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Zürich
OSSIP ZADKINE
(Witebsk 1890–1967 Paris)
Les trois sœurs ou les trois grâces ou les trois belles ou les trois amies. 1926.
Bronze, dark brown patina. Cast from 1926.
Signed and inscribed lower right: O.ZADKINE / ORIGINAL.
53 × 41 × 22 cm.

We would like to thank the Zadkine Research Center for their assistance. Provenance: - Gallery Livingood, Paris, presumably directly from the artist's estate. - Art trade Tjerk Wiegersma, Deurne Netherlands, acquired from the above gallery in 1972. - Private collection, Netherlands, acquired from the above gallery in 1972. - Wiegersma Fine Art, Brussels, acquired from the above heirs in 2016. - Private collection, Geneva, acquired from the above gallery in 2016. Exhibited: - Paris 1926, Salon des Tuileries, no. 2116. - Venice 1932, XVIII Biennale, Italian Pavillion, Hall 13, May–November 1932, no. 7. - Brussels 1933, Palais des Beaux-Arts, January 1933, no. 67 or no. 85. - New York 1937, Brummer Gallery, 25 January–20 March 1937, no. 15 or no. 30. - Paris 1937, Maître de l'art indépendant 1895–1937, Petit Palais, June–October 1937, no. 12 or no.19. - Darmstadt 1953, Neue Darmstädter Sezession mit Ossip Zadkine, Mathildenhöhe, 6 December–11 October 1953, no. 39. - Cologne/ Dusseldorf/Berlin/Amsterdam 1954, Zadkine, Travelling exhibition of the Gallery Czwiklitzer, no. 10 (with ill.). - Canada/USA 1956/57, Ossip Zadkine, Travelling exhibition: The Art Gallery of Toronto, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, San Francisco Museum of Art, October 1956–July 1957, no. 3 (dated 1924, with ill.). - Paris 1958, Ossip Zadkine, Maison de la Pensée Francaise, July–October 1958, no. 52. - Japan 1959/60, Ossip Zadkine, Travelling exhibition of the Gallery Fujikawa, autumn 1959–spring 1960, no. 20 (dated 1927, with ill.). Literature: - Sylvain Lecombre: Ossip Zadkine. L'Œuvre sculpté, Paris 1994, p. 220, no. 167 (with ill.). - L' Art vivant, Paris, October 1926, p. 873. - Selection Chronique de la vie artistique. Cahier 3, Antwerp 1928, p. 118. - André de Ridder: Zadkine, Paris 1929, p. 21 (dated 1927). - Pierre Humbourg: Zadkine. Collection "Les Sculpteurs nouveaux", Paris 1930, p. 63. - Presse et revues: Art et Decoration, Paris, October 1930, p. 119. - Winnipeg Tribune, 22 February 1957. - Kolner Leben, Cologne, 25 March 1960. - A. M. Hammacher: Zadkine, Paris 1961, p. 11 (dated 1929). - Kieler Nachrichten, 20 June 1961. - T. Spiteris: Zadkine, Milan 1966, p. 8. - G. Marussi: Zadkine, in: Le Arti, Milan, June 1967, p. 31. - Anita Belobek-Hammer: Zum 100. Geburtstag Ossip Zadkines, in: Bildende Kunst, Berlin 1990, ed. 7. - Ionel Jianou, "Zadkine l'artiste et le poète", in: Journal Artcurial, Paris 1979, no. 141. - Sylvain Lecombre: Ossip Zadkine. LŒuvre sculpté, Paris 1994, no. 167. ‘Les Trois Grâces’ was created in 1926. Living in Paris, Zadkine was inspired by the various art movements colliding in the city in the 1910s and 1920s: Cubism, Expressionism and Futurism. Before 1926, the artist had mainly focused his efforts on creating sculptures in stone and wood. For the exhibition in the Salon des Tuileries in 1926, he decided to show only two bronze figures rather than the materials typically expected of him. One of the bronzes was ‘Les Trois Grâces'. The sculpture presented here is a decisive work in the artist's oeuvre. Up until that time, his practice of working the surfaces of stone or wood had created works that related more to the category of relief. His figures remained dependent on the block of stone or wood. The technique of bronze opened up a new field of possibilities for him in which he could create complex and open compositions through modelling, as seen in ‘Les Trois Grâces’. Typical elements such as the interplay of convex-concave planes and the incised lines on the surface are examples of the sculptural work of the Cubist-Expressionist artist and are also beautifully demonstrated in the present sculpture. The author of Zadkine’s catalogue raisonné, Sylvaine Lecombre, writes about our sculpture: “In 'Les Trois Grâces', the gaps allow the figures to unfold freely in space. Zadkine did not feel comfortable with Cubism until he was able to apply its formal principles to his own subjects and artistic vision. In this group of three intimately connected women, the concave sections, the sudden breaks in the joints, the flat surface of a face all lose their severity. The aggressive aspects of Cubism are softened, and its mechanical aspects are reclaimed by a sense of humanity” (translated from French in: Ossip Zadkine. L'oeuvre sculpté, p. 199). Zadkine's sculptural oeuvre is shaped by a preoccupation with classical antiquity. His innate fascination with these early examples of sculpture often led him to explore mythological subjects, such as in the present work employing the Greek motif of the ‘Three Graces’. Groups of figures are a common recurring element with Zadkine and appear in many variations. He revisited the subject of the ‘Three Graces’, for example, in 1950 in a modified and slightly larger version. Five bronze casts exist of 'Les Trois Grâces’, four of which are later, some after 1961. The example presented at auction is the first of the casts and the only early cast from 1926 that stood in the Salon de Tuileries. Early casts by Zadkine are extremely rare and are scarcely found on the art market. In the 1920s and 1930s, Zadkine often numbered his sculptures only upon sale. The present example remains unnumbered, while the examples two to five are numbered. This suggests that Zadkine was particularly fond of this first cast and did not wish to sell it, the reason for which it long remained in the artist's possession. Three of the four other examples are located in museums; the fourth is in a private collection in the Netherlands.
OSSIP ZADKINE
(Witebsk 1890–1967 Paris)
Les trois sœurs ou les trois grâces ou les trois belles ou les trois amies. 1926.
Bronze, dunkelbraune Patina. Guss von 1926.
Unten rechts signiert und bezeichnet: O.ZADKINE / ORIGINAL.
53 × 41 × 22 cm.

