SOL LEWITT, Incomplete Open Cubes, 1974
20,5 x 20,5 cm
artists book, offset, SC, 264 pp. (not paginated), 253 black & white illustrations
1st print
published by John Weber Gallery, New York 1974
used, nevertheless in very good condition
€ 680,- plus € 18,- Track & Trace EU registered mail
Published in conjunction with a 1974 John Weber Gallery exhibition, “Incomplete Open Cubes” is Sol LeWitt’s typically rigorous artist’s book that delineates each of the permutations of three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten and eleven part open cube sculpture and drawings.
MAN RAY, Cadeau, 1974
16,5 x 10,2 x 9,5 cm
cast iron, copper nails, plastic card certificate
signed with initials, numbered
edition 5000
published by Luciano Anselmino, Turin, Italy
Conceived in 1921 and published in 1974 by founder Luciano Anselmino, Turin in Italy.
Signed on a twice folded card with information about this object, accompanied by a small card bearing the number of the multiple and signed with initials.
When it comes to added certificate card, original wrapping etc. in the market, there is a variety of items that go with this edition from 1974.
HREINN FRIDFINNSSON, An Aquarelle of the surface of the lake “Thingvallavatn” Painted with water from the surface of the lake plus color, 1973-’74
76 x 62,5 cm
aquarelle, pencil on paper in original frame with silver leaf
each hand made and unique copy depicts the contour of the lake (“Thingvallavatn”) filled in with blue aquarelle paint
edition 10
extremely rare
KRISTJAN GUDMUNDSSON, Shipwreck, 1973 – 1974
29,5 x 22,5 cm
offset on tracing paper, folded as issued
signed, dated, numbered
edition 20
published by the artist
condition: splendid, although aged semi-translucent tracing paper
Private collection
€ 3.500,- plus € 18,- Track & Trace registered EU mail
inv.KG 000-pr
Kristjan Gudmundsson installed the print ‘Shipwreck’ behind a glass plate for the first time in Galerie van Gelder in Amsterdam in the late eighties. Originally in the seventies it used to be an object in a wooden box; a paper folded boat lying on its side at the bottom of the box. Now the paper sculpture is conserved in a wooden frame with a signature in capital letters.
In 1974 Kristjan Gudmundsson went to Drukkerij Andersen in Amsterdam that forwarded the order to Drukkerij Van der Stolk also in Amsterdam (Ruyschdaelkade). At that time Kees van Gelder was the only employee in this offset printer’s firm by which he had to print this order on tracing paper.
KRISTJÁN GUDMUNDSSON, Circles, 1973
20,7 x 20,7 cm
artist’s book, 3 pp., cardboard covers
limited edition 500
published by Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
excellent condition
€ 125,- plus € 12,- registered mail
inv.KG 654
The first page in the book ‘Circles’ of Kristján Gudmundsson is made of thin paper, the next page is of a heavier kind and the third page is the thickest. On each page circles in water are depicted that were caused by a stone thrown into the water. As is stated in the book the weight of each thrown stone is equal to the weight of each individual page. The result of the consequently different circles are depicted on each page. Definitively a sculptural book.
History of prices:
Art Book, Stadskanaal, Netherlands December 2024 € 110,-
FTN Books, The Hague, Netherlands April 2024 € 140,-
PIETER LAURENS MOL, Middelpuntvliedend – middelpuntzoekend, 1973
4,2 x 11 x 8,7 cm
marble stone, rope, text on label on inner part of lid, wooden box with label on outer part of lid
signed, numbered
edition 15
Collection Thora K. Johansen, Amsterdam
The work of Pieter Laurens Mol is interweaved with balance and inertia, next to facts from astronomy and history put in a constructed form of poetic (often Latin) language and images. In this sculpture, as the artist names it, references are made to his own history, namely his childhood; one of his other themes. The label on the inside reads:
Een beeld uit mijn kinderjaren of het verband tussen beweging, afstand en snelheid. Er zijn 3 elementen:
de beeldhouwer, een stuk touw als gereedschap en het materiaal, de steen.
