Since 2006 their live auctions have been held simultaneously on the Internet; bids may be made through LiveAuctioneers.com. For details visit www.Anticomondo.de

Welcome to New Members

Live Auctioneers is pleased to welcome four new members from the German-speaking auction scene.

Art & Design, Zurich, is a part of Frey’s Assets, known for helping their customers invest in fine art. Their next auction, Contemporary & Classical Art II, is April 19. www.Freys-Assets.com.

Auktionshaus Dannenburg in Berlin specializes in art and antiques, varia and toys. Their next antique toy auction takes place on June 18 and 19. www.Auktion-Dannenburg.de

Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg, which is worth a visit just to view the lovely historic schloss the business is located in, has three to four auctions per year featuring fine antique furniture, art, carpets, clocks, lighting and other furnishings. Their website has a buy-it-now section so purchases are possible year-round. www.SchlossHagenburg.de

Kastern Kustauktionen has a long tradition in the sale of fine art. They hold four to five auctions per year at their Hannover location, along with ongoing sales. Their next auctions take place on April 20 and 21, and July 7. www.Kastern.de

Upcoming Shows

The International Antique Clock Market is slated for April 28 and 29 in the Wolfwinkelhalle in Eisenbach. This is the 15th year that the popular market has taken place, and visitors can expect more than 80 dealers.

Art collectors should mark their calendar for Art 43 Basel, scheduled this year for June 14-17 in Basel, Switzerland. Works by over 2,500 artists from the 20th and 21st centuries will be presented. For a detailed list of exhibitors visit www.ArtBasel.com

Auction Talk Germany: Auction experts under way

Ketterer Kunst, Munich, has one of the most extensive touring schedules with 20 stops. In addition to visiting Hamburg and Dusseldorf where they have offices, they are also traveling to Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and the U.S.A.

“These are some of the most important regions for us and our clients do appreciate the personal contact,” noted Robert Ketterer, managing director of Ketterer Kunst. “It makes their lives so much easier if they do not have to pack up their works and carry them to us to obtain an expert's point of view or a valuation.”

Collectors love the chance to talk about their collections, and the auction experts welcome new and returning customers. Not every stop on the tour turns up a new-to-the-market Old Master, but the exchange is mutually good.

“With regards to Old Masters or even the top paintings of Modern Art, it does get more and more difficult to obtain high class pieces, as the most important works are tugged away into major museums or permanent collections. Unlike in Contemporary Art, the artists have died, and it is only on very rare occasions that one of their masterpieces appears on the auction market,” said Ketterer.

“One of the more exciting works we obtained at a valuation day was Otto Griebel’s watercolor Zwei Frauen. It was estimated at €30,000-40,000 ($39,800-$53,000) and ended up fetching €158,600 ($210,456).”

The Griebel painting is a rarity. A great deal of this Dresden artist’s work was purposely destroyed following its inclusion in the 1937 Nazi-organized Degenerate Art Exhibition, which ridiculed Modernist art. Griebel’s remaining works were sadly depleted during the Allied bombing of Dresden in February 1945.

As a tangible investment in this climate of insecure stock markets and world currencies, such a scarce work is very attractive. Robert Ketterer reported that 2011 was the most financially successful year in the firm’s history, with sales over 29 million Euro (nearly $39 million). Increasing prices draw potential sellers to Expert Days, and may bring us unexpected treasures in the very near future.

