Christie’s back in the car auction biz

HAM, GEO (GEORGES HAMEL 1900-1972)   M.C.F. (Motor Club de France–ed)  lithograph in colours, printed by Max Courteau, Paris, condition A-; not backed  16 x 12in. (40 x 30cm.)

At their May 20 South Kensington sale next week, Christie’s is featuring period posters, with dozens of iconic racing and advertising images. These are not from the age of Jimmy’s Photoshopped Corvette Posters–these are serious works of art, some closing in on a century old and priced as such.

BELIGOND, MICHEL (1927-1973)   24H DU MANS, 1959   lithograph in colours, 1959, printed by Thivillier, condition A-; backed on linen  22 x 16in. (56 x 40cm.)

Christie’s sale is not as comprehensive as l’art et l’automobile’s, but it is highly selective, and the images on these posters are more than timeless–they’re part of the fabric of car culture. And also, they look incredibly cool. Too bad they’ll never hang in any garage of mine. Click through for a gallery of some of the standouts.

FIX-MASSEAU, PIERRE (1905-1994)   2 HUILES RENAULT   lithograph in colours, 1934, printed by Speciale S.H.R., condition B; backed on linen; framed  47½ x 31in. (120 x 79cm.)

There are only a handful of car ads, and they’re all spectacular. But I really have no idea what this one means. Doesn’t “huile” mean “oil?”

FALCUCCI, ROBERT (1900-1989)   MONACO 1930   lithograph in colours, 1930, printed by Monégasque, Monte Carlo, condition A; backed on linen  47 x 31in. (120 x 80cm.)

I don’t know how rare this is, the second year of the Monaco Grand Prix (which René Dreyfus won in his Bugatti), but given the £6,000-£8,000 ($9,108-$12,144) estimate, I’d say “wicked rare.”

LEYGNAC, G.   24 HEURES DU MANS, 1963   offset lithograph in colours, 1963, printed by Thivillier, condition A; backed on linen  23 x 15½in. (58 x 39cm.) LEYGNAC, G.   24 HEURES DU MANS, 1963   offset lithograph in colours, 1963, printed by Thivillier, condition A; backed on linen  23 x 15½in. (58 x 39cm.)

If it’s a Ferrari 330TR/LM, then that’s probably supposed to be Phil Hill or Olivier Gendebien. If you didn’t have the €6,875,000 for the car when it sold in 1997, maybe the estimated £600-£800 ($911-$1,214) seems a little better.

ANONYMOUS   1000KM DI MONZA, 1970   offset lithograph in colours, 1970, condition A-; not backed   18 x 13½in. (46 x 34cm.)

J.R.R.   CLERMONT FERRAND 26   lithograph in colours, 1959, printed by Mont-Louis, condition B+; backed on linen  46½ x 31in. (118 x 79cm.) J.R.R.   CLERMONT FERRAND 26   lithograph in colours, 1959, printed by Mont-Louis, condition B+; backed on linen  46½ x 31in. (118 x 79cm.)

I’d guess any F2 poster, even a big, bright Mod one like this, is not a hot ticket.

HAM, GEO (GEORGES HAMEL 1900-1972)   COUPES DE PARIS 1953   lithograph in colours, 1953, printed by Morax, Paris, condition A-; not backed  23½ x 16in. (60 x 40cm.)

Georges Hamel was a big name in automobile art for about 50 years. His style evolved with the times, but was always distinctively his own. He was also involved in a very complicated way with Figoni et Falaschi, resulting in the their famous “Geo Ham” bodies, and he raced cars himself.

HAM, GEO (GEORGES HAMEL, D’apres, 1900-1972)   COUPES DE PARIS 1962   lithograph in colours, 1962, condition A; backed on linen   31½ x 22in. (80 x 56m.)

You can see how his forms are both simpler and stronger, but the line and gesture are essentially unchanged. He was a fully mature artist by 1962.

PÉROT, ROGER (1908-1976)   DELAHAYE   lithograph in colours, 1935, printed by A.B.C., Paris, condition B; backed on linen  63 x 47in. (160 x 119cm.)

Completely striking, a perfect Art Deco compliment for a completely Art Deco car.