Wir danken dem Zadkine Research Center für die wissenschaftliche Unterstützung. Provenienz: - Galerie Livingood, Paris, wohl direkt vom Nachlass des Künstlers. - Kunsthandel Tjerk Wiegersma, Deurne Niederlande, 1972 in obiger Galerie erworben. - Privatsammlung Niederlande, 1972 in obiger Galerie erworben. - Wiegersma Fine Art, Brüssel, 2016 von obigen Erben erworben. - Privatsammlung Genf, 2016 in obiger Galerie erworben. Ausstellungen: - Paris 1926, Salon des Tuileries, Nr. 2116. - Venedig 1932, XVIII Biennale, Italienischer Pavillion, Saal 13, Mai–November 1932, Nr. 7. - Brüssel 1933, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Januar 1933, Nr. 67 oder Nr. 85. - New York 1937, Brummer Gallery, 25. Januar–20. März 1937, Nr. 15 oder Nr. 30. - Paris 1937, Maître de l'art indépendant 1895–1937, Petit Palais, Juni–Oktober 1937, Nr. 12 oder Nr.19. - Darmstadt 1953, Neue Darmstädter Sezession mit Ossip Zadkine, Mathildenhöhe, 6. Dezember–11. Oktober 1953, Nr. 39. - Köln/ Düsseldorf/Berlin/Amsterdam 1954, Zadkine, Wanderausstellung der Galerie Czwiklitzer, Nr. 10 (mit Abb.). - Kanada/USA 1956/57, Ossip Zadkine, Wanderausstellung: The Art Gallery of Toronto, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, San Francisco Museum of Art, Oktober 1956–Juli 1957, Nr. 3 (datiert 1924, mit Abb.). - Paris 1958, Ossip Zadkine, Maison de la Pensée Francaise, Juli–Oktober 1958, Nr. 52. - Japan 1959/60, Ossip Zadkine, Wanderausstellung der Galerie Fujikawa, Herbst 1959–Frühling 1960, Nr. 20 (datiert 1927, mit Abb.). - Köln/Mannheim 1960, Ossip Zadkine, Wallraf-Richartz-Museum und Städtische Kunsthalle (datiert 1929, mit Abb., wohl anderes Exemplar). Literatur: - Sylvain Lecombre: Ossip Zadkine. L'Œuvre sculpté, Paris 1994, S. 220, Nr. 167 (mit Abb.). - L' Art vivant, Paris, Oktober 1926, S. 873. - Selection Chronique de la vie artistique, Cahier 3, Antwerpen 1928, S. 118. - André de Ridder: Zadkine, Paris 1929, S. 21 (datiert 1927). - Pierre Humbourg: Zadkine. Collection "Les Sculpteurs nouveaux", Paris 1930, S. 63. - Presse et revues: Art et Decoration, Paris, Oktober 1930, S. 119. - Winnipeg Tribune, 22. Februar 1957. - Kolner Leben, Köln, 25. März 1960. - A. M. Hammacher: Zadkine, Paris 1961, S. 11 (datiert 1929). - Kieler Nachrichten, 20. Juni 1961. - T. Spiteris: Zadkine, Mailand 1966, S. 8. - G. Marussi: Zadkine, in: Le Arti, Mailand, Juni 1967, S. 31. - Anita Belobek-Hammer: Zum 100. Geburtstag Ossip Zadkines, in: Bildende Kunst, Berlin 1990, Ausg. 7. - Ionel Jianou, "Zadkine l'artiste et le poète", in: Journal Artcurial, Paris 1979, Nr. 141. - Sylvain Lecombre: Ossip Zadkine. L'Œuvre sculpté, Paris 1994, Nr. 167. "Les trois grâces" ensteht 1926. Zadkine befindet sich in Paris und ist inspiriert von den verschiedenen Kunstrichtungen des Kubismus, des Expressionismus und des Futurismus, die im Paris der 1910er- und 20er-Jahre aufeinanderprallen. Vor 1926 widmet sich Zadkine hauptsächlich den Skulpturen aus Stein und Holz. Für die Ausstellung im Salon des Tuileries 1926 entscheidet er sich aber dazu, anstelle dieser, von ihm zu erwartenden Materialien, nur