Auctions held by the Artembassy Auction House with the support of Rietumu Bank have always been among the most remarkable events on the Baltic market of art objects. Each time its organisers try to offer art connoisseurs and collectors the most valuable, rare and attractive paintings, sculptures, graphic and applied art works from an investment point of view.
“It is no secret that there are quite many objects on the market which regularly re-emerge here and there, travelling for years in search of their master and a decent collection. At the same time, collectors strive to find unknown artefacts for them which will bring something new to their collections. Therefore, from the viewpoint of a collector, one of the most important tasks is to present objects which are unfamiliar to the market. There is a nice saying by a recognised expert from Christie’s: “My job is to search for collections that have been forgotten by all,”” says the owner and head of the Artembassy Aigars Grinbergs. – “When collecting things for this auction, we were lucky to work with a forgotten collection which had been kept for many years in a private house in Mezaparks, Riga. Our catalogue starts with these objects, among them being works of rare authors such as Hermans Grinbergs and Gustavs Skilters.”
Among the real pearls and highlights presented at the auction this time, there is a gorgeous work by Vilhelms Purvitis devoted to his special subject – “Early Spring”. Worthy of attention, are works such as the monumental “Winter Landscape” by Karlis Rozens, the portrait of Belarusian poet Yanka Kupala by Russian academician Bogdanov-Belsky, “Still-life with Hunting Trophies” of the ‘free painter of fur and feather’ Johann Baumann, made in the late 18th century, the early version of “Irbenes Street” by the famous Latvian landscape painter Konrads Ubans, a beautiful summer landscape by Gederts Eliass, made by him in the 1930s.
A special mention should be made about the excellent selection of works by the expressionist J. F. Tidemanis (“Ball”, “Ships at Port”, “City”, “Kuldiga”, “Girl with Emerald Earrings”) and the great seascape painter Eduards Kalnins (“Far Sea”, “Fishing Village”, “Country Yard”, “In the Village” and two excellent sketches to his classical work “Latvian Fishermen in the Atlantics”).
In general, the Latvian art school is represented by practically all of its grandees – from Janis Rozentals, Johann Walter-Kurau and Ludolfs Liberts to Leo Kokle, Boriss Berzins and Janis Pauluks.
In the ‘Russian section’, the distinguished works are a small sketch by A. Deineka on the subject of the military, a miniature by A. Korin “On a Village Street”, two excellent watercolours by S. Antonov – the representative of the Mir Iskusstva second wave.
Apart from paintings and graphics, collectors’ porcelain is widely presented – Latvian, Russian and European, as well as jewellery, silverware, small form plastic arts, interior objects from bronze, marble and cast iron.
Latvian porcelain, which has remained the focus of attention of local and foreign collectors for a number of years, is represented by outstanding works of the 1930s by Gusta Silina and Rudolfs Pelss, painted vases and figures by masters of Riga Porcelain Plant, among which there are several works made by the outstanding sculptor Martins Zaurs.
Jewellery will be offered as well – golden items of Tsarist Russia and unique jewellery with diamonds.
In total, the auction catalogue includes over 350 lots. One can participate in the sales in person or remotely, placing bets on the internet or by phone. Online broadcasting of the sales is anticipated.
A pre-auction exhibition of the lots will take place in Rietumu Bank premises (7 Vesetas Street, Riga) from 12 to 23 April. The auction will be held on 23 April at 12:00.
Further information, as well as an electronic version of the catalogue, is available on the website artembassy.lv.