A total result of € 26 million* is the excellent final figure for Ketterer Kunst‘s 2010 business year.  “This time we even exceeded the top result of 2007, which was the record year in our company’s history,“ said Robert Ketterer, owner of the Munich-based auction firm founded in 1954. "And what is particularly impressive is that this result was achieved with 27 percent less objects than in 2007."

Robert Ketterer continues: “It once more comes to show that quality and a certain newness on the market are the decisive criteria. This year we made our selection even more discerning. Even though this meant we couldn‘t include all works we had been offered into our auctions, the result proves that our way is right. The excellent sales quota and the record results also speak for it. In the end, everyone involved benefits and the atmosphere couldn’t be any better."

Modern Art & Post War/Contemporary Art

This section** alone, including the special auction Sidelines of the German Avant-garde, grossed some € 20 million*. The list of desired objects is led by German artists: While top lots in the section of Contemporary Art came from Gotthard Graubner, Martin Kippenberger, Jörg Immendorff and Günther Uecker, it was artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Gabriele Münter, Emil Nolde and Richard Ziegler, whose oil painting “Die Polizei“ did not only make for the sharpest increase in the December auction but also for a new world record price***, who caused a furor in the section of Modern Art.

Old Masters & Art of the 19th Century

This section brought forth a very solid result of some € 1,6 million*, around € 400.000 more than in 2009. Besides Hendrik Willem Mesdag‘s “Die Rückkehr der Fischer“ with a result of € 144.000* (starting price € 30.000) Ludwig von Hofmann‘s oil painting “Tanzfries“, which made for a six-fold of its starting price of € 25.000 with the result of € 172.000*, is particularly worthwhile mentioning. Other big  names  were  Karl Blechen,  Edward  Theodore  Compton,  Franz von Defregger,  Albrecht Dürer, Christian Friedrich Gille, Francisco de Goya, Eduard von Grützner, Samuel van Hogstraaten (ascribed) and Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn.

Rare Books - Manuscripts - Autographs - Decorative Prints

An overall result of around € 3,2 million* was more than satisfying in this section, as it did not only top last year’s result by € 800.000, it even was the best result in 20 years. “What made me especially happy is that both evening auctions were quite popular, which led to a sensational sales quota of above 100 percent (ratio between starting price and hammer price)“, said Christoph Calaminus, auctioneer and head of the department of Rare Books.

The 2010 Top Three in All Sections

Modern Art

1)    Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Kinderköpfchen     Result:            € 1.740.000*

                                                                               Starting price:  €    400.000, Hammer price: € 1.450.000

2)    Richard Ziegler - Die Polizei                         Result:            €    610.000*

                                                                               Starting price: €     45.000, Hammer price: € 500.000

3)    Gabriele Münter -                                          Result:            €    390.000*

       Landschaft mit Sonnenblumen                        Starting price: €    180.000, Hammer price: € 320.000

Post War/Contemporary Art

1)    Günther Uecker - Feld (Haut)                       Result:            € 354.000*

                                                                               Starting price: € 160.000, Hammer price: € 290.000

2)    Maurice Estève - Andalousie                          Result:            € 146.000*                                                                                   

                                                                               Starting price:  € 100.000, Hammer price: € 120.000

3)    Jörg Immendorff- Affenbaum                        Result:            € 104.000*                                                                                       

                                                                               Starting price:  €   65.000, Hammer price: € 85.000

Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century

1)    Ludwig von Hofmann - Tanzfries                  Result:            € 172.000*

                                                                               Starting price:  €  25.000, Hammer price: € 141.000

2)    Hendrik Willem Mesdag -                              Result:            € 144.000*                                                                                                

       Die Rückkehr der Fischer                                Starting price:  €  30.000, Hammer price: € 118.000

3)    Karl Blechen -                                                Result:            €   90.000*

       Verwitterter Baumstamm                                Starting price:  €  10.000, Hammer price: €   74.000

Rare Books - Manuscripts - Autographs - Decorative Prints

1)        Hartmann Schedel  -                                      Result:            € 264.000*

       Das Buch der Chroniken, 1493                       Starting price: € 40.000, Hammer price: € 220.000

2)       Hugo Grotius - De iure belli ac pacis, 1625   Result:            € 126.000*

                                                                               Starting price:  € 40.000, Hammer price: € 105.000

3)      Manuskript-Florilegium - Fleurs du            Result:            €  70.000*                                                                         Printemps et de L'Este, 17th Century.               Starting price: €  35.000, Hammer price: €  58.000 

Valid until November 2010:

*       The result is the hammer price + 22 percent buyer’s premium for objects up to € 500.000.                                   The result is the hammer price + 20 percent buyer’s premium for objects starting at € 500.001

Valid since December 2010:

*       The result is the hammer price + 25 percent buyer’s premium for objects up to €  25.000. The result is the hammer price + 22 percent buyer’s premium for objects from  € 25.001 to € 500.000. The result is the hammer price + 20 percent buyer’s premium for objects starting at € 500.001

** Unlike other German auction houses Ketterer Kunst holds it auction season on several days.

***   Source: www.artnet.com

Valid for the section of Rare Books:

*       The result is the hammer prices + 20 percent buyer’s premium