PRESS RELEASE | SOUTH KENSINGTON FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : 21 August 2013 GRAPHIC MASTERWORKS: 100 YEARS OF INFLUENTIAL POSTER DESIGN AT CHRISTIE’S IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION FROM EMINENT POSTER CONNOISSEUR MARTIJN LE COULTRE FEATURES RARE POSTERS NEVER SEEN ON THE MARKET Joost Schmidt Jean Carlu Stenberg Brothers (Vladimir; Staatilches Bauhaus Ausstellung Théâtre Pigalle, Élairages, Machinerie Georgi) Estimate: £150,000-200,000 Estimate: £30,000-40,000 The General Estimate: £30,000 – 50,000 South Kensington, London – Christie‟s will present a striking collection of over 100 vintage posters that explore developments in graphic design from 1894 to 1988 in the Graphic Masterworks: A Century of Design auction on 2 October 2013. The collection, put together over 40 years by eminent poster connoisseur Martijn Le Coultre, features artists who were at the forefront of avant-garde art and design, known for their revolutionary use of typography, layout and colour and their impact on the De Stijl, Bauhaus, Constructivism and Expressionism movements. With estimates ranging from £1,000 to £200,000, the sale offers a unique opportunity to acquire some of the rarest and most groundbreaking posters and graphics ever produced. Highlights from the sale can be viewed at an extended public exhibition, open until 30 August at Christie‟s King Street. Sophie Churcher, Specialist in the Vintage Posters department at Christie’s commented: “In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century the poster was the primary means of advertising and as such, it had to grab the attention of the passer-by in a matter of seconds. Today, these posters connect with people in a very direct and immediate manner, and are just as powerful as when they were first presented to the public. Graphic Masterworks traces important developments in advertising and design, whilst reflecting significant moments in the social and cultural history of the twentieth century. Originally designed to last just a few weeks before they were torn down, the posters on offer are exceptionally rare, and many have never been seen at auction before.” HIGHLIGHTS One of the rarest and most valuable posters in the sale is Staatliches Bauhaus by Joost Schmidt. (Estimate: £150,000 – 200,000, illustrated left). Martijn Le Coultre recalled: “When the Bauhaus organised its milestone exhibition in 1923, inflation in Germany was at an all-time high. It was impossible to source good paper for posters so very few survived. Those that did are fragile and much sought after. It took me 25 years to find this work, now it’s my turn to offer it to another collector.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theátre Pigalle by Jean Carlu (Estimate: £30,000-40,000, illustrated left) is one of the most abstract posters in the collection and another key lot in the sale. Created for the opening night of the art deco theatre in 1929, Carlu‟s design conceptualises the groundbreaking engineering of the new venue by emphasising the lighting and mechanics, creating a truly avant-garde design. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prominent figures in Moscow's artistic avant-garde circles, The Stenberg Brothers worked in a variety of mediums, from Constructivist sculpture to theatre design and architecture. They made their greatest impact, however, on poster design during the 1920s, creating some of the most experimental and powerful designs ever conceived. The brothers designed The General (Estimate: £30,000-50,000, illustrated left), to advertise the cinematic comedy masterpiece by Clyde Bruckman and Buster Keaton. Their revolutionary approach to design, the introduction of implied movement and distortion of scale, is typical of the Constructivist style they pioneered. POSTER DESIGN AND THE INFLUENCE OF ADVERTISING One of the earliest advertising images included in the collection is a Dutch poster for salad oil, estimated to fetch £20,000 to £25,000 (illustrated left). Designed by Jan Toorop in the 1890s, Delftsche Slaolie with its sinuous forms of the lavishly dressed women merging into the patterned background reflects the values of the prosperous bourgeois society which fuelled Art Nouveau. This poster became so popular that Art Nouveau is known today as the „Salad Oil Style‟ in The Netherlands. Advertising designs became increasingly simplified in the early 20th Century with a new pared down quality, exemplified by the Sachplakat style. Strong images emerged where only the brand name and adverstised product were represented. Pioneered by prolific designer Lucian Bernhard , Sachplakat