De steen wordt aan het touw vertikaal voor je uit geslingerd zodat hij een cirkel beschrijft. Dan wordt de hand met een snelle stoot naar voren bewogen waardoor het touw zich om de pols windt. De steen zoekt in een spiraalvormige versnelling het midden en belandt tegen de pols. Het beeld is statisch.
MARIA LASSNIG, Animation, 1973
29 x 21 cm
plastic transparent cover, ring binding
6 pp. with individual animation drawings
published by Galerie im Taxispalais, Innsbruck, Austria
splendid condition; hardly aged extremely rare
€ 500,- plus € 15,- Track & Trace registered EU mail
inv. MLas 544
Maureen Furniss: ‘Maria Lassnig’s animation is consistent with the larger body of feminist production appearing internationally, beginning just when she was creating her early work – focussing on domestic spaces and literally giving an authentic face to female experience.’
During the seventies Maria Lassnig produced her own films Encounter (1970), Chairs (1970), Shapes (1972), Palmistry (1974) a.o. These works refer to observations of the body or what she called the ‘bodily consciousness’. The latter is typically shown on the pages of this remarkable artist’s book.
The artist’s book ‘Animation’ contains 6 images related to animation techniques, incl. one page with an artist’s biography.
page 2
page 3
History of price:
Antiquariat Uebue, Zurich, Switzerland November 2023 € 533,-
DIETER ROTH, Karnickelkoettelkarnickel (Rabbit-shit rabbit), 1972
21 x 19 x 10 cm
rabbit droppings, straw
verso signed and numbered on label
edition 200 + 26 AP (numbered I-XXVI)
splendid condition; as new
p.o.r., Margin scheme
Dieter Roth is known for his artist’s books, speedy drawings, sculptures and installations. He was an extreme example of a Fluxus artist using found materials, including rotting food, melt chocolate and, like in this multiple, animal droppings. He once said: ‘Wait, later this will be nothing’. He is known as Dieter Roth and Diter Rot.
This edition is in the collection of the Moma in New York, USA: Dieter Roth, MOMA.
History of prices:
Koller, Zurich, Switzerland € 1.867,- (hammer price) 26 June 2025
Korff Fine Art, Ilmmünster, Germany € 13.500,- January 2025
Nosbüsch & Stucke, Berlin, Germany € 2.200,- (hammer price) 10 November 2023
Van Ham Kunstauktionen, Cologne, Germany, € 2.500 (hammer price) 12 January 2023
Christie’s, Netherlands € 5.000 – € 7.000 estimate 22 November 2022
Karl & Faber, Munich, Germany € 7.500,- (incl. premium) 9 December 2021
Van Ham Kunstauktionen, Cologne € 7.000,- (hammer price) 30 November 2016 – nota bene: same edition number was auctioned on 2 June 2016
Van Ham Kunstauktionen, Cologne € 5.000,- (hammer price) 2 June 2016
Christie’s, Zurich, Switzerland € 10.350,- (hammer price) 5 May 2015
Germann Auktionshaus, Zurich, Switzerland € 11.500,- 11 June 2012
In 1987 Eat Art Galerie in Düsseldorf published “Karnickelköttelkarnickel” in an edition of 250 + 26 AP:
DIETER ROTH, Karnickelkoettelkarnickel (Rabbit-shit rabbit), 1987
21 x 19 x 10 cm
rabbit droppings, straw
edition AP: 26
published by Eat Art Galerie, Düsseldorf, Germany
TAKAKO SAITO, unique performance garment [beetle], 1972
ca 72 x 164 cm
cotton, peasant blouse, buttons, embroidery
two unique garments
signed, dated
inv.TSait 158-pr
TAKAKO SAITO, unique performance garment [pine trees], 1972
ca 68 x 130 cm
cotton, peasant blouse, buttons, embroidery
signed, dated
inv.TSait 158-pr
In the seventies these unique garments have been used by Takako Saito during performances in the US. Both peasant blouses are all-over hand embroidered with flowers, puppets, trees, animals and abstract decorations. Provenance Steven Leiber, New York, USA.
Foto: K. van Gelder
