Munich, 17 June, 2013, (kk) - € 19.6 million** - that is the outstanding result of this spring’s auction season. “This way we have toped last year’s result by the remarkable sum of € 6 million. At the same time, with a result of € 1.74 million* for Ernst Ludwig Kirchner‘s masterpiece with painting on both sides, we did not only achieve the highest hammer for a work of Classic Modernism, but also the highest price for a painting sold in Germany during the first term of 2013“, says company owner Robert Ketterer.

The highest hammer for a painting in Germany during the spring auction season came down at Ketterer Kunst on 8 June for E. L. Kirchner’s "Zwei mit Katzen spielende Mädchen" with oil painting on both sides. Result: € 1.74 million*.

"Art is in high demand, and the tendency is still upwards. Accordingly, circumstances for the autumn auction season could not be better", continues the auctioneer and explains: "Our concept of offering good quality at moderate estimates has proven to be successful". The packed auction room, countless written bids and hot phone wires, as well as the unbroken bidding frenzy deliver prove thereof. It was not only well about a dozen lots that entered the race with starting prices above the € 100.000 mark, and more than twice as much that realized proceeds far beyond this mark, additionally, the average increase per sold object of more than 80%*** alone in the section of Modern Art is something more than just worthwhile mentioning.

The section of Modern Art did not only offer great quality but also numerous works characterized by a very own charm. Next to the top lot by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, this especially accounts for Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and his splendid oil painting "Anlegeplatz am Fluss (Maasholm an der Schlei)", which climbed from € 120.000 to € 648.000*. Additionally, works by Alexej von Jawlensky, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Gabriele Münter, Emil Nolde and Max Pechstein were also quite in demand.

The section of Post War Art was led by Alexander Calder's filigree mobile (starting price: € 140.000, result: € 329.000*) and by Zao Wou-Ki's "Composition" (starting price: € 240.000, result: € 440.000*. Further important works with international appeal came especially from German artists. Besides the sculptures by Martin and Brigitte Matschinsky-Denninghoff, the works by Gerhard Richter, Georg Baselitz, Sigmar Polke and Emil Schumacher as well as by ZERO artists Heinz Mack and Otto Piene were particularly popular.

In the section of Contemporary Art artists of the New Leipzig School like David Schnell, Tim Eitel, Christoph Ruckhäberle and, of course, Neo Rauch were popular. Other important names in the line of young and sought-after artists are Till Freiwald and Eberhard Havekost.

Old Masters & Art of the 19th Century saw a Renaissance. More and more collectors discover this section. What began in autumn 2011 and showed to be a trend in 2012, has become established by now: The overall interest in older art is increasing. In the spring auction of Old Masters & Art of the 19th Century every third bidder was a new customer and almost every second buyer was a first time buyer. This also had an impact on the results, proceeds of € 2.9 million* for this May excelled last year's results by € 2 million. The combination of quality and attractive starting prices attracted a great number of new customers. The section registered 30 percent first time bidders, not only from Europe, but also from Russia and the U.S.A.

With an overall result of almost € 1.5 million* the department of Rare Books - Manuscripts - Autographs - Decorative Prints is very content, too. Head of department Christoph Calaminus explains: "The quality on offer is highly valued by our customers". The top lot "Liber chronicarum" by Hartmann Schedel led the result list this spring. Bidders from Germany and France competed against one another and let the remarkably well-preserved copy of the first edition climb to a result of € 114.000*. The bidding skirmish for the chronic of the world with the first authentic views of Ger-man cities was won by a private collector who made sure that the masterpiece with 1800 text woodcuts in old coloring from the printshop where Albrecht Dürer was educated would remain in Germany.

Modern Art

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Zwei mit Katzen spielende Mädchen, painted on both sides
Starting price:    € 500.000
Result:             € 1.740.000*

Karl Schmidt-Rottlluff - Anlegeplatz am Fluss (Maasholm an der Schlei)
Starting price:   € 120.000
Result:             € 648.000*

Gabriele Münter - Bergwiese
Starting price:    € 120.000
Result:             € 323.000*
Zao Wou-Ki - Composition
Starting price:    € 240.000
Result:             € 440.000*

Alexander Calder - no title
Starting price:   € 140.000
Result:             € 329.000*

Georg Baselitz - no title
Starting price:   €  80.000
Result:              € 183.000*

Konstantin E. Makovskij - Porträt einer eleganten Dame mit Fächer
Starting price:   €  66.000
Result:             € 155.000*

Francesco Botticini ascribed. - Anbetung Mariens ...
Starting price:   €   7.500
Result:             € 122.000*

Georges Kars - Reiter und Flaneure im Park
Starting price:   €   4.000
Result:             €  98.000*

Hartmann Schedel - Liber chronicarum. Nuremberg. 1493
Starting price:   €  80.000
Result:             € 114.000*

Maximilian Prinz zur Wied-Neuwied - Reise in das Innere Nord-Amerika. Koblenz. 1839-41
Starting price:   €  20.000
Result:             €  66.000*

Plinius Secundus Caecilius - Historia naturale. Venice. 1476
Starting price:   €  28.000
Result:             €  34.000*