Leger's Le cinq de trefle Achieves $1.1 Million at Christie's NY Impressionist and Modern Art

Fernand Leger (1881-1955), Le cinq de trèfle, signed and dated 'F. LEGER 47' (lower right); signed and dated again and titled 'F LEGER, 47 LE 5 de TREFLE' (on the reverse), oil on canvas, 19 3/8 x 25¾ in. (49.2 x 65.4 cm.) Painted in 1947.  Price realized: $1,112,500/£741,667/€830,224.

NEW YORK.- The Impressionist and Modern Art Works on Paper and Day sales took place today at Christie's NY (May 7 2009) and realized a combined total of $20,659,000/ £13,772,800 / €15,417,314, with a sell-through rate of 90% by value. The top price of the day was achieved for Fernand Léger’s Le cinq de trèfle, 1947 which achieved $1,112,500/ £741,667/ €830,224.

Combined with results from yesterday’s Evening Sale, total sales for this week’s Impressionist and Modern Art sales were $123,426,200/£82,284,133/ €92,109,104.

Sharon Kim, Head of Sale, comments: “We are pleased to report a second strong day of results for Impressionist and Modern Art, with over $20,659,000 in combined sales for today’s two sessions and a sell-through rate of 90% by value. The 66-lot morning session of Works on Paper exceeded its high estimate to achieve $5,147,000, led by Marc Chagall’s Talmudiste Endormi at $1,082,500. We were particularly pleased with the success of the afternoon session’s cover lot, Fernand Léger’s Le cinq de trèfle, 1947 which realized $1,112,500, as well as the run-away success of Otto Mueller’s Landschaft, circa 1925, which sold for $722,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $150,000-200,000. Bidders seemed energized by the strong results from last night’s Evening Sale at Christie’s, which achieved $102,767,000 and was 94% sold by value. In all, this week’s sales totals have re-confirmed the strength and confidence of the Impressionist & Modern Art market.

Marc Chagall (1887-1985), Talmudiste endormi, signed and dated 'Marc Chagall 1943' (lower right), oil, gouache, watercolor, pastel, charcoal and brush and black ink on paper, 26¾ x 19 5/8 in. (68 x 50 cm.). Executed in 1943. Price realized: $1,082,500

Otto Mueller (1874-1930), Landschaft (recto); Sitzender Akt in Landschaft (verso), signed with initials 'O.M.' (lower left); signed again 'Otto Mueller' (on the stretcher), distemper on burlap, 38 3/8 x 46 7/8 in. (97.5 x 119.1 cm.). Painted circa 1925. Price realised: $722,500