For an appointment and a complete schedule of Expert Days visit www.KettererKunst.de

Here is a sampling of other Auction Houses with experts under way, possibly in your own neighborhood:

Dr. Fischer Kunstauktionen, Heilbronn, will be in Munich on March 1-2; Hamburg and Bremen on March 7-9; Zwiesel and Munich on April 18-20. An appointment is requested. Contact them at www.Auctions-Fischer.de

Hauswedell & Nolte, Hamburg, will be in Stuttgart on Feb. 29; Munich on March 2; Zurich on March 5; and Freiberg on March 7. Appointment requested. www.Hauswedell-Nolte.de

Karl & Faber Kunstauktionen GmbH, Munich, will be in Offenburg on Feb. 29; Dusseldorf on March 5-7; Karlsruhe on March 7-8; Cologne and Bonn on March 7-9; Nuremberg on March 14-16; Salzburg on March 21; and Innsbruck on March 23. Contact them at www.KarlundFaber.de

Lempertz, Cologne, will be in San Francisco on Feb. 21-23; in Paris on Feb. 23-24; in Munster on Feb. 24; and in Switzerland on Feb. 28, and March 1-2, 8-9. Appointment requested. www.Lempertz.com

Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen, Munich, will be in Parma on March 1; in Brussels on March 6, and Vienna and Salzburg on March 5-7. Contact for appointment. www.Quittenbaum.de

Auction Talk Germany: The Art of Protection

The collection of 600 objects will be sold in a two-part cooperative auction beginning Dec. 13 at Pierre Bergé & Associés, Brussels. The second auction will be held in June 2012 at Hermann Historica oHG, Munich. Surprisingly, in addition to 40 full suits of armor, 120 helmets, swords daggers, shields and guns, mounted and preserved crustaceans are a part of this sale.

The reason for this is clear. Klingbeil’s deep interest in the way the human form was clad and protected in hand-forged metal related to the way these members of the animal kingdom are protected by their own natural armor.

“The Art of Protection,” as sale is titled, includes many treasures not often available for sale: a 16th century Milanese armor intricately etched and gilded from head to toe, credited to master Pompeo della Chiesa; a decorative 16th century Venetian parade shield made for Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg; and a parade saber with coral-set hilt made for the Electors of Saxony, 1620-30.

Some of these pieces were formerly in the collections of such notables as William Randolph Hearst and Lord Astor of Hever.

Karsten Klingbeil is as interesting as his collection. At 14 he knew he wanted to become a sculptor and always pursued this dream, but life got in the way. Following time as a prisoner of war during World War II, he returned to Berlin and financed his art studies by newspaper distribution and an employment service for students. He started a construction firm that became wildly successful. In a 60th birthday present to himself, he sold the company and focused on sculpture full time.

His sculptures, not surprisingly, involve the human form. And as an artist he writes not of war, but of man living in harmony with his natural environment. Maybe that is why his armor collecting has run its course.

Whatever the reason, “The Art of Protection” is an arms and armor auction that will be long remembered.

For details on the auctions please visit www.Hermann-Hostorica.de ; to see Klingbeil’s sculpture see www.KarstenKlingbeil.com

Upcoming Auctions

Dec. 6-11: David Feldman, Geneva. Stamps, covers and collections covering such themes as the Olympic Games, Belgium and Switzerland. www.DavidFeldman.com

Dec. 8-10: Auktionshaus Kaupp, Sulzburg, holds three autumn auctions. Jewelry and watches, Dec. 8; Modern and Contemporary art, Dec. 9; and handcrafts, antiques and paintings on Dec.10. www.Kaupp.de

Dec. 9: Van Ham Kunstauktionen, Cologne sells classic and contemporary photography. www.van-ham.com

Dec. 9-10: Kunsthaus Lempertz, Cologne, Asian art. www.Lempertz-online.de

Dec. 10: Ketterer Kunst, Munich, offers a sale of Modern art, art works after 1945 and Contemporary art. www.Kettererkunst.de

Auction Talk Germany: Prices for Swiss-born artists climb

If there is a household name in Swiss art, it must be Giacometti. Artworks by both father Giovanni Giacometti (1868-1933), who painted in a color-rich impressionistic style, and son Alberto (1901-1966), known for lanky human sculptures, have brought astoundingly high prices at auction.

Alberto Giacometti’s Walking Man I astounded the art world when it was sold for the record price of $92.5 million (67.2 million euro) by the Dresdener Bank at Sotheby’s London in February 2010.

