Calder and Iconic Lalanne Sheep @ Bonhams New York Auction

Willem de Kooning (American, 1904-1997) Woman in a Landscape, 1965, signed 'de Kooning' (lower left) oil on paper laid on panel, 23 5/8 x 18 5/8in (60 x 47.2cm. Estimate: $400,000 - 600,000. Unsold © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

November 10th Contemporary and Modern Art sale at Bonhams New York. The concise and meticulously assembled sale includes key work by legendary Contemporary and Modern figures such as Willem de Kooning, James Rosenquist, Henri Matisse, Lynn Chadwick, Alexander Calder and James Turrell.

Amongst the most coveted lots in the sale is a 1965 piece by Willem de Kooning. Titled Woman in a Landscape, the painting is an oil on paper laid on panel. Vibrantly colored and clearly conveying the feeling of flowing movement, the painting is estimated at $400/600,000. This fully executed small work, rare for the artist during this period, is likely an early study for the artist's 1966-67 painting The Visit housed in the Tate collection.

Alexander Calder's Red Pennant, 1966 (est. $100/150,000), is also expected to attract much collector attention. The simple yet striking standing mobile is fresh to the market, having remained in the same family since it was purchased from Perls Galleries circa 1970.

Alexander Calder (American, 1898-1976) Red Pennant, 1966, signed with the Artist's monogram 'CA' (on the base) painted metal, wire and brass standing mobile, 14 1/4 x 11 x 5in (36.2 x 28 x 12.7cm) Sold for $206,000 © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

PROVENANCE: Perls Galleries, New York, New York
Private Collection, Napa Valley, California (acquired from the above circa 1970)
Thence by descent to the present owners

This work is registered in the archives of the Calder Foundation, New York, under application number A07848 and is accompanied by the original photo certificate from Perls Galleries.

Henri Matisse's delightful ink line drawing of his grandson Paul is likely to spark intense bidding. Portrait of Paul Matisse V (est. $80/120,000), drawn in 1946 in Nice, is marked by the great master's playful lyricism (pictured left). It is the fifth drawing from a series of ten that were shown together in 1971 at Thomas Gibson Fine Arts in London.

Henri Matisse (French, 1869-1954) Portrait of Paul Matisse V, 1946, signed, dated 'H. Matisse juill 46' (lower right) ink on paper, 18 1/4 x 11 1/4in (46.4 x 28.6cm) Sold for $85,400 © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

PROVENANCE: Thomas Gibson Fine Arts Ltd., London, England
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 1971

EXHIBITED: London, Thomas Gibson Fine Arts Ltd., Henri Matisse: Ten portrait drawings of Paul Matisse, April 14 - May 22, 1971, illus.

This work has been authenticated by Marguerite Duthuit and kindly confirmed by Wanda de Guébriant. It is accompanied by a photo certificate signed by Mme. Duthuit and dated February 8, 1972.

Two of François-Xavier Lalanne's iconic sheep sculptures are also highly anticipated. Made of bronze and concrete, the surrealist sheep sculptures are instantly recognizable. Sold as two separate lots, the first to go to block will be Belier, 1998, (pictured top). Featuring curved horns and standing at 37 inches tall, it is estimated at $40/60,000. The second sculpture to be offered, Mouton, 1999, stands at 35 ½ inches tall and carries an estimate of $20/30,000. Additionally, two works from ceramic artist Peter Voulkos will be offered. Both made of Shigaraki clay and fired at the Belvidere Kiln in New Jersey, the artist's Firebox charger, 1997 is estimated at $12/18,000 and Firebox charger, 1999 is estimated at $10/15,000.

François-Xavier Lalanne (French, 1927-2008) Belier, 1998, stamped with signature, initials, foundry mark, dated and numbered 'LALANNE / fxl / Landowski Fondeur / 1998 / 129/250' (on the underside of chin) bronze and concrete, 37 x 40 x 13in (94 x 102 x 33cm).
Sold for $85,400 © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

PROVENANCE: Guy Pieters Gallery, Belgium
Private Collection, Georgia (acquired from the above circa 1996)

François-Xavier Lalanne (French, 1927-2008) Mouton, 1999, stamped with signature, initials, foundry mark, dated and numbered 'LALANNE / fxl / Landowski Fondeur / 1999 / 194/250' (on the underside of chin) bronze and concrete, 35 1/2 x 40 x 12 1/2in (90.2 x 102 x 31.8cm) Sold for $51,850 © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

PROVENANCE: Guy Pieters Gallery, Belgium
Private Collection, Georgia (acquired from the above circa 1996)

Other notable works to be offered are James Rosenquist's 1993 painting Gift Wrapped Doll #25 (est.$200/300,000); a bronze and glass topped table by Diego Giacometti (est.$100/150,000); and a unique hologram, XC, 2004 (est.$40/60,000) from James Turrell.

James Rosenquist (American, born 1933) Gift Wrapped Doll #25, 1993, oil on canvas, 60 x 60in (152.4 x 152.4cm) Estimate: $200,000 - 300,000. Unsold © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

PROVENANCE: Richard Feigen & Co., New York, New York
Private American Collection (acquired from the above in 1993)
Sotheby's New York, November 13, 2002, lot 251
Private Collection, Brazil

Diego Giacometti (Swiss, 1902-1985) Table, feuilles aux oiseaux et grenouilles, circa 1980, stamped with signature and monogram 'DIEGO DG' (on the crossbar) patinated bronze with glass, 18 3/4 x 22 1/2 x 22 1/2in (47.6 x 57.2 x 57.2cm) Estimate: $100,000 - 150,000. Unsold © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

PROVENANCE: John Armbruster, London
Private Collection, New York (acquired from the above in the early 80s)

LITERATURE: D. Marchesseau, Diego Giacometti, Paris, 1986, p.146, another cast illus. p.147
F. Francisci, Diego Giacometti, Catalogue de l'oeuvre, Paris, 1986, vol. I, p. 116, another cast illus. p. 91
F. Baudot, Diego Giacometti, New York, 2001, p. 79, another cast illus.

James Turrell (American, born 1943) XC, 2004, signed, titled and dated 'James Turrell February 2004' (on plastic label affixed to the reverse) hologram and glass construction, 22 3/4 x 16 1/2in (55.8 x 41.9cm) Estimate: $40,000 - 60,000. Unsold © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd

PROVENANCE: Haines Gallery, San Francisco, California
Private Collection (acquired from the above)

This work is unique.