Minimalist mobile sets auction record for Calder in France

9 June 2010 - by ArtfixDaily Staff

Alexander Calder's mobile "Pour Vilar" sold for 2.3m euros at Artcurial.

An Alexander Calder mobile swept to €2.3 million, including buyer's premium, against a pre-sale estimate of €500,000-€800,000, at the May 31 contemporary art sale at Artcurial in France. A Swiss collector went home with the 6-foot long piece.

Titled 'Pour Vilar,' the early 1950s mobile came from the estate of the French actor Jean Vilar. Artcurial issued an anecdote about Calder personally delivering the work to Vilar. “Vilar’s wife Andrée opened the door and found herself face-to-face with the giant [artist]—who smilingly told her, in his ogre’s voice with its American accent, ‘I’m bringin’ ya a little mobile.’ He handed her a flimsy, badly tied-up bundle wrapped in newspaper, then went down on all fours in the lounge to assemble his magnificent mobile.”

The evening sale totalled €6.13m, nearly 30% above the estimate of about €4.8m. The Art Newspaper reported that the auction house expert sees a rising interest in minimalism and conceptualism in France.

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