This past June Giovanni Giacometti’s Haus und Weg in Capolago, 1921, fetched 1.4 million euro ($1.9 million) at an auction house in Zurich. Since his painting Die Mutter, 1911, brought nearly three million dollars (2.18 million euro) at a Christie’s auction in Kunsthaus Zurich in 2007, prices for his paintings have remained determinedly strong.

Painter Albert Anker (1831-1910), may have spent his career painting people in simple, everyday settings. However, his portraits are fetching far from everyday prices. Dobiaschofsky Auktionen AG sold the 1882 Bildnis eines Mädchens last May for 220,000 Swiss franc ($251,000). The small, loosely rendered oil painting more than doubled its 70,000 Swiss franc ($79,900) estimate. In June, a slightly larger, more refined pair of children’s portraits by Anker auctioned for 7.3 million Swiss franc ($8.5 million) in Zurich.

Both Germany and Switzerland lay claim to expressionist Paul Klee (1879-1940). What cannot be disputed is the magic his signature has at auction. His painting Tänzerin, 1932, sold last June at Christie’s London for over $6 million (4 million euro).

Works by Swiss painters Ferdinand Hodlers (1853-1918), Cuno Amiet (1868-1961) and Felix Vallotton (1865-1925), have brought consistently increasing results at auction. Collectors value them for their classic genre and finely rendered images, which are easy to live with.

Art collectors with an eye to the future may want to take a look at these active Swiss-born artists:

Urs Fischer (1973), has been called the world’s most expensive living artist under the age of 40. Fischer creates elaborate installations using drawings, sculpture, collage and surprising elements such as live birds and fresh fruit. One of his untitled works sold last May at Christie’s New York for $6 million (4.3 million euro).

Peter Fischli and David Weiss, a Swiss artist team creating together for 25 years, saw their best-known work, Der Lauf der Dinge, auctioned for $700,910 (512,486 euro) at Christie’s Zurich in 2008. This film records a chain reaction of inanimate objects, set into motion through clever use of the “domino effect” and chemical reaction.

Finally, Ugo Rondinone’s multimedia paintings, large-scale drawings and sculptures have reached prices in the $450,000-$500,000 range (324,000-360,000 euro). Such an upturn in price is unusual for a working artist.

German Record Set for Chinese Table

With a nearly 1.33 million euro hammer price ($1.8 million), a finely carved red sandalwood table from the 17th century Qianlong Dynasty returned to its cultural roots. A buyer in Hong Kong placed the winning bid with Nagel Auktionen GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart at their sale on Aug. 27. This broke the German auction record price paid for a single piece of Asian furniture. It also shattered Nagel’s estimate of 65,000 euro ($89,000) for the seven-piece group of Chinese furniture, which ended up bringing 2.6 million euro ($3.56 million). This price included the buyer’s premium. The table was originally from the estate of Dr. Edmund Dipper (1871-1933), former director of the German Hospital in Peking. The seller bought it at a time when such antiques were bringing very little money. The majority of pieces in this Stuttgart auction were sold to buyers in China.

Upcoming Auctions:

Sept. 23-24 – Auktionshaus Michael Zeller, Lindau. 110th International Bodensee Auction including African tribal art, Asian handcrafts, paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, plus furniture, porcelain and much more. www.Zeller.de

Sept. 24 – Dr. Fischer Kunstauktionen, Trappensee-Schlösschen, Heilbronn. Their 200th Jubiläums Auction Features 200 Masterworks including paintings, sculpture and Art Deco and Jungenstil Glass. www.AuctionsFischer.de

Oct. 1 – Auction Team Breker, Cologne. Photography and film auction including stereophoto cards, spy and novelty cameras, and photographs. www.Breker.com

Oct. 5-6 – Nagel Auktionen GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart. Art and antiques. www.NagelAuktionen.de

