Take a look back at some of the year's most exciting bids.
2022 has been one for the books at Capsule: together with our partners, we've curated 44 successful auctions of artwork and design items in the past 12 months. To celebrate, we're looking back at some of the year's most exciting bids and noteworthy trends.
Record-Setting Sales
Among the many lots that smashed estimates this year is Franz Hagenauer's Bust. The metal sculpture realized a price of $19,375, surpassing its $2,000-$4,000 estimate and becoming the highest selling sculpture by the artist sold this year.
The sale of Clara Klinghoffer's Portrait of 'Bananas', The Pedlar marked an especially exciting moment. In January, the painting, which came to Capsule from Klinghoffer's estate, set an all-time auction record for the artist.
In November's Postwar and Contemporary Art sale, two stunning photographs by Hugo Erfurth of Otto Dix brought enthusiastic bidding. Portrait of Otto Dix with Paintbrush realized $13,750 while Portrait of Otto Dix with Flower realized $20,000, becoming the most expensive photograph by Erfurth sold at auction since 2018.
French artist Tancrède Synave's 1914 painting, Première à Paris du 'Spectre de la Rose' is another market standout. In June, it brought $19,375, the highest price seen at auction for a work by Synave since 2009.
A beautiful example of James Suzuki's Post-painterly abstraction, Divulge became the second most expensive work by the artist ever sold at auction in June, when it realized $19,375.
Highlights from Prominent Collections
Outstanding items from the collection of music executive Seymour Stein have made appearances in many of Capsule's marquee auctions, including American and European Art, which saw the sale of Gustav Klimt's Study for 'The Bride', and New Day Rising, which saw the sale of Frederic Leighton's An Athlete Wrestling a Python.
This summer, Capsule spotlighted items from the estate of Joseph Rondina in a two-part sale. The interior designer's Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Trunk and two lots of Chinese stools sold particularly well.
Trending Women Artists
2022 has been an exciting year for women artists: efforts across the market to close the gender gap have aided in creating an upward sales trajectory for artists like Janice Biala. The Polish-American artist's Untitled (Landscape) and Snowscape enjoyed enthusiastic bidding in Capsule's Postwar and Contemporary Art sale.
Judith Rothschild's work has also been trending on the market in recent years. In May, her bright abstraction Alcestis VI realized $10,938.
May's Limelight auction also saw the sales of two large-format landscpae photographs by Lynn Davis: Iceberg #3 and Iceberg #22.
Memorable Moments at Litchfield
In June, Litchfield Auctions secured the $84,500 sale of Fernando Zobel de Alaya's Abstract. From the estate of Mary Erlanger, this compelling composition marks the highest-selling contemporary painting of the year within our partner network.
This year, Litchfield also offered items from the estate of John "Parker" Prindle. Eternally curious and passionate about art, Prindle's vast collection is refreshingly varied. Packed with beautiful design items from big names like Paul Evans and Ettore Sottsass as well as fine art of all mediums, it's no surprise that the 4-part sale produced outstanding results.
Modern and Contemporary Paintings
This year, Capsule sold a slew of important modern and contemporary paintings by artists such as Milton Resnick and Stanley Boxer. See some of the most exciting lots below.
Works on Paper
Works on paper also garnered considerable interest this year, resulting in some of 2022's most remarkable auction hits.
