Karel Appel (1921-2006), Sleeping City (Slapende Stad) Signed and dated ‘52, Oil on canvas, 96 by 130 cm. Estimate € 300.000-400.000. Sold for € 408,250 - Sale: Modern & Contemporary Art, 6 December 2007. © Sotheby’s Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM.- An impressive crowd witnessed the December sale of Modern & Contemporary Art. Collectors from all over the world found there way to the Amsterdam sale room in person or by absentee bid and phone. General Manager Mark Grol performed as auctioneer, hammering away the 174 lots. Total of the sale was €4.134.580, the highes ever for modern and Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s Amsterdam.
Among the highlights were an early painting by Karel Appel, Sleeping City, painted in 1952 that was sold for €408.250 and Oostzijde mill with extended light blue, yellow and violet sky by Piet Mondriaan that fetched €312,250. Depicted on the front cover of the catalogue was a colourful Seated nude, by Jan Sluijters that found a new owner for 276.250. An earlier work by Appel, the charming Dog and moon, painted in 1949 went for €162.259. These results more or less matched their estimates.
An impressive work by Ger Gerrits, IJskarretje, (The Ice cream man) was estimated €50.000-70.000. A collector paid no less than €192.250 for this attractive painting with unusual perspective. This is a world auction record for the artist.
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