Oct. 7-8 – Schwarzenbach Auktion, Zurich. International postage stamps, letters and post cards, with an emphasis on Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Europe. www.Schwarzenbach-Auktion.ch

Oct. 19-22 – Galerie Bassenge, Berlin. Decorative graphics, valuable books, autographs and a special catalog of Karl May. www.Bassenge.de

Nov. 23-25 – Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Munich. Antique coins and medallions; antiques. www.CoinHirsch.de

Nov. 23-25 – Galerie Fischer Auktionen AG, Luzern. Modern and contemporary painting; old master works; Swiss and Russian art; arts and crafts and furniture; silver and jewelry. www.FischerAuktionen.ch

Nov. 24-26 – Villa Grisebach Auktionen GmbH, Berlin. The auction house celebrates 25 years with five different sales—classic and contemporary photography, art of the 19th century, selected works, and the “Third Floor” auction featuring art works with an estimated value of up to 3000 euro. www.Villa-Grisebach.de

Auction Talk: In an age of e-books, collectors still want originals

“There were only two people fighting over it at the end. It gets very quiet in the room when that happens,” said Dr. Markus Brandis, director of the book department at Bassenge Kunst und Buch Auktionen, GbR, Berlin.

The hammer fell at an astonishing 55,000 euro ($79,200). The winning bidder was Russian, part of a trend Brandis has noticed of wealthy Russians buying back their own literature and culture.

In an age when e-books make important volumes easily accessible, collectors still have a desire to hold the original work in their hands.

Since 2007 Brandis has watched the book sales at Bassenge increase three-fold. Their last auction broke the 2 million-euro mark, partly because of the increasing value of incunables, books printed with moveable type fonts between 1454 and Dec. 31, 1500.

Twenty-five years ago the majority of Bassenge’s customers were institutions, libraries and museums. Now, due to tighter budgets, they make up only 20 percent to 25 percent of the business. Private customers, looking for everything from children’s books to ancient atlases, literature to travel logs, buy the rest.

“They really collect everything we offer,” said Brandis.

“Our customers come from all over the world,” noted auctioneer Piet van Winden of Adams Amsterdam. “Private collectors, scholars and institutions have been with us from the start in 2009.”

Van Winden credits their growing customer base to unorthodox marketing techniques, such as having preview exhibits at De Bijenkorf, the largest shop on Dam Square in Amsterdam, and at the ING Bank headquarters in Antwerp. Since spring their auctions are now held in the magnificent 17th-century canal-side mansion Het Grachtenhuis, which also houses a canal museum.

“We hired buses in order to receive all the Belgians who read about our Hugo Claus auction in their newspapers,” said Van Winden.

As an outstanding sale, he cited a Stedenboek or town atlas, by Joan Blaeu auctioned for 340,000 euro ($497,679) in October. Condition as well as content is reflected in the stellar price. This volume by the 17th-century cartographer includes intact plans and maps for all of the cities, fortresses and sieges of the Dutch.

“Don’t be too easy on the condition of books you buy,” advised Van Winden. “It’s always depressing to come across a better copy when you just spent a lot on a poor one.”

There is a thrill to being able to consult an original source such as this, or include such scarce works in one’s own private library. But does one dare touch – say, a 40,000-euro ($57,600) copy of Karl Marx’s Le Capital such as the one auctioned at Bassenge – or better to leave it safely on the shelf?

“You are able to touch antique books – OK, you should wash your fingers first, but stop with this nimbus that they are holy,” said Brandis. “They were made to be read. And often times the paper, glue and bindings in antique books are better than that of modern books.”

“Naturally – but hardly necessary to mention – dry rooms and no extreme changes in temperature,” noted Peter Kiefer of Kiefer Buch und Kunst Auktionen, Pforzheim, when asked about storage of antique volumes.

“Keep them as they are,” recommended Van Winden. “When you like old books you have to realize that you are only the temporary owner, and you wouldn’t want to be the one who spoilt them in a few minutes after they were preserved as they are for hundreds of years.”