zwei Bronzefiguren zu zeigen. Eine davon ist "Les trois grâces". Die vorliegende Skulptur ist ein einschneidendes Werk im Œuvre des Künstlers. Bisher hat Zadkine, die Oberfläche von Stein oder Holz bearbeitend, Werke geschaffen, die eher in den Bereich des Reliefs gehören. Seine Figuren blieben abhängig vom Anfangsblock. Die Technik der Bronze eröffnet ihm ein neues Feld von Möglichkeiten, in dem er wie bei "Les trois grâces" komplexe und durchbrochene Kompositionen durch Modellieren erschaffen kann. Typische Elemente wie das Konvex-konkave oder die eingeritzten Linienelemente an der Oberfläche sind exemplarisch für das bildhauerische Arbeiten des kubistisch-expressionistischen Künstlers und auch in der vorliegenden Skulptur schön zu sehen. Sylvaine Lecombre, der Autor des Zadkine Werkverzeichnisses, schreibt über unsere Skulptur: In "Les Trois Grâces" erlauben die Lücken den Figuren, sich frei im Raum zu entfalten. Zadkine fühlte sich mit dem Kubismus erst wohl, als er dessen formale Prinzipien auf seine eigenen Themen und seine künstlerische Vision anwenden konnte. In dieser Gruppe von drei eng miteinander verbundenen Frauen verlieren die konkaven Schnitte, die plötzlichen Brüche in den Fugen, die flache Oberfläche eines Gesichts ihre Strenge. Was im Kubismus aggressiv gewesen sein mag, wird aufgeweicht, was mechanisch gewesen sein mag, wird vom Menschlichen zurückerobert " (übersetzt aus dem Französischen, in: Lecombre 1994, S. 199). Zadkines bildhauerisches Œuvre ist geprägt von der Beschäftigung mit dem klassischen Altertum. Seine Faszination für diese frühen Beispiele der Bildhauerei führt ihn oft dazu, mythologische Themen zu erforschen. So bedient er sich auch bei der vorliegenden Arbeit dem griechischen Motiv der drei Grazien. Allgemein ist die Figurengruppe ein wiederkehrendes Element bei Zadkine und taucht in vielen Variationen auf. Die drei Grazien nimmt er beispielsweise 1950 in einer abgewandelten und etwas grösseren Version wieder auf. Von der Bronze "Les trois grâces" existieren fünf Güsse, vier davon sind später, teils nach 1961 gegossen. Bei dem zur Auktion kommenden Exemplar handelt es sich laut dem Zadkine Research Centre um den ersten Guss überhaupt und den einzigen frühen Guss von 1926, der bereits im Salon de Tuileries gestanden hat. Frühe Güsse von Zadkine sind extrem selten und kaum auf dem Kunstmarkt anzutreffen. Zadkine hat in den 1920er- und 30er-Jahren seine Skulpturen oft erst beim Verkauf nummeriert. Das vorliegende Exemplar bleibt unnummeriert, während die Exemplare zwei bis fünf nummeriert sind. Dies lässt darauf schliessen, dass Zadkine dieser erste Abguss besonders wichtig war und er ihn nicht verkaufen wollte, weshalb er lange im Besitz des Künstlers blieb. Drei der vier anderen Exemplare befinden sich heute in Museen, das Vierte ist Teil einer niederländischen Privatsammlung.
OSSIP ZADKINE
(Witebsk 1890–1967 Paris)
Les trois sœurs ou les trois grâces ou les trois belles ou les trois amies. 1926.
Bronze, dark brown patina. Cast from 1926.
Signed and inscribed lower right: O.ZADKINE / ORIGINAL.
53 × 41 × 22 cm.

