On February 7th, 2015, Roland Auctions NY presents an important sale featuring over 500 lots of Fine and Decorative Arts selected from choice estates throughout New York City. Most notable among the fine art in this auction are three early works on paper by the pioneering Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

Yayoi Kusama’s innovative and influential career spans the entire post-war period and continues through present-day shows and exhibitions of new work worldwide. Throughout her life she has pushed the boundaries of burgeoning and established artistic movements from surrealism, pop, and minimalism, to performance art and video. Kusama’s works are included in the permanent collections of important institutions including of the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles; Tate Modern, London; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Centre Pompidou, Paris; and the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.

These three early works were all created in Japan, prior to Kusama’s move to New York City in 1957, and as such are important rarities. Roland Auctions NY is delighted to offer this group of blue-chip art which has been in the procession of the Beinfield family for nearly half a century. Originally given as a gift from noted New York City artist, film maker, and collector Babbette Beinfield Newburger to her brother William H. Beinfield, these essential works have been preserved in private hands ever since.

Remarking upon Roland’s good fortune in securing this consignment of important art, directly from the heirs of Mr. Beinfield, co-owner and principal auctioneer William J. Roland exclaimed, “None of these significant art works have come to us without considerable effort…though it is always nice to reap the rewards of the chase.”

Indeed, the February 7th auction is certain to be lively and well attended with the addition of blue-chip gallerists, museum representatives, and collectors to Roland’s Greenwich Village salesroom.

Taken individually these pieces offer an enticing blueprint for later iconic themes found throughout the artist’s extensive body of work. Lot #421 “Hidden Flame” [1956], Lot #422 “Dirty Hands” [1954], and Lot #423 “An Eye” [1952] are all accomplished on paper in a myriad media including pastel, ink, gouache, and watercolor. Embedded in these early works are elements of a then evolving visual vocabulary that reoccurs in following decades throughout her oeuvre: dots, eyes, pumpkins, “Infinity Webs” and undulating cosmic forms, all evocative of natural, astrophysical, and spiritual sources.

Roland Auctions NY’s reputation for discovering and reintroducing significant works of fine art is further earned as bidders vie for paintings, prints, bronzes, and other media not available in the marketplace for decades. This month’s estate pieces span European old master works through modern vanguards and contemporary emerging artists. Sought after artists include Angel Botello, Dan Namingha , Erte, Frederick Prescot, Jean Puy, Louise Nevelson, Peter Beard, and Adrien E. Gaudez among many more.

In addition to 20th Century modern art, mid century design is strongly represented at Roland Auctions NY this month. Stand-outs among dozens of pieces in this category sought by collectors and enthusiasts will include Isamu Noguchi Lighting, a Gilbert Rohde drop-front desk, Heywood Wakefield furniture, a Zolsnay iridescent glass vase, and a Loetz art glass tree trunk vase.

In tandem with this auction’s exposition of modernism are dozens of traditional 18 century American, French, Italian, and English tables, chairs, desks, and commodes. Among these fine pieces is a 19th century French bronze mounted table with multiple Sevres porcelain inserts.

Estate jewelry, in Platinum, Gold, and Silver, is also available at every bidding level. These vintage and modern settings include diamond, sapphire, emerald, and other precious gem stones in a wide variety styles. Standing out in this category is an art deco diamond encrusted and sapphire brooch. Saturday is certain to be a busy day at Roland.

This outstanding sale can be viewed online at

www.rolandauctions.com. 

ROLAND AUCTIONS NY
80 EAST 11TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10003
212 260-2000
WWW.ROLANDAUCTIONS.COM