Munich, 14 June 2017, (kk) - More than € 21 million* - online and direct sales not included - that's the superb result of the auctions at Ketterer Kunst* ** in the first term of 2017. Accordingly, the house records a slight upward tendency with a lot total reduced by around 40%. The sections of art from the 19th to the 21st century alone grossed around € 19.5 million*.

Downsizing the range of objects by around two thirds was a good decision for the Rare Books department, as the result of total proceeds amounting to around € 1.8 million* is on par with last spring's figures. With total sale proceeds of more than 1.3 million*, the department of 19th Century Art even excelled its previous result by around € 30%.

"The demand for high-class offers is tremendous, as sharp price increases and the excellent overall result show", says auctioneer and company owner Robert Ketterer. With the second term in mind he adds: "This makes for perfect preconditions for our auctions in autumn".

TOP 10

 1: €1,687,500* calling price: €750,000  lot 237: Max Beckmann - Château d'If
 2: € 900,000*   calling price: €500,000  lot 830: Georg Baselitz - Zwei halbe Kühe
 3: €750,000*   calling price: €480,000  lot 842: Gerhard Richter - Rot-Blau-Gelb
 4: € 562,500*   calling price: €220,000  lot 202: Gabriele Münter - Berglandschaft mit Haus
 5: €462,500*   calling price: € 80,000  lot 221: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Die Geliebte
 6: €450,000*   calling price: €180,000  lot 226: Hermann Max Pechstein - Ronmay
 7: € 375,000*   calling price: € 75,000  lot 020: Franz von Stuck - Susanna im Bade
 8: € 350,000*   calling price: €250,000  lot 230: Hermann Max Pechstein - Sommermorgen
 8: €350,000*   calling price: €280,000  lot 210: Otto Mueller - Vier Badende (Stehende und liegende weibliche Akte ...)
 8: €350,000*   calling price: €280,000  lot 835: Gerhard Richter - Stadtbild
 9: €312,500*   calling price: €250,000  lot 806: Serge Poliakoff - Composition abstraite
10: €287,500* calling price: €100,000  lot 233: Heinrich Maria Davringhausen - Krieg (world record***)

Moderate estimate prices coupled with good quality made for the excellent results. This is also shown by 38 lots on or beyond the € 100,000 line, a result at eye level with that from last spring.

The department Post War/Contemporary Art alone delivered convincing proof of its importance, with a total of 20 results on or beyond that magic line. Next to Georg Baselitz, whose "Zwei halbe Kühe" climbed to a price of € 900,000*, other top lots came from Gerhard Richter and Serge Poliakoff, who placed two works each in the department's top five. New world records*** were realized by Stephan Balkenhol's "Mann und Frau", with a result of € 175,000*, and by Alain Jacquet's "La vierge et l'enfant", with a price of € 112,500*. Likewise in demand were, among others, works by Josef Albers, Horst Antes, Willi Baumeister, Jonas Burgert, Günter Förg, Markus Lüpertz, Heinz Mack, Ernst Wilhelm Nay, Otto Piene and Daniel Richter.

The undisputed star in the department of Modern Art was Max Beckmann's "Château d'If", which not only brought in the top result of almost € 1.7 million*, but also realized an excellent yield for the heirs of the former buyer, who bought the picture for 22,000 Deutschmark 50 years ago. Next to two world records*** for Heinrich Maria Davringhausen's "Krieg" (calling price: € 100,000, result: € 287,500*) and Fritz Klimsch's sculpture "Nereide auf der Muschel" (calling price: € 30.000, result: € 206,250*), a Hessian private collection of finest works of Expressionism also left a strong mark. The highlight came from Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, whose woodcut "Die Geliebte" was honored with a price of € 462,500*. Other remarkable pieces in the department came from, among others, Cuno Amiet, Peter August Böckstiegel, Alexej von Jawlensky, Alexander Kanoldt, Otto Mueller, Gabriele Münter, Emil Nolde and Hermann Max Pechstein.

With proceeds of more than € 1.3 million*, the department of 19th Century Art completed the season successfully, too. The high-class range of offers was in quite some demand, as the interest in this epoch constantly increases, of which around one third first time buyers also deliver proof. The collection of a Southern German art lover, including two works by Franz von Stuck occupying 1st and 2nd place in the auction, was met with great approval. Excellent increases were also recorded for, among others, works by Paul Baum, Edward Theodore Compton, Franz von Defregger, Karl Hagemeister, Friedreich Kallmorgen, Joseph Karl Stieler, Hans Thoma, Joseph Wopfner and Heinrich von Zügel.

Total proceeds of around € 1.8 million* made for great contentment in the department of Rare Books - Manuscripts - Autographs - Decorative Prints. The result is not only on par with last spring's figures, it was also realized with a catalog comprising only half the amount of lot numbers. Christoph Calaminus, head of the department, explains: "I am very happy that we were able to keep pace with the result of spring 2016, our best so far, despite the reduced number of objects. What surely is decisive is the increased quality of our range of offers, which s also reflected by the new lavish design of our catalogs".

The TOP results in all departments for spring 2017

Since it was founded in 1954, Ketterer Kunst has been on the forefront of auction houses dealing in Fine Art and Rare Books, with its headquarters in Munich, and a branch in Hamburg. Representatives' offices in Berlin, Heidelberg, Duesseldorf, the Benelux Union, France, Italy, Switzerland and the US have contributed substantially to the company's success. In addition, exhibitions, special thematic and charity auctions as well as monthly online auctions at www.ketterer-internet-auction.com are regular events at Ketterer Kunst. Robert Ketterer is owner and CEO of Ketterer Kunst.

*    The result is the hammer price plus buyer's premium
**   Ketterer Kunst holds its season auctions on several days, which is reflected by total proceeds of € 21 million* for spring 2017
***  Source: artprice.com