We would like to thank the Zadkine Research Center for their assistance. Provenance: - Gallery Livingood, Paris, presumably directly from the artist's estate. - Art trade Tjerk Wiegersma, Deurne Netherlands, acquired from the above gallery in 1972. - Private collection, Netherlands, acquired from the above gallery in 1972. - Wiegersma Fine Art, Brussels, acquired from the above heirs in 2016. - Private collection, Geneva, acquired from the above gallery in 2016. Exhibited: - Paris 1926, Salon des Tuileries, no. 2116. - Venice 1932, XVIII Biennale, Italian Pavillion, Hall 13, May–November 1932, no. 7. - Brussels 1933, Palais des Beaux-Arts, January 1933, no. 67 or no. 85. - New York 1937, Brummer Gallery, 25 January–20 March 1937, no. 15 or no. 30. - Paris 1937, Maître de l'art indépendant 1895–1937, Petit Palais, June–October 1937, no. 12 or no.19. - Darmstadt 1953, Neue Darmstädter Sezession mit Ossip Zadkine, Mathildenhöhe, 6 December–11 October 1953, no. 39. - Cologne/ Dusseldorf/Berlin/Amsterdam 1954, Zadkine, Travelling exhibition of the Gallery Czwiklitzer, no. 10 (with ill.). - Canada/USA 1956/57, Ossip Zadkine, Travelling exhibition: The Art Gallery of Toronto, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, San Francisco Museum of Art, October 1956–July 1957, no. 3 (dated 1924, with ill.). - Paris 1958, Ossip Zadkine, Maison de la Pensée Francaise, July–October 1958, no. 52. - Japan 1959/60, Ossip Zadkine, Travelling exhibition of the Gallery Fujikawa, autumn 1959–spring 1960, no. 20 (dated 1927, with ill.). Literature: - Sylvain Lecombre: Ossip Zadkine. L'Œuvre sculpté, Paris 1994, p. 220, no. 167 (with ill.). - L' Art vivant, Paris, October 1926, p. 873. - Selection Chronique de la vie artistique. Cahier 3, Antwerp 1928, p. 118. - André de Ridder: Zadkine, Paris 1929, p. 21 (dated 1927). - Pierre Humbourg: Zadkine. Collection "Les Sculpteurs nouveaux", Paris 1930, p. 63. - Presse et revues: Art et Decoration, Paris, October 1930, p. 119. - Winnipeg Tribune, 22 February 1957. - Kolner Leben, Cologne, 25 March 1960. - A. M. Hammacher: Zadkine, Paris 1961, p. 11 (dated 1929). - Kieler Nachrichten, 20 June 1961. - T. Spiteris: Zadkine, Milan 1966, p. 8. - G. Marussi: Zadkine, in: Le Arti, Milan, June 1967, p. 31. - Anita Belobek-Hammer: Zum 100. Geburtstag Ossip Zadkines, in: Bildende Kunst, Berlin 1990, ed. 7. - Ionel Jianou, "Zadkine l'artiste et le poète", in: Journal Artcurial, Paris 1979, no. 141. - Sylvain Lecombre: Ossip Zadkine. LŒuvre sculpté, Paris 1994, no. 167. ‘Les Trois Grâces’ was created in 1926. Living in Paris, Zadkine was inspired by the various art movements colliding in the city in the 1910s and 1920s: Cubism, Expressionism and Futurism. Before 1926, the artist had mainly focused his efforts on creating sculptures in stone and wood. For the exhibition in the Salon des Tuileries in 1926, he decided to show only two bronze figures rather than the materials typically expected of him. One of the bronzes was ‘Les Trois Grâces'. The sculpture presented here is a decisive work in the artist's oeuvre. Up until that time, his practice of working the surfaces of stone or wood had created works that related more to the category of relief. His figures remained dependent on the block of stone or wood. The technique of bronze opened up a new field of possibilities for him in which he could create complex and open compositions through modelling, as seen in ‘Les Trois Grâces’. Typical elements such as the interplay of convex-concave planes and the incised lines on the surface are examples of the sculptural work of the Cubist-Expressionist artist and are also beautifully demonstrated in the present sculpture. The author of Zadkine’s catalogue raisonné, Sylvaine Lecombre, writes about our sculpture: “In 'Les Trois Grâces', the gaps allow the figures to unfold freely in space. Zadkine did not feel comfortable with Cubism until he was able to apply its formal principles to his own subjects and artistic vision. In this group of three intimately connected women, the concave sections, the sudden breaks in the joints, the flat surface of a face all lose their severity. The aggressive aspects of Cubism are softened, and its mechanical aspects are reclaimed by a sense of humanity” (translated from French in: Ossip Zadkine. L'oeuvre sculpté, p. 199). Zadkine's sculptural oeuvre is shaped by a preoccupation with classical antiquity. His innate fascination with these early examples of sculpture often led him to explore mythological subjects, such as in the present work employing the Greek motif of the ‘Three Graces’. Groups of figures are a common recurring element with Zadkine and appear in many variations. He revisited the subject of the ‘Three Graces’, for example, in 1950 in a modified and slightly larger version. Five bronze casts exist of 'Les Trois Grâces’, four of which are later, some after 1961. The example presented at auction is the first of the casts and the only early cast from 1926 that stood in the Salon de Tuileries. Early casts by Zadkine are extremely rare and are scarcely found on the art market. In the 1920s and 1930s, Zadkine often numbered his sculptures only upon sale. The present example remains unnumbered, while the examples two to five are numbered. This suggests that Zadkine was particularly fond of this first cast and did not wish to sell it, the reason for which it long remained in the artist's possession. Three of the four other examples are located in museums; the fourth is in a private collection in the Netherlands.
OSSIP ZADKINE
(Witebsk 1890–1967 Paris)
Les trois sœurs ou les trois grâces ou les trois belles ou les trois amies. 1926.
Bronze, dunkelbraune Patina. Guss von 1926.
Unten rechts signiert und bezeichnet: O.ZADKINE / ORIGINAL.
53 × 41 × 22 cm.

