'Lauren Bacall's' Alexander Calder mobile highlights Bonhams art auction

Bonhams will present a striking selection of well-known artists in various media in the Modern and Contemporary Art auction on November 7.

Taking place in New York, this auction boasts 116 lots across a variety of price points that will appeal to a wide array of bidders, both private and trade. 

"We are thrilled to offer this array of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary paintings, drawings and sculptures and we expect very good results," said Sharon Goodman Squires, Bonhams Senior Specialist of Modern and Contemporary Art.

"I am especially excited about the Impressionist and Modern works on paper since they continually prove to be strong performers in the auction room."

Alexander Calder's 'highly recognisable mobile'

Leading the sale is one of American sculptor Alexander Calder's highly recognisable mobiles titled Deux Blancs en Dessous (estimated at $400,000-600,000).

This particular mobile consists of a red painted metal stand that is monogrammed and dated with 'CA 74' and features an intricately balanced arm with various hanging bright colored shapes.

This sculpture comes from the collection of Sam Robards, who received it as a gift from his mother, the film and stage legend Lauren Bacall.

This beautiful sculpture had been in her collection for many years and is evidence of her discerning eye for fine art and design. 

Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita 

Also highlighting the sale are two paintings by Japanese/French painter Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita. Known for applying intricate Japanese ink techniques to Western style painting, these lots are excellent examples of Foujita's minimalist aesthetic.

Leading the two is Nude Study, an oil, ink and wash on canvas, of a blonde nude model resting with his arms above his head (estimated at $60,000-90,000).

calder-mobile-art-bonhams
Alexander Calder's 'highly recognisable' mobile titled Deux Blancs en Dessous

The other work is a pastel tinted still life of a pocket watch, pack of cigarettes, pipe and pig sitting on a wooden table titled Still Life (estimated at $30,000-50,000). Each of these paintings has been in private hands since the late 1920s. 

Also in the sale is a wonderful example of the signature style of Columbian artist Fernando Botero in Still Life with Oranges (estimated at $70,000-90,000).

From a private collection in Northern California, this painting was acquired directly from the artist and is a charming and vivid example of his signature still life compositions.

A fantastic example of David Hammons' signature bodyprints is Untitled (Bodyprint) (estimated at $20,000-30,000). This work on paper exhibits the artist's interest in cultural identity, specifically in the African-American experience of the 1970s.

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