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The
David Sylvester 'Polonaise' fragment
The David
Sylvester Cairene fragments,
The David
Sylvester Mamluk carpet fragment
The David
Sylvester Northwest Persian Carpet
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DAVID
SYLVESTER: THE PRIVATE COLLECTION SELLS AT
SOTHEBY'S FOR £2.7 MILLION
THE Private Collection of David Sylvester
(1924-2001) Britain's greatest post-war critic
and curator of modern art, sold at Sotheby's in
London today for an outstanding £2,742,358. The
collection of sculpture, paintings, drawings and
objects was 99% sold and had been expected to
fetch £1 million.
Melanie Clore, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby's
Europe, said: "We are delighted with the
results of the sale which stand as a testament to
David Sylvester's exceptional taste and rich
eclecticism. The collection epitomised his
delight in the well-made artefact, whether from
antiquity or from modern art. Today marked a
major opportunity for collectors to assess the
private life and collection of a key public
figure in the history of modern art."
The top lot of the sale was an Egyptian
sandstone figure of King Mentuhotep III, dating
from circa 2010-1998 B.C., which sold for
£795,500, nearly four times its pre-sale low
estimate of £200,000. This is the second highest
price ever paid for an Egyptian antiquity at
auction .
The statue was originally found in the 1930s
in the Temple of Monthu at Armant on the west
bank of the Nile. It combines the features of the
king with the characteristics of the god Osiris,
Lord of Netherworld with whom the King identified
at death.
Strong prices were also achieved for early
classic and Medieval sculpture from South East
Asia. In particular the khmer grey sandstone male
torso from the 11th century which sold for
£179,500 against a pre-sale estimate of
£6,000-8,000, reflecting the presence of very
enthusiastic group of collectors who recognised
what David Sylvester saw in their simplistic
beauty. Also a striking gupta red sandstone torso
of a Buddha from the 5th century, which fetched
£157,500, against a pre-sale estimate of
£60,000-80,000.
Among the contemporary works in the collection
was a charcoal drawing by Sylvester's great
friend Willem de Kooning, which had been a gift
from the artist, and sold for £58,000, against a
pre-sale estimate of £20,000-30,000.
A second artist who was represented in the
sale and who Sylvester met and interviewed in the
1960s was Philip Guston. A drawing by him, with
the dedication "To David - Philip",
sold for £55,700, more than five times its
pre-sale estimate.
Rugs and tapestries formed a key part of the
collection. Of particular interest was a Flemish
'feuilles de choux' large leaf verdure tapestry,
dating from the second half of the 16th century,
which fetched £58,000, more than tripling its
pre-sale low estimate. Also an Ushak 'medallion'
carpet fragment from the early 16th century,
which for the last three decades had occupied a
prominent position in David Sylvester's homes,
sold for £48,800.
The current record was set at Sotheby's New
York in December 1999 when a polychrome sandstone
head of King Amenhotep I, from the Christos G.
Bastis Collection, sold for £705,030.
Sotheby's -
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