ANONYMOUS   DUNLOP, 24 HEURES DU MANS   lithograph in colours, 1956, condition A; not backed 16 x 31½in. (40 x 80cm.) ANONYMOUS   DUNLOP, 24 HEURES DU MANS   lithograph in colours, 1956, condition A; not backed 16 x 31½in. (40 x 80cm.)

Of course it would be the all-conquering D-type for LeMans. A nice little desktop for widescreen monitors.

HAM, GEO (GEORGES HAMEL 1900-1972)   GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE, PARIS-PRESSE 1949  offset lithograph in colours, 1949, condition A-; not backed   19 x 12½in. (49 x 32cm.)

A lovely little drawing in what looks like Conté crayon. Postwar paint rationing, perhaps? Or maybe just an austere illustration for an austere time.

GACHONS, JEAN DE   GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE, 1949   lithograph in colours, 1949, printed by Matot-Braine, Reims, condition B+; backed on linen  31 x 47in. (79 x 120cm.) GACHONS, JEAN DE   GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE, 1949   lithograph in colours, 1949, printed by Matot-Braine, Reims, condition B+; backed on linen  31 x 47in. (79 x 120cm.)

Gachon’s illustration for the poster is a little gaudier than Hamel’s, which was probably for the program.

NOËL, ALPHONSE (1888-1933)   GRANDS PRIX A.C.F., 1927   lithograph in colours, 1927, printed by H.Bouquet, Paris, condition A; backed on linen  24 x 14½in. (62 x 37cm.)

O’GALOP (MARIUS ROSSILLON, 1867-1946)   MICHELIN   lithograph in colours, c.1910, printed by Chaix, Paris, condition B+; backed on linen  31 x 23in. (78 x 59cm.)

I love that Bibendum always had a cigar in his mouth in early advertising. I’m surprised he didn’t have a glass of pastis as well.

FABIANO, FABIEN (1883-1962)   MICHELIN   lithograph in colours, 1916, printed by Chaix, Paris, condition B+/A-; backed on linen  46½ x 30½in. (118 x 77cm.)

Pastis, no. Babe, yes. This one gives me the heebie-jeebies a little bit.

PHILIBERT, GILBERT   MICHELIN   lithograph in colours, printed by Nerson & Schil, Paris, condition A- B+; backed on linen  29½ x 19½in. (75 x 50cm.)

And there he is with a friend (did you know they were an entire race of tire-people?), driving, obviously, into the gates of hell, via Van Gogh. “Come with us! We’ve got smokes and tires!”

HAM, GEO (GEORGES HAMEL, 1900-1972)   MONACO 1935   lithograph in colours, 1935, printed by Monégasque, Monte-Carlo, condition A; backed on linen, framed  47 x 31in. (119 x 79cm.)

Perhaps the greatest single racing image ever produced.

ANONYMOUS   PORSCHE 912   offset lithograph in colours, c.1965, condition B+; backed on linen   46½ x 33½in. (118 x 85cm.)

Visible from space.

I’ve concentrated on the vintage car posters, but there’s a lot of other cool transportation-related art in the sale:

CASSANDRE (ADOLPHE-MOURON, 1901-1968)   NORMANDIE   lithograph in colours, 1935, printed by Alliance Graphique, Paris, condition B+/A-; backed on linen, framed  39 x 24in. (99 x 61cm.)

‘Hard to believe these things were sinkable. If you like ship images, there are quite a few in the sale.

ANONYMOUS   THE BRITISH BEDFORD TRUCK   lithograph in colours, condition A-; not backed  and five other posters  30½ x 20½in. (78 x 52cm) (6)

DEVRIES   TT 1933, CIRCUIT VAN DRENTE   lithograph in colours, 1933, printed by N.Hindriks & Zn., condition B B+; backed on linen  43 x 29½in. (109 x 75cm.

I could do with one of these.

And this one is just for Dan. Behold! The majesty that is Cleveland!

RAGAN, LESLIE (1897-1972)   THE NEW UNION TERMINAL, CLEVELAND   lithograph in colours, 1930, printed by Latham Litho Co., New York, condition B-; printed on heavy stock paper, not backed  41 x 27in. (104 x 69cm.)



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