PRESS INFO

At the Dorotheum Saturday auction three pictures were sold for over one million Czech crowns
Prague 05. 03. 2005

The highest sum was paid for the frequently reproduced work by Antonín Slavíček, an important study for the painting Prague from Letná. The upset price was CZK 900,000 and it was finally sold for CZK 2,100,000 to a party present in the hall bidding against two telephones. This oil painting has been exhibited several times in the past, at Mánes in 1932 and 1955, and at the Jízdárna Pražského hradu (the Castle Riding School) in 1961.

The picture Still Life with Book by Emil Filla from the beginning of the 1920s also attracted interesting bidding. This notable picture created using an interesting technique (oil and distemper on a wooden parquet panel) was sold for CZK 1,500,000 with an upset price of CZK 900,000. Another frequently reproduced work, Parisian Café by František Tichý from 1933 was sold for CZK 550,000. Both of these pictures are from the collection of Miloš Šafránek, an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who during his residency in Paris regularly mixed with Czech musicians and artists and was in particular friends with František Tichý himself.

Two further items made sure of the exited atmosphere at the auction, these being the oil painting Nude Girl by the Croatian painter Vlaho Bukovac dated 1917, and the oil painting by the Ukrainian artist Nikolaj Krnilijevič Pimoněnko (ascribed) - Dressmaker. The first was bid by 7 telephone bidders and two in the hall, with one of the telephone bidders finally buying at CZK 850,000. The second was bid by 4 telephone bidders, 2 with written limits and 2 in the hall itself. After an exciting battle this oil painting by an artist practically unknown in this country went to a bidder in the hall for CZK 1,000,000. This also represented the highest price rise from upset, of 900%.

Hundreds of thousands were bid in other categories. Lada’s Pig-sticking was sold for CZK 400,000, a Classicist writing desk for CZK 180,000 and a marble Kneeling Venus from northern Italy for CZK 160,000.

Pictures, graphic works, sculptures, applied art, furniture and jewellery were also auctioned. 56 percent of the 355 offered items found new owners. 107 bidders attended the auction in the hall, 42 by telephone and 31 using written limits.

The whole auction lasted almost four hours. Petra Kydlíčková - Hajská and Miroslav Zíka took turns as auctioneer.

The next Dorotheum auction will take place on 21/5/2005 in the Renaissance Prague Hotel as per tradition.

Note: all prices given here do not include the auction fee