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Painted in 1979, Helen Frankenthaler’s Watch is a testament to her continued investigations into the possibilities of paint. The present work represents a pivotal moment in Frankenthaler's illustrious career, highlighting her evolving preference towards increasingly rich tones and dense compositions. A captivating exploration of her signature style, the picture is layered with dynamic and bold brushstrokes in a mesmerizing interplay of hues. The canvas itself becomes a window into a world of endless doldrums, a sea of emotions brought to life through gestural strokes of the artist’s brush.
By 1979 Frankenthaler had been working with acrylic paints for over 15 years, allowing her to create sharper edges and more contrast within her palette than with the thinned oil paints that she had initially used in the soak stain technique. In Watch, this manifests itself in a canvas of striking hues, composed of inky black, blue, green, and sporadic splashes of pearlescent silver and purple. Gazing upon Watch, the viewer is invited to immerse oneself into the depths of the canvas, each brushstroke telling a story, a narrative of Frankenthaler’s expressive journey through Abstract Expressionism. It is as if Frankenthaler's artistry has unlocked the secrets of her chosen medium, allowing her to paint not only with pigment but with raw emotion.
A detail of the present work. “There is no ‘always,’” Frankenthaler noted. “No formula. There are no rules. Let the picture lead you where it must go.”i Her philosophy on painting, and in life, is exemplified in Watch. The canvas acts as a guide for both the artist and viewer, the path of discovery laid out by the colors, gestures and brushstrokes of the artist, immersing the viewer in an entirely distinct visual experience. Only using this deep black color in a few other works from the 1970s, the present work is a standout example from Frankenthaler’s oeuvre.
i Helen Frankenthaler quoted in Ted Loos, “Helen Frankenthaler, Back to the Future,” New York Times, April 27, 2003, online.
Provenance
André Emmerich Gallery, New York
Acquired from the above by the present ownerExhibited
New York, André Emmerich Gallery, Helen Frankenthaler: New Paintings, November 3–28, 1979, n.p. (installation view illustrated, n.p.; illustrated, n.p.)
Property from an Important American Collection
113
Watch
signed "Frankenthaler" lower left; titled and dated ""WATCH" 1979" on the reverse
acrylic on canvas
27 x 53 3/4 in. (68.6 x 136.5 cm)
Painted in 1979.
Estimate
$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $304,800
Annie Dolan
Specialist, Head of Sale, Morning Session
+1 212 940 1288
adolan@phillips.com
20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Morning Session
New York Auction 15 November 2023
101
Alma Woodsey Thomas
Untitled
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $120,650
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102
Anne Truitt
6 Sept '87 No.3
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
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103
Alice Baber
Untitled
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $95,250
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104
Joan Brown
Untitled
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $33,020
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105
Lynne Drexler
Untitled (Dark)
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $50,800
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106
Lynne Drexler
Sporadic Spring
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $228,600
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107
Gerhard Richter
Studie für ein abstraktes Bild
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $304,800
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108
Gerhard Richter
Untitled (20 OKT. 92)
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $215,900
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109
Sam Francis
Untitled
Estimate $180,000 - 250,000
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110
Sam Francis
Sky Forms
Estimate $120,000 - 220,000
Sold for $114,300
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111
Jane Piper
Study II
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $27,940
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112
Vivian Springford
Untitled (VSF 533)
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $69,850
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113
Helen Frankenthaler
Watch
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $304,800
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114
Ed Clark
Untitled
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $76,200
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115
Vivian Springford
Untitled (VSF 733)
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $88,900
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116
Gerhard Richter
Abstraktes Bild
Estimate $350,000 - 550,000
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117
Milton Avery
Flower
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $69,850
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118
Marc Chagall
Bouc rouge lisant au-dessus des amoureux au repos
Estimate $300,000 - 500,000
Sold for $381,000
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119
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Nature morte aux raisins, figues et grenades
Estimate $300,000 - 500,000
Sold for $279,400
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122
Maurice Brazil Prendergast
Study St. Malo
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
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123
Max Pechstein
Alte Fischerhütten
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $82,550
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124
Horace Pippin
Man Seated Near Stove
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $171,450
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125
Ernie Barnes
The Vanishing Breed
Estimate $350,000 - 500,000
Sold for $406,400
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126
This lot is no longer available.
127
Keith Haring
Red-Yellow-Blue #16 (Portrait of Adolpho)
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $88,900
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128
James Rosenquist
First Place
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $184,150
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129
James Rosenquist
Dog Descending a Staircase
Estimate $500,000 - 700,000
Sold for $736,600
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130
Andy Warhol
Kimiko Powers
Estimate $300,000 - 400,000
Sold for $952,500
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131
Robert Indiana
LOVE (Blue and Red)
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
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132
Carmen Herrera
Untitled Estructura (Blue)
Estimate $400,000 - 600,000
Sold for $457,200
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133
Chung Sang-Hwa
Untitled 80-4-8
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $190,500
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134
Robert Mangold
Curved Plane/Figure VIII, Study
Estimate $300,000 - 500,000
Sold for $381,000
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135
Kenneth Noland
Blind Passage
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $241,300
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136
Dan Flavin
untitled
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $177,800
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137
This lot is no longer available.