featured clean, clear and accurate lines and flat blocks of colour. It was a groundbreaking and compelling style that shaped the future of commercial advertising. Lucian Bernhard‟s Manoli, 1910 (estimate:£10,000 – 15,000, illustrated, right) is the archytypal example. Art Deco posters included in the sale such as René Magritte‟s Primevère poster (estimate: £12,000 – 16,000, illustrated left), shows the development of advertising in more lavish design. Better known for his Surrealist works, Magritte was a prolific magazine and advertising illustrator and contributed greatly to the Art Deco movement with his poster, wallpaper and textile designs. He produced Primevère in 1926, the same year that he created his first surrealist painting. Following the Second World War, dramatic changes in technology, consumer desires and an increasingly competitive market greatly influenced the advertising industry. Posters had to convey a multitude of messages and designers were required to think conceptually, as well as aesthetically. Abram Games‟ Guinness 5 Million Daily (estimate: £1,000 – 1,500, illustrated right) conveys his philosophy on design: “maximum meaning by minimum means”. Highlights from the sale will be displayed in frames by leading framer John Jones. PRESS CONTACT: Coralie Whittall|+44 (0)207 752 3121 |[email protected] Public Exhibition: Auction: Saturday 28 September 11.00am–5.00pm Graphic Masterworks – A Century of Design Sunday 29 September 11.00am–5.00pm Wednesday 2 October 2013 Monday 30 September 9.00am–7.30pm 2.00pm Tuesday 1 October 9.00am–5.00pm Christie’s South Kensington Open seven days a week, Christie‟s South Kensington is one of the busiest salerooms in the UK attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. With over 100 sales and offering more than 20,000 lots annually, estimates start from under £1,000. Interiors sales dedicated to home furnishings are held three times a month alongside regular Sunday sales of single-owner collections. Specialised sales for the avid collector are scheduled throughout the year according to category, and include Popular Culture Memorabilia, Vintage Couture, Islamic Art, Jewellery, 20th Century British Art and Chinese Works of Art, amongst others. In 2012 Christie‟s South Kensington realised the highest ever total for the third consecutive year with sales of £139.4 million / $223.1 million having welcomed a 10% growth in registered bidders and a 20% increase (£ / $) in total sales. About Christie’s Christie‟s, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales in the first half of 2013 that totaled £2.4 billion/ $3.68 billion. In 2012, Christie‟s had global auction and private sales that totaled £3.92 billion/$6.27 billion making it the highest annual total in Christie‟s history. Christie‟s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie‟s offers over 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War and Contemporary, Impressionist and Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery. Private sales totaled £465.2 million ($711.8 million) in the first half of 2013, an increase of 13% on the previous year, and for the third successive year represents the highest total for the period in both company and art market history. Christie‟s has a global presence with 53 offices in 32 countries and 12 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Mumbai. More recently, Christie‟s has led the market with expanded initiatives in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai. *Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits. About John Jones John Jones is a global centre of excellence in the preservation and presentation of fine art. Established in north London during the 1960s, the museum standard services include bespoke picture framing, art installation, fine art conservation, collection management and artwork printing. Each frame design for the Graphic Masterworks sale has been hand-made by UK based craftspeople with conservation grade materials and is available to purchase. For more information on John Jones services, or to book an appointment for a free framing consultation, please visit www.johnjones.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)20 7281 5439. # # # Visit Christie’s Website at www.christies.com Complete catalogue available online at www.christies.com or via the Christie’s iPhone app FOLLOW CHRISTIE’S ON: CHRISTIE’S SOUTH KENSINGTON 85 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 3LD OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK Monday: 9.00am – 7.30pm Tuesday – Friday: 9.00am – 5.00pm Saturday & Sunday: 11.00am - 5.00pm WWW.CHRISTIES.COM .