Auction house Casa de Memoria announced a successful sale of fine arts and objet d’art during its latest sale dubbed “Age of Exploration, East meets West II.”
With over 236 lots, and a sell-through of 75 percent, CDM has shown that there is a constant demand for objet d’art and home accent pieces. The Lhuillier-managed house remains an alternative to other houses that focus on Filipino art and sculpture.
“The collectors over the past three years, and this being our 17th auction, have appreciated the presence of the Casa as a source for well-chosen pieces. The curatorial team has been very diligent in putting together lots that will appeal to a wider demographic, and in our last auction we saw younger buyers,” notes Camille Lhuillier, general manager.
Auction 17 led with strong hammer prices from select lots.
The untitled, yet signed Juan Luna portrait of an “Indio Igorrot” (Lot 125) fetched a hammer price of P2.9 million.
Another of note is Rafael Enriquez’s “Gitana tocando una guitara” (Lot 205), which was sold at P920,000. It depicts a lady gypsy playing guitar outdoors, sitting next to a table with wine and platter, and surrounded by roses and other flowers. Enriquez was one of the organizers of the Sociedad Internacional de Artistas, and the first director of the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts.
An oil painting on mother-of-pearl, or capiz, ascribed to Filipino master Miguel Zaragoza y Aranquizna (Lot 124) fetched P150,000. This distinctive work shows a rural scene with two locals wearing native hats, busy harvesting crops.
A 19th-century Italian Renaissance Revival chiffonier with ebonized wood (Lot 12) was sold at P380,000.
One of the most interesting objects offered was Pablo Picasso’s “Portraits Imaginaires” (Lot 235), numbered “5.3.69.I” and followed by a soft signature on plate, “Picasso.” This unique work done on his later years was sold at P280,000.
Preparations are ongoing for the holiday Auction 18, themed “Living for the Present.” Email [email protected] or call 253-3994 for inquiries.