Munich, 03 July 2007, (kk) - € 14.4* million: the outstanding results of the Ketterer Kunst Spring Auctions in Hamburg and Munich. This represents an increase of over 40 per cent compared to the same period last year.

"Of course we owe this quantum leap largely to the outstanding results of our Munich event, which set a new price record with Emil Nolde"s "Nadja" selling for € 2.58* million, but there is also great rejoicing in Hamburg: after all, here, too, we recorded a slight rise in sale prices at all auctions," as Robert Ketterer, auctioneer and managing director of Ketterer Kunst sums it up.

Just the two Munich Modern Art & Post War auctions, including the special sale devoted to Expressive Realism ensured overall sale proceeds amounting to € 10* million, an increase of over 50 per cent compared to the first six months of 2006. Apart from spectacular rises in the field of Contemporary Art - Pierre Soulages" "Peinture" (sale price: € 252.000*) more than doubled its estimate of € 100.000 and the Franz Kline "Study for "Black and White No. 2"" climbed from an estimate of € 70.000 to € 140.000* - the Classical Moderns stole the show.

Not only did all six Emil Nolde watercolours find new owners; so did five works by Otto Mueller, three Karl Schmidt-Rottluffs and two Gabriele Münter. It is certainly worth mentioning that two oil paintings by Vladimir Georgievic Bechteev (sale price: € 462.000*) and Wilhelm Morgner (sale price: € 192.000*), achieved hammer prices well above their estimates. Once again at this auction, too, quality and good provenance proved their worth as they also did at the March auction in Hamburg, where the focus is on works on paper and t argets the estimate bracket of up to € 50.000.

Handsome results were also achieved in the field of Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century/Marine Art in Hamburg. This division has established itself since autumn 2006 with an auction of its own and proceeds from it this spring were in the area of € 500.000.

With overall sale proceeds amounting to € 1.3* million, the Rare Books - Manuscripts - Autographs - Decorative Prints division was also jubilant. "We are very pleased that the concept of evening auctions has been so well received by our clientele and has continued to be so successful even after the novelty value has worn off," thus Christoph Calaminus, auctioneer and division head.

In addition to the classic auctions, the live online auctions introduced late in 2006 have also been enthusiastically received. At these auctions works by core artists of international standing from around the world are sold at auction live online, with almost all works called at prices below € 1000. The "Affordable Prices for Great Names" concept has from the outset been a hit with both individual bidders and art dealers from Germany and abroad.

In keeping with the unceasing efforts to improve client service, Ketterer Kunst has also been represented in Heidelberg since 1 June 2007.

Further, Ketterer Kunst is also operating a gallery in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Paintings by Alfred Kohler are currently featured in the 150 square metres of exhibition space at Fasanenstrasse 70 there. They will be followed from mid-August until mid-October by works from the hand of Lambert Maria Wintersberger.

Since it was founded in 1954, Ketterer Kunst has been firmly established in the front ranks of auction houses dealing in art and rare books. While the Munich headquarters in the Prinz-Alfons Palais is responsible for the two traditional annual auctions of Modern Art & Post War, the Meßberghof in Hamburg is the venue for two traditional auctions a year, each based on the following fields: Old Masters and 19th-Century Art /Marine Art and Rare Books - Autographs - Manuscripts - Decorative Prints as well as Modern Art & Post War, with a focus on works on paper. In addition, exhibitions, special and benefit auctions for charity as well as live auctions online are regular events at Ketterer Kunst.

The TOP sale prices in all divisions

 

  

  

  

*) The sale price represents the hammer price + 20 per cent surcharge.

Munich, June 22, 2007