Welcome to LiveAuctioneers member E.P. Deutsch Auctioneers

Few auction houses have a family heritage of 120 years in the antiques business, but new LiveAuctioneers member E.P. Deutsch Auctioneers, Vienna, has such a history. From an initial trade in 1890 to ease their finances, antiques became a family fascination and the chief business.

After World War I the family opened two shops in the historical center of Vienna, but these were lost at the start of World War II. In 1949 Hugo Deutsch opened a store in London, and in 1954 Friedrich Deutsch opened a shop in Vienna, with auctions starting in 1972. Both branches are still in existence.

Paul Deutsch has directed the Vienna auction house since 1985. They specialize in European antiques from the 18th to 20th centuries, with many a unique and curious object thrown into the mix. For more information visit www.deuart.at

Upcoming Auctions

June 30 and July 1 – Hampel Kunstauktionen, Munich. Furniture, paintings, books and much more. www.hampel-auctions.com

July 2 – Dr. Fischer Kunstauktionen, glass auction in Zwiesel. www.auctions_fischer.de

July 6 – Neumeister, Munich, antique artwork. www. Neumeister.com

July 8 and 9 – Allgäuer Auktionshaus, Kempten. Big summer auction with glass, silverware, porcelain, religious art, toys, beer steins, and more. www.allgaeuer-auktionshaus.de

Auction Talk: Spring auctions provide a touch of Vienna, Russia

Since their beginnings in 2001, art historian, owner and auctioneer Carolin Bergner and her partners have worked hard to make Von Zezschwitz Kunst und Design a specialty auction house for Jugenstil, Art Deco and Modern Design, as well as contemporary art. The April 14 auction at their Munich gallery, featuring Art Deco, Jungenstil and Applied Arts of the 19th and 20th century, does not disappoint.

The focus of the 600 offered lots is Viennese furnishings, including several items by designer Josef Hoffmann. Hoffmann was among the designers to begin to incorporate the technique of bent wood into his pieces after the Thonet Brothers patent expired in the late 1800s. Of special interest is Hoffmann’s bentwood design writing desk with brass rivets in black and green, circa 1901 and crafted by Jacob and Josef Kohn, Vienna. The desk, lot 551, is estimated to sell for 18,000 Euro ($25,632).

Von Zezschwitz has a Design and Murano Glass Auction planned for April 15. Those who enjoy modern and contemporary art should mark their calendars for their auction on May 19. To view online catalogs, visit www.von-zezschwitz.de

Dr. Fischer Kunstauktionen, located in the fairytale Trappensee-Schlößchen in Heilbronn, is known for their glass auctions. But they have also carved out a specialty niche for themselves with their Russian Art and Icon Auctions. Their sale on April 14 is rich with Russian silver, porcelain, glass and other handcrafted objects. It includes Russian poster art as well as paintings that provide a glimpse into the country’s landscape and culture.

The Russian religious icons, with their brilliant color and glints of gold, take center stage at this auction. At the top end of the scale is lot 102, a large (27.2 x 27.4 inches) icon showing the baptism of Christ, painted around 1600. The traditional three-band vertical composition places Christ in the center balanced by John the Baptist on the left and three angels on the right. The work has an estimated price of 22,000 Euro ($31,328).

However, there is a great price range to these lovely art works, and smaller, newer icons in the auction start out at estimated prices of 120 to 150 Euro ($171-$214).

Dr. Fischer Kunstauktionen has scheduled their next art and antique auction for May 14. To view their online catalogs, visit www.auctions-fischer.de

LiveAuctioneers welcomes new member

“We have worked with large auction houses like the Dorotheum and Christie’s as well as private customers and decided to try online auctions with Live Auctioneers,” said Simon Jahn, owner of The Jahn Gallery, Paul Ehrlichgasse 23, Vienna.

