That Tiffany fixed gear with the hand carved ivory handle grips we mentioned, sold for $57,000 today at Bonhams NY.
Not to keep jocking Bonhams NY, but at another auction there, this one featuring “original art by noted psychedelic artists, depicting some of the biggest names in rock ‘n’ roll” this Grateful Dead’s “Without a Net” tour poster — sold for $114,000, said Bonhams spokesman Levi Morgan. It had been expected to bring a price of $125,000 to $175,000.” They’re lucky to have gotten that. The whole auction only netted $795,000. Looks like street artists aren’t the ones failing to impress the NYC art market. In related news, that Murakami statue of a Manga character jerking off sold for $15 million, which was $10 million more than its estimate. |AP|
This 1890s built Tiffany fixed gear bicycle is pretty exquisite. The “silver mounted” lady’s bike comes with a Brooks saddle and carved ivory handle grips. It’s estimated to sell for between $50,000 – 70,000 at an upcoming auction at Bonhams NY in early June. According to the description “only a handful of these luxury two-wheelers were produced,” one of them for turn of the century actress Lillian Russell. Close-ups and detail shots of the elaborate workmanship after the jump.
Banksy, “Untitled” (“Laugh Now …”), Sold for $210,000
This afternoon, Bonhams NY held their “Contemporary Art” auction which featured an array of work, including some prints and originals from Banksy, Nick Walker, and Faile. Despite his recent rash of spray painted publicity around the city, Walker’s pieces did not skyrocket like fellow Bristol native Banksy, with his unofficially titled “Laugh Now” original (pictured above) fetching $210,00—although in all fairness, Walker’s “Moona Lisa” and “The Morning After” prints beat out both of the art prankster’s prints. See the full results below and an exclusive video of a Banksy feeding-frenzy for “Laugh Now” in action:
BANKSY, Untitled (“Laugh Now …”), 1998. Estimate: $120,000 – 180,000
Even with the economy in the shitter, the well off are still buying artwork at the city’s auction houses which is good news for Bonham’s NY. They are holding their first New York Sale of international Contemporary Art on May 13. The collection isn’t as robust (or expensive) as the upcoming Phillips de Pury sale we previewed, but there are some notable works worth highlighting. Besides the obligatory crop of Warhols, there’s a BANKSY original (pictured above) that is sure to make all the headlines. ANIMAL perused the online catalogue and presents some of best low brow picks of the litter.
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