Poster Auctions International's Auction #79, held October 27th, finishes at $1.7 million in sales

NEW YORK - EntSun -- Poster Auctions International's (PAI) third sale of the year—Auction LXXIX, held October 27^th, online and at the PAI gallery in Manhattan—finished at $1.707 million in sales. The auction provided enthusiastic acclaim for important works of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco eras.

Jack Rennert, President of PAI, said, "The most significant aspect of this sale was the return of Art Nouveau following declining interest in previous years. This renewed passion is evident in record sales of Orazi's 'La Maison Moderne,' Thiriet's 'Absinthe Berthelot,' and continued interest in Mucha and Toulouse-Lautrec."

The highest bid at auction—and perhaps the most unexpected triumph—was for Henri Thiriet's ca. 1898 "Absinthe Berthelot," a rare Belle Epoque design depicting a bustling outdoor café scene. Its estimate of $30,000-$40,000 was swiftly surpassed with animated bidding, and the lot was finally won for $108,000 (all prices include sales premiums).

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Perhaps no other artist is more emblematic of Art Nouveau's prowess than Alphonse Mucha. His 1902 "Cycles Perfecta" exudes the decorative style and expressive spaghetti hair that made him famous. While estimated at $17,000-$20,000, bidders were fervent, resulting in a $36,000 sale to a bidder in the room—and exuberant applause followed.

For the Father of Art Nouveau—Jules Chéret—sales were similarly impassioned. His revered "Librairie Ed. Sagot / Affiches-Estampes," from 1891, sold for $6,000. But it was his oil painting, "Sérénade dans le Parc," that really excited collectors; with an estimate of $25,000-$30,000, it was won for $38,400.

Leonetto Cappiello, whose work informed both Art Nouveau and Art Deco, also delighted bidders. His very first poster—"Le Frou Frou," from 1899—is testament to the artist's innate lithographic skill; estimated at $5,000-$6,000, it was sold for $7,800.

Manuel Orazi continued the theme with his elegantly decorative work, "La Maison Moderne," from 1900. His stately design for the modern art store, estimated at $50,000-$60,000, was won for $78,000.

Poster Auctions International's next sale will be held in New York on February 23, 2020. Consignments are accepted until December 1, 2019.

Poster Auctions International, 26 W. