Thiebaud takes the cake at Sotheby's Allan Stone auction

10 May 2011

Wayne Thiebaud, "Pies," 1961, sold for about $4 million at Sotheby's. Art © Wayne Thiebaud/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY. Reproduction of this image, including downloading, is prohibited without written authorization from VAGA, 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2820, New York, NY 10118. Tel: 212-736-6666; Fax: 212-736-6767; e-mail: info@vagarights.com; web: www.vagarights.com

(photo via Sotheby's)

The estate of Manhattan gallerist and collector Allan Stone yielded a trove of contemporary artworks which began the week of post-war and contemporary art auctions on a happy note.

Three John Chamberlain sculptures, 9 Willem de Koonings, and twenty Wayne Thiebuad paintings helped boost the Sotheby’s sale on Monday night to a total of $54.8 million (with commissions), soundly over its $46.8 million high estimate. Of the 42 works being offered, only 3 failed to sell.

Chamberlain reached an artist record of $4.7 million (including Sotheby’s fees) for his "Nutcracker" which was the top lot of the night.

From Stone's famed collection of Abstract Expressionist paintings was deKooning's 1947 "Event in a Barn" which brought $4.5 million with fees, a bit under its low $5 million estimate.

Among the two dozen works by Thiebaud were several of his popular images of repeating desserts. The delectable “Pies,” from 1961, shows rows of slices with thick brushwork indicating the fillings.

An unidentified "American" snapped up "Pies" for $4 million with fees. Other buyers were Asian and European, according to the auction house.

Read more at New York Times

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