Ketterer Kunst to auction off a rare Florilegium

They had to be pretty and rare, the flowers that were accepted into the baroque florilegium "Fleurs du Printemps et de L'Este", which will be sold in the auction of Rare Books - Manuscripts - Autographs - Decorative Prints and Maritime and North German Art at Ketterer Kunst in Hamburg on 17/18 May.

Besides sketches of domestic and exotic flowers, the florilegium also contains 19 illustrations of tulips, which were the most valuable flowers by far in those days. The sense for an esthetic perception of plants and not only the question regarding their mere medical usage was growing in the 17th century. Models were found in splendid baroque gardens with representative purposes. With an estimate of € 40 000 the manuscript counts among the auction’s highlights.

With the "Flora Danica" yet another floral masterpiece will be called up. The complete Danish edition of the first 29 issues of this most significant Scandinavian botanic work from 1766 will be sold in the upcoming auction. Even today it is still the most comprehensive account of Danish, Norwegian and northern German flora. Numerous illustrations were made by, among others, Martin and Michael Rößler of Nuremberg. The estimate for this book with 1860 copper plates is at € 15.000.

The same accounts for a Latin Book of Hours from the second half of the 15th century. The magnificent and richly illustrated manuscript on vellum from either France or Flanders was arranged in a way so that even laymen had easy access to its content. The individual sections each begin with a caption in red and a large initial with an extremely appealing miniature in a high quality.

The section of zoology is headed by Thomas Pennant‘s "Zoologica Britannica. Britische Thierge-schichte". The first Latin-German edition in the translation of the Nuremberg cultural historian Christoph Gottlieb Murr is a splendid work on Great Britain’s birds and tetrapods, it comprises 132 copper plates in an old coloring. Released in the years between 1771 and 78, it will enter the race with an estimate of € 28 000.

Thomas Whichcote‘s "A plan of mathematical learning taught in the Royal Academy Portsmouth" will be a delight not only for mathematicians. The unique manuscript book, with lavishly and thoroughly executed illustrations on shipping, was made in 1904 and covers all topics relevant for the navy, among them arithmetic, navigation, sailors‘ readings, mechanics and trigonometry. The estimate is at € 15 000.

Among the autographs, Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling is represented with several letters. Besides a letter to Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué (estimate: € 900), in which he asks him to participate in his Allgemeine Zeitschrift von Deutschen für Deutsche (General Magazine by Germans for Germans), an early unprinted writing (estimate: € 600) by the 23-year old Schelling to the unmentioned publisher Breitkopf and Härtel in Leipzig, who published his Ideen zu einer Philosophie der Natur (Ideas on a Philosophy of Nature) in 1797, will also make for some excitement in the auction.

The range of offers is topped off by a wide variety of modern illustrated books, among them renowned portfolios, silkscreens in colors and contemporary works. Particularly worthwhile mentioning is a small series of expressionist woodcuts by Karl Lorenz with estimates ranging between € 400 and € 1 500.

Along with Rare Books, Manuscripts, Autographs and Decorative Prints, the auction also comprises works from the section of Maritime and North German Art.

Ernst Eitner’s "Selbstbildnis mit Hut" (Self with Hat) must be mentioned first and foremost for this part of the auction, a striking portrait of the contemplating artist that captures the observer. The oeuvre of Eitner may well comprise several self-portraits, however, the majority of them were made in earlier days. The oil painting from 1920 was presumably made for close friends or relatives. The estimate is at € 10 000.

In the section of Maritime Art important works by renowned artists such as Hans Bohrdt, Jules Brun, Lorenz Petersen and Peter Chr. Holm, Carl Saltzmann and Willy Stöwer will be called up.

Preview: 05-07 May 11am-17pm in Hamburg, 10-12 May11am-17pm Meßberg 1: 14 May 11am-17pm 16 May by prior

Auction:
Maritime and North German Art:17 May as of 09:15 am in Hamburg, Rare Books Main Auction: 17 May as of 10:00 am Meßberg 1: Evening Auction: 17 May as of 6:30 pm Silent Auction: 18 May

Since it was founded in 1954, Ketterer Kunst has been firmly established in the front ranks of auction houses dealing in art and rare books, with its headquarters in Munich and a branch in Hamburg. Gallery rooms in Berlin as well as representatives in Heidelberg and Krefeld have contributed substantially to the company's success. Ketterer Kunst has further rounded off its portfolio with the prestigious Ernest Rathenau Verlag, New York/Munich. In addition, exhibitions, special theme and charity auctions as well as online auctions are regular events at Ketterer Kunst.

Your contact for Press inquiries: Your Contact in the department: Rare Books: Ketterer Kunst Ketterer Kunst Joseph-Wild-Str. 18 Am Meßberg 1 81829 Munich-Riem 20095 Hamburg Michaela Derra M.A. Christoph Calaminus / Christian Höflich phone:+49-(0)89-55244-152 (fax: -177) phone:+49-(0)40-374961-11 / -20 (fax: -66) e-mail: m.derra@kettererkunst.de e-mail: infohamburg@kettererkunst.de

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