The gallery, which opened in 2007, represents artists from Europe, the USA and Bali, Indonesia at exhibits worldwide. They now plan to hold auctions for their nonartist clients through www.LiveAuctioneers.com The Jahn Gallery’s new exhibition and auction facility is scheduled to open in Vienna in October. Their website, www.jahngallery.com, should be operational in May.

Upcoming Auctions

April 28 to May 12 – Hermann Historica oHG, Munich, auctions 7,700 objects including antiques, weapons, handcrafts, hunting items and militaria. www.hermann-historica.com

May 3 and 4 – Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen, Munich, two-day sale has Jugenstil, Art Deco and Modern Art on May 3; Metal, Silver, Jewelry and Bronzes will be auctioned on May 4. www.quittenbaum.de

May 13 – The Lempertz spring arts and crafts auction in Cologne is filled with porcelain, furniture, jewelry, miniatures and more. www.lempertz.com

May 14 – Ketterer Kunst hosts Modern Art with Collection Schiefler in Munich. The focus of the auction is Expressionism, including works by Emil Nolde and Erich Heckel. www.kettererkunst.de

May 26 to 28 – Bassenge Kunst und Buchauktionen, Berlin, three-day sale features Print Graphics from the 15th to 19th century; Old and New Master drawings and paintings from the 15th to 19th century; and Modern Art. www.bassenge.com

May 26 to 28 – Villa Grisebach, Berlin, offers selections from the collection of Dolf Selbach. Willi Baumeister, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Paul Wunderlich, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and other contemporary artists are highlighted. www.villa-grisebach.de

May 28 – WestLicht Auction, Vienna, has a delectable selection of antique and contemporary photographs, including an unusual early Daguerreotype Porte Notre Dame by Auguste Rosalie Bisson, 1842, estimated at 60,000-80,000 Euro ($86,716-115,621). www.westlicht.com

Auction Talk Germany: BDK continues to quietly fight art forgery

In light of this, it is not surprising that the most important agenda item for the Bundesverband deutscher Kunstversteigerer (BDK) is “Fighting Forgeries.” The organized group of German art auction houses has actually been doing this for some time.

“I initiated the Databank of Questionable Works (Datenbank der kritischen Werke) about five years ago for the BDK,” said Markus Eisenbeis, director and auctioneer for Van Ham Kunstauktionen, Cologne.

He originally envisioned the databank as a place where the members of the BDK could enter and share information on questionable works of art. The database was not meant to be a list of forged works, but a list of pieces with a doubtful provenance or problematic histories. The information in the databank was to be maintained and expanded only by BDK members.

“However, because the acceptance of this lagged behind my expectations, I permitted the databank to become a budgeted project when I was vice president of the BDK in 2009,” said Eisenbeis. “The funds went to diverse experts, artist heirs and archives to enter recorded forgeries into the databank. Consequently there are meanwhile over 1,000 works documented and the database has a solid foundation for further expansion.”

Eisenbeis and the BDK are still weighing the legal and financial responsibility required if the databank is expanded to include other German art organizations. Only when the cooperation and financial support of the German art organizations are in place, does Eisenbeis foresee linking the database to other art organizations internationally. The sharing of this information with other art professionals could greatly hinder the incidence of forgeries on the international art scene.

In the case of the alleged German art forgery scandal, the operational tactics were especially insidious. No one walked into a gallery carrying a copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. That would have been too obvious. Instead, lesser known artists of the early 20th century were targeted – Johannes Molzahn, Heinrich Campendonk and Max Pechstein, among others. The paintings were considered to be unknown, not appearing in the artist’s own inventories and never having been photographed. Provenance was convincing, but fictional.

“In reality it is only possible to prove provenance with much difficulty, when one gets no information from the person who brings in (the artwork). Often it is the heir who has inherited the piece with no documentation and also has no knowledge himself of where the work has come from,” said Eisenbeis. “This is generally valid for the lower price segment, especially for Arts and Crafts pieces that are often not one-of-a-kind.”