Wir danken dem Zadkine Research Center für die wissenschaftliche Unterstützung. Provenienz: - Galerie Livingood, Paris, wohl direkt vom Nachlass des Künstlers. - Kunsthandel Tjerk Wiegersma, Deurne Niederlande, 1972 in obiger Galerie erworben. - Privatsammlung Niederlande, 1972 in obiger Galerie erworben. - Wiegersma Fine Art, Brüssel, 2016 von obigen Erben erworben. - Privatsammlung Genf, 2016 in obiger Galerie erworben. Ausstellungen: - Paris 1926, Salon des Tuileries, Nr. 2116. - Venedig 1932, XVIII Biennale, Italienischer Pavillion, Saal 13, Mai–November 1932, Nr. 7. - Brüssel 1933, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Januar 1933, Nr. 67 oder Nr. 85. - New York 1937, Brummer Gallery, 25. Januar–20. März 1937, Nr. 15 oder Nr. 30. - Paris 1937, Maître de l'art indépendant 1895–1937, Petit Palais, Juni–Oktober 1937, Nr. 12 oder Nr.19. - Darmstadt 1953, Neue Darmstädter Sezession mit Ossip Zadkine, Mathildenhöhe, 6. Dezember–11. Oktober 1953, Nr. 39. - Köln/ Düsseldorf/Berlin/Amsterdam 1954, Zadkine, Wanderausstellung der Galerie Czwiklitzer, Nr. 10 (mit Abb.). - Kanada/USA 1956/57, Ossip Zadkine, Wanderausstellung: The Art Gallery of Toronto, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, San Francisco Museum of Art, Oktober 1956–Juli 1957, Nr. 3 (datiert 1924, mit Abb.). - Paris 1958, Ossip Zadkine, Maison de la Pensée Francaise, Juli–Oktober 1958, Nr. 52. - Japan 1959/60, Ossip Zadkine, Wanderausstellung der Galerie Fujikawa, Herbst 1959–Frühling 1960, Nr. 20 (datiert 1927, mit Abb.). - Köln/Mannheim 1960, Ossip Zadkine, Wallraf-Richartz-Museum und Städtische Kunsthalle (datiert 1929, mit Abb., wohl anderes Exemplar). Literatur: - Sylvain Lecombre: Ossip Zadkine. L'Œuvre sculpté, Paris 1994, S. 220, Nr. 167 (mit Abb.). - L' Art vivant, Paris, Oktober 1926, S. 873. - Selection Chronique de la vie artistique, Cahier 3, Antwerpen 1928, S. 118. - André de Ridder: Zadkine, Paris 1929, S. 21 (datiert 1927). - Pierre Humbourg: Zadkine. Collection "Les Sculpteurs nouveaux", Paris 1930, S. 63. - Presse et revues: Art et Decoration, Paris, Oktober 1930, S. 119. - Winnipeg Tribune, 22. Februar 1957. - Kolner Leben, Köln, 25. März 1960. - A. M. Hammacher: Zadkine, Paris 1961, S. 11 (datiert 1929). - Kieler Nachrichten, 20. Juni 1961. - T. Spiteris: Zadkine, Mailand 1966, S. 8. - G. Marussi: Zadkine, in: Le Arti, Mailand, Juni 1967, S. 31. - Anita Belobek-Hammer: Zum 100. Geburtstag Ossip Zadkines, in: Bildende Kunst, Berlin 1990, Ausg. 7. - Ionel Jianou, "Zadkine l'artiste et le poète", in: Journal Artcurial, Paris 1979, Nr. 141. - Sylvain Lecombre: Ossip Zadkine. L'Œuvre sculpté, Paris 1994, Nr. 167. "Les trois grâces" ensteht 1926. Zadkine befindet sich in Paris und ist inspiriert von den verschiedenen Kunstrichtungen des Kubismus, des Expressionismus und des Futurismus, die im Paris der 1910er- und 20er-Jahre aufeinanderprallen. Vor 1926 widmet sich Zadkine hauptsächlich den Skulpturen aus Stein und Holz. Für die Ausstellung im Salon des Tuileries 1926 entscheidet er sich aber dazu, anstelle dieser, von ihm zu erwartenden Materialien, nur zwei Bronzefiguren zu zeigen. Eine davon ist "Les trois grâces". Die vorliegende Skulptur ist ein einschneidendes Werk im Œuvre des Künstlers. Bisher hat Zadkine, die Oberfläche von Stein oder Holz bearbeitend, Werke geschaffen, die eher in den Bereich des Reliefs gehören. Seine Figuren blieben abhängig vom Anfangsblock. Die Technik der Bronze eröffnet ihm ein neues Feld von Möglichkeiten, in dem er wie bei "Les trois grâces" komplexe und durchbrochene Kompositionen durch Modellieren erschaffen kann. Typische Elemente wie das Konvex-konkave oder die eingeritzten Linienelemente an der Oberfläche sind exemplarisch für das bildhauerische Arbeiten des kubistisch-expressionistischen Künstlers und auch in der vorliegenden Skulptur schön zu sehen. Sylvaine Lecombre, der Autor des Zadkine Werkverzeichnisses, schreibt über unsere Skulptur: In "Les Trois Grâces" erlauben die Lücken den Figuren, sich frei im Raum zu entfalten. Zadkine fühlte sich mit dem Kubismus erst wohl, als er dessen formale Prinzipien auf seine eigenen Themen und seine künstlerische Vision anwenden konnte. In dieser Gruppe von drei eng miteinander verbundenen Frauen verlieren die konkaven Schnitte, die plötzlichen Brüche in den Fugen, die flache Oberfläche eines Gesichts ihre Strenge. Was im Kubismus aggressiv gewesen sein mag, wird aufgeweicht, was mechanisch gewesen sein mag, wird vom Menschlichen zurückerobert " (übersetzt aus dem Französischen, in: Lecombre 1994, S. 199). Zadkines bildhauerisches Œuvre ist geprägt von der Beschäftigung mit dem klassischen Altertum. Seine Faszination für diese frühen Beispiele der Bildhauerei führt ihn oft dazu, mythologische Themen zu erforschen. So bedient er sich auch bei der vorliegenden Arbeit dem griechischen Motiv der drei Grazien. Allgemein ist die Figurengruppe ein wiederkehrendes Element bei Zadkine und taucht in vielen Variationen auf. Die drei Grazien nimmt er beispielsweise 1950 in einer abgewandelten und etwas grösseren Version wieder auf. Von der Bronze "Les trois grâces" existieren fünf Güsse, vier davon sind später, teils nach 1961 gegossen. Bei dem zur Auktion kommenden Exemplar handelt es sich laut dem Zadkine Research Centre um den ersten Guss überhaupt und den einzigen frühen Guss von 1926, der bereits im Salon de Tuileries gestanden hat. Frühe Güsse von Zadkine sind extrem selten und kaum auf dem Kunstmarkt anzutreffen. Zadkine hat in den 1920er- und 30er-Jahren seine Skulpturen oft erst beim Verkauf nummeriert. Das vorliegende Exemplar bleibt unnummeriert, während die Exemplare zwei bis fünf nummeriert sind. Dies lässt darauf schliessen, dass Zadkine dieser erste Abguss besonders wichtig war und er ihn nicht verkaufen wollte, weshalb er lange im Besitz des Künstlers blieb. Drei der vier anderen Exemplare befinden sich heute in Museen, das Vierte ist Teil einer niederländischen Privatsammlung.