138
Jim Dine
Hope & Eyes
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $69,850
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139
Neil Jenney
Window #6
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $91,440
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140
Lois Dodd
View through Broken Tree
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $27,940
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141
Tom Wesselmann
Smoker Study #41
Estimate $180,000 - 250,000
Sold for $330,200
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142
Tom Wesselmann
Double Study for Bedroom Painting #2
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $139,700
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143
Kenny Scharf
Drivedala
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
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144
Kenny Scharf
Controlopuss II
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $279,400
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145
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146
Keith Haring
Untitled
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $190,500
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147
Ernie Barnes
Untitled
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $215,900
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148
Ernie Barnes
Pool Hall Scene
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $53,340
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149
Ernie Barnes
Study Sketch for Tennis
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $76,200
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150
Wayne Thiebaud
Untitled (Study for "City Police Car")
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
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151
Richard Diebenkorn
Untitled
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
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152
Milton Avery
Autumn Hills
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $57,150
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153
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Confederated Salish and Kootenai)
El Morro #66M
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $19,050
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154
Willem de Kooning
Woman – Lipstick
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $73,660
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155
Edgar Degas
Trois danseuses
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $279,400
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156
Auguste Rodin
Frère et Soeur
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $63,500
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157
Maurice de Vlaminck
Fleurs dans un pichet blanc
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $30,480
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158
Henri Matisse
Le Turban
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $40,640
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159
Fernand Léger
Visage à la main
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $63,500
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160
Alexander Calder
Four Creatures
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $88,900
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161
Alexander Calder
Brothers, right
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $88,900
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162
Ed Ruscha
IS
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $69,850
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163
Ed Ruscha
3/4
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $40,640
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164
Brice Marden
Untitled (For Mary Happy Birthday 1985)
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
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165
Alighiero Boetti
Segno e Disegno
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $114,300
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166
Sigmar Polke
Untitled
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
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167
Gerhard Richter
Untitled (1.8.89)
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $57,150
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168
Gerhard Richter
Untitled (13.4.08)
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $63,500
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169
Friedel Dzubas
Aurora
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
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170
Paul Jenkins
Phenomena Natchez Trace
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $48,260
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171
Beauford Delaney
Wine
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $40,640
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172
Robert Motherwell
Souvenir de Californie
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
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173
Toshimitsu Imai
Victoire
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
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174
Sam Francis
Untitled
Estimate $18,000 - 25,000
Sold for $44,450
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175
Alexander Calder
Cobblestones
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $40,640
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176
Tom Wesselmann
Two works: (i) Study for Reclining Nude; (ii) Study for Nude Lying Back
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $60,960
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177
Alex Katz
Nude
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $53,340
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178
Susan Weil
Bathers
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $24,130
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179
Arshile Gorky
Portrait of Helen Austin
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $25,000
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180
David Park
Boy in Colored Cap
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $107,950
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181
Hector Poleo
Mujer con pañuelo
Estimate $18,000 - 25,000
Sold for $22,860
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182
Sandú Darié
Untitled
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $35,560
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183
Ilya Bolotowsky
Yellow Tondo
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $20,320
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184
Ilya Bolotowsky
Relief
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $88,900
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185
Ilya Bolotowsky
Vertical Diamond in Black
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $48,260
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186
Thomas Downing
Untitled
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $19,050
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187
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Trans Gray
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $38,100
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188
De Wain Valentine
Concave Circle Blue Green
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $69,850
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189
John McLaughlin
#7
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
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190
Robert Morris
Vetti V
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
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191
Sorel Etrog
War Remembrance
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $69,850
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192
Louise Bourgeois
Germinal
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $152,400
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193
Georgia O'Keeffe
Untitled (Clay Pot and Stand)
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $22,860
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194
Arnaldo Pomodoro
Asse del movimento I
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $50,800
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195
Arnaldo Pomodoro
Colonna
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $152,400
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196
Mathias Goeritz
Clouage
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
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197
Joel Shapiro
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $38,100
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198
Tony Smith
Light Box
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
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199
Sir Anthony Caro, O.M, R.A.
Open Secret
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $12,700
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200
Carl Andre
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $30,480
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201
Carl Andre
arc bin bur cam
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $11,430
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202
Carl Andre
ESSAY ON PAINTING FOR F P STELLA 1965
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $13,970
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203
Lee Lozano
Untitled
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $48,260
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204
Andy Warhol
Three works: (i-iii) Seismograph
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
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205
Andy Warhol
Plate of Food with Man's Chest
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $40,640
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206
Gottfried Helnwein
Untitled (Red Gun II)
Estimate $50,000 - 80,000
Sold for $63,500
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207
Gottfried Helnwein
Untitled (The Disasters of War 24)
Estimate $50,000 - 80,000
Sold for $63,500
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208
George Condo
Religions of its Time
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $190,500
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209
George Condo
The King
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $63,500
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210
George Condo
Still Life
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $50,800
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211
George Condo
Torro
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $82,550
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212
Leon Kelly
Bird on an Asian Pinnacle
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $6,350
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213
César
La Mouche
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $48,260
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214
Claude Lalanne
Pomme Bouche
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $104,140
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215
Niki de Saint Phalle
Serpent sur ressort
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $12,065
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216
Niki de Saint Phalle
Small Bull Totem
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $69,850
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217
Niki de Saint Phalle
Petit Dragon
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $15,000
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218
Louise Nevelson
Maquette for Monumental Sculpture VII
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $38,100
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219
Arnaldo Pomodoro
Sfera
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $95,250
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220
Arnaldo Pomodoro
Disco
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $31,750
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221
Clement Meadmore
Elaboration
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $22,860
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222No Reserve
Ibram Lassaw
Labyrinth VII
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000 •
Sold for $1,270
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