Eisenbeis recommends that people shopping for authentic artwork never try to find a bargain, and buy only through serious auction houses and art dealers. They should have, whenever possible, a certificate written by an internationally known art expert.

“With artists whose work is expensive, there is the danger of forgery. With such artists it is often not the oil paintings, but especially the watercolors and drawings that are forged, because these are often not completely documented,” said Eisenbeis. “There is also danger with artists who have not left a competent estate, for example not taken care to archive their work.”

As auctioneer, Eisenbeis treads carefully when a masterwork from Rubens or Picasso is offered to a German auction house. He is realistic enough not to imagine it is a first choice masterwork. He recommends suspicion when important, expensive artwork is offered for value prices and there is no competition to buy it. Paintings over 100 years old in perfect condition also set off warning bells for him, as do rare works that pop up too often.

“In early 2010, for example, we auctioned a painting by Expressionist Arnold Topp from the year 1918. In autumn we were again offered a painting from this year. Another auction house also had a work in early 2010 from 1918,” said Eisenbeis. “In autumn I contacted my colleague from the other auction house, and he also had a second work from 1918. When both pieces were scientifically examined, one was determined to be a forgery. Thank God not the one from our auction house.”

Science, it seems, can be very revealing. One of the paintings involved in the alleged forgery scandal is said to contain a paint color formulation that was not available at the time the work was supposedly painted. This stroke of modern color was the red flag that led to further investigation. And while the full extent of the damage is not yet known, even museum collections may be effected.

Meanwhile Eisenbeis and the BDK continue their project to make the purchase of authentic artwork more secure. Eisenbeis expects to resume talks with other German art organizations this year in order to further expand the BDK Database of Questionable Works.

The Final Tally

The Hoffmeister Collection of Meissen Porcelain, auctioned in three sales by Bonham’s London, gleaned close to a total of 3,553,000 euros (about $5 million). The sale put many of the pieces back into the hands of the original families who once owned them. Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis retrieved a Meissen saucer made for a Thurn und Taxis armorial service with a winning bid of just over 6,390 euros ($8,834). Only two other recorded pieces of this armorial service still exist.

Another astonishing auction result was the December 2010 hammer price for Kinderköpfchen by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner at Ketterer Kunst, Munich. This 1906 transitional Expressionist work breezed past its estimate of 400,000 euros (just over $550,000) to finish at 1,740,000 euros ($2,406,107).

In other news, Doebele Galerie + Kunstauktionen have moved into their new branch offices at Gartenstraβe 3 C in Berlin. The space is near their existing gallery, which is currently displaying “Max Ackermann – Late Pastels.”

Upcoming Auctions

February

15 – Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen, Munich. "La Dolce Vita" Design und Murano Glass; The Dolf Selbach Collection of Jugendstil glass. www.Quittenbaum.de

15 and 16 – Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Munich. 1,400 Antique Art Objects in glass, stone, clay and metal.; Feb. 17 and 19. Coins and Medallions. www.Coinhirsch.de

March

3 and 4 – Yves Siebers Auktionen GmbH, Stuttgart. Art, Antiques and Toys, including the collection of Majolica Manufacturers like M. Heinze, W. Süss and A. Müller. www.Siebers-Auktionen.de

5 – Schmidt Kunstauktionen, Dresden. Artwork from the 17th to 21st Century. www.Schmidt-Auktionen.de

12 – Anticomondo GmbH, Cologne. Toy Auction. www.Anticomondo.de

12 – Leipziger Münzhandlung und Auktion Heidrun Höhn. Coins and Medallions. www.Numismatik-Online.de

14 to 17 – Preview at Sotheby’s, Amsterdam; auction at the Rai Theatre, Amsterdam. Property from the Estate of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands to be sold for the benefit of charity. www.Sothebys.com

26 – Auction Team Breker, Cologne. Photographica and Film. www.Breker.com