Impressionist & Modern Art (A197)

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By participating in the auction the bidder accepts the following Auction Conditions of Koller Auctions Ltd ("Koller").

1. Legal status of the parties

The auction items are auctioned by Koller in the name and on the account of the seller (the "Seller"). The bid in Swiss francs is accepted from the highest bidder (the "Purchaser") recognised by Koller in the course of the auction resulting in the conclusion of a purchase contract between the Seller and the Purchaser.

2. Surcharge

2.1 In addition to the bid price, the Purchaser must pay a surcharge on such bid price calculated as follows:

(i) on a successful bid of up to CHF 10 000: 25 %

(ii) on a successful bid over CHF 10 000 up to CHF 400 000:
25 % on the first CHF 10 000 and 20 % on the difference between CHF 10 000 and the bid.

(iii) on a successful bid over CHF 400 000:
25 % on the first CHF 10 000, 20 % on CHF 390 000 and 15 % on the difference between CHF 400 000 and the bid.

2.2 If the winning bid is placed in the course of an internet live online auction ("Online Auction"), the surcharges are subject to the conditions published on the respective Internet sites.

2.3 The Purchaser must pay Swiss value added tax ("VAT") on the surcharge. The stated percentage of the surcharge relates to the successful bid for each individual item.

2.4 The full tax is charged on all items marked * in the auction catalogue, i.e. VAT is charged on the sum of the bid price plus the surcharge for those items. The VAT will be refunded to Purchasers providing a validly stamped export declaration.

2.5 The Purchaser agrees that Koller also receives a commission from the Seller.

3. Disclaimer

3.1 The items are auctioned in the condition existing at the time of the successful bid.

3.2 The items are described to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, Koller cannot accept any liability for the details provided in the catalogue. The items can be inspected during the preview. The Purchaser is therefore invited to inspect an item prior to the auction and, possibly with the support of an independent specialist advisor, to form its own opinion of the correspondence between the lot and the catalogue description. For the specifications of the items the print edition of the catalogue in the German language (including any later amendments) shall be exclusively applicable. Koller reserves the right to call in experts or specialists of its choice to give an opinion and to rely upon that opinion. Koller cannot be held liable for the correctness of such opinions. Neither any such expert opinions or reports, nor the descriptions of items provided by Koller or other statements pertaining to an item (including statements pertaining to the value thereof) constitute explicit or implicit warranties.

3.3 Subject to Clause 4 below, no guarantee or warranty whatsoever is given in respect of legal and material defects. The liabilities of the Seller vis-à-vis the Purchaser are limited to the same extent as the liabilities of Koller vis-à-vis the Purchaser.

4. Guarantee for forged items

4.1 Koller shall reverse the purchase (subject to Clauses 4.2 and 4.3 below) and shall reimburse the purchase price and the surcharge (incl. VAT) to the Purchaser if the item proves to be a forgery. A “forgery” shall be deemed to exist if the item in the reasonable opinion of Koller is an imitation created with the intention of causing a deception with respect to the originator, age, period, culture or source, where the correct description of such content is not reflected in the auction catalogue (taking account of any additions), and where this circumstance significantly impairs the value of the item in comparison to an item corresponding to the catalogue description. A lot shall not be deemed to have been forged if it is merely damaged and/or has been subjected to restoration work and/or modifications of any nature whatsoever.

4.2 The guarantee given to the Purchaser in accordance with the above provision shall not be applicable at the discretion of Koller if:

(i) the description of the item in the auction catalogue was supported by the view of a specialist or by the prevailing view of specialists, or if the description in the auction catalogue suggested that differences of opinion exist in this respect;
(ii) the forgery was not identifiable as such at the time of the successful bid in accordance with the current state of research and with the generally acknowledged and usual methods, or only with disproportionate effort;
(iii) the forgery (in Koller’s careful view) was produced before 1880; or
(iv) the purchase item is a painting, watercolour, a drawing or sculpture which according to the details set out in the auction catalogue should have been created prior to 1880.

4.3 This guarantee is applicable from the day of the successful bid for a period of two (2) years (three (3) weeks for jewellery). It shall be granted exclusively to the Purchaser and may not be assigned to any third party. Assertion of the guarantee claim shall be conditional upon the Purchaser making a complaint to Koller by registered letter immediately after the discovery of the defect, and returning the purchase item to Koller in the same condition as it was handed over to him and unencumbered by third parties' claims. The Purchaser must provide proof that the item is a forgery. Koller may demand that the Purchaser obtains at his own expense expert opinions from two independent individuals who are recognised experts in the field. However, Koller shall not be bound by any such expert opinion, and reserves the right to obtain additional expert advice at its own expense.

4.4 Koller may at its complete discretion waive the assertion of grounds for exclusion pursuant to the above Clause 4.2 or the fulfilment of preconditions pursuant to the above Clause 4.3.

4.5 The claims of the Purchaser against Koller under Clause 4.1 are limited to the reimbursement of the purchase price and surcharge (incl. VAT) paid by the Purchaser. Further or other claims of the Purchaser against Koller or its employees are excluded under any legal title whatsoever.

5. Participation in the auction

5.1 Any party may participate in an auction as a Purchaser. However, Koller reserves the right at its complete discretion to prevent any person entering its premises or attending or participating in its auctions.

5.2 Purchasers who are not personally known to Koller must register at least 48 hours before the auction, using the form provided for this purpose. A copy of the passport of the Purchaser must be enclosed with registration, signed with legal effect. In the event of every payment default of the Purchaser, Koller shall be entitled to charge the credit card of the Purchaser in accordance with the details provided on the registration form up to the level of the owed sum plus the expenses of the card provider.

5.3 If a Purchaser who is unknown to Koller is planning to bid for items with upper estimated values of more than CHF 15 000, he shall be required to present to Koller in advance a certificate of creditworthiness issued by a bank approved by Koller.

5.4 In the case of bids for items with upper estimated values of more than CHF 30 000, Koller may demand that the Purchaser first remits 20 % of the lower estimated value as security. Following the auction, Koller will offset this sum against its claims and the claims of the Seller, and will reimburse any possible surpluses to the Purchaser without delay.

6. Auction

6.1 Koller may initiate the auctioning of an item below the minimum selling price agreed upon with the Seller. A bid placed at an auction is a binding offer. The bidder shall remain bound by his bid until this is either outbid or rejected by Koller. Double bids shall immediately be called once again; in case of doubt, the auction management shall decide.

6.2 Koller may refuse a bid either without giving reasons or if a Purchaser fails to fulfil the conditions for participation in an auction pursuant to the above Clauses 5.2 to 5.4. Koller may also knock down or withdraw auctioned items without a sale even if this is not apparent to the auction participants.

6.3 Koller reserves the right to combine, separate or omit numbered lots in the catalogue or to offer them out of sequence. Koller reserves the right to sell lots “conditionally” at its sole discretion, in which event the hammer price will be considered as conditional and the highest bidder will remain bound by his bid for 14 days following the auction. The highest bidder will be released from all obligations if he does not receive a statement from Koller within this period declaring the hammer price as final.

6.4 Written bids from potential Purchasers who cannot attend the auction in person are accepted up to 48 hours before the bidding begins.

6.5 Potential Purchasers may bid by telephone if they have given written notice at least 48 hours before the auction starts. Koller does not accept telephone bids for amounts under CHF 500 and Purchasers are requested to leave a written bid or participate in the salesroom.

6.6 Potential Purchasers who intend to place their bids in the course of an Online Auction via the internet may participate in the auction once their registration applications have been approved by Koller. Koller reserves the right to decline registration applications at its discretion.

6.7 Koller refuses all liability for any kind of bids as well as advance notifications of telephone bidding which are not taken into consideration. Telephone bidders and persons giving written instructions are also subject to the provisions of Clause 5 relating to proof of identity and financial soundness. In the case of Purchasers who place bids in the course of an Online Auction via the internet, Clause 5 only applies with regards to financial soundness.

7. Transfer of title

Ownership of an auctioned item shall be transferred to the Purchaser as soon as the purchase price and the surcharge (incl. VAT) have been comprehensively paid and Koller has attributed these payments to the corresponding item.

8. Collection of the auctioned items

8.1 The auctioned items must be collected at the Purchaser's own expense within 7 days from the end of the auction during official opening hours. If time permits, the items may be handed over after each auction session. The handover shall be performed following comprehensive payment of the purchase price as well as the surcharge (incl. VAT) and the attribution of this sum to the auctioned item by Koller. Cheques offered as payment must be confirmed by the drawee bank before the auctioned item is handed over.

8.2 During the aforementioned period Koller shall be liable for loss, theft, damage or destruction of items which have been auctioned and paid for, but only up to the total of the auction price, surcharge and VAT. Koller ceases to have liability after the aforementioned period, and the Purchaser shall be responsible for ensuring adequate insurance cover for the auctioned item. No liability can be assumed for frames and glass. If the auctioned items are not collected within 7 days, Koller will store the works at a company of their choice at the purchaser’s own risk and expense or on their own premises at a daily rate of CHF 10 per object.

8.3 Transport orders may be sent to Koller in writing. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, transport insurance shall be taken out for the sold items at the expense of the Purchaser. Glazed pictures and fragile items shall not be sent by Koller.

9. Payment for the auctioned items

9.1 The invoice for a successful bid for an auctioned item is payable within 7 days from the end of the auction. Irrespective of the Purchaser's instructions, Koller may use any payments by the Purchaser as settlement for any debt owed by the Purchaser to Koller or the Seller and set off any debt which it owes to the Purchaser against its own claims. If the Purchaser defaults on a payment, default interest of 10 % p.a. shall be charged on top of the invoiced sum.

9.2 If the Purchaser does not pay or does not pay promptly, Koller may moreover in its own name and in the Seller's name optionally (i) insist on the fulfilment of the purchase agreement or (ii) without further notice withdraw from the purchase agreement and waive the subsequent performance of the Purchaser or assert a claim for compensation for non-performance; in the latter case Koller shall also be entitled, irrespective of a possible minimum sales price, to sell the item either directly or on the occasion of an auction, and may use the proceeds to reduce the debts of the Purchaser. Any possible sales price above the original hammer price shall be paid out to the Seller. The Purchaser is liable to Koller and the Seller for all prejudice caused by non-payment or late payment.

9.3 Koller retains a right of retention and a lien on all the Purchaser's items in its custody until full payment of all monies owed. Koller may exercise such liens in accordance with the legislation on the enforcement of debts or by private sale (including in its own name). The plea of prior lien exploitation pursuant to Art. 41 of the Swiss Debt Collection and Bankruptcy Act is excluded.

10. Representation

Each Purchaser shall be personally liable for the bid placed by him. Proof of the power of representation may be requested from persons bidding as agents for a third party or as an organ of a corporate body. The agent shall be jointly and severally liable with his principal for the fulfilment of all obligations.

11. Miscellaneous provisions

11.1 The auction shall be attended by an official from the city of Zurich. The attending official, the local authority and the state have no liability for the acts of Koller.

11.2 Koller reserves the right to publish illustrations and photographs of sold items in its own publications and the media and to publicise its services therewith.

11.3 The aforementioned provisions form part of each individual purchase agreement concluded at the auction. Amendments are binding only with Koller's written agreement.

11.4 The present Auction Conditions and all amendments thereof are governed by Swiss law.

11.5 The courts of the Canton of Zurich shall be exclusively responsible for settling disputes (including the assertion of offsetting and counterclaims) which arise out of or in conjunction with these Auction Conditions (including their validity, legal effect, interpretation or fulfilment). Koller may, however, initiate legal proceedings before any other competent court.

See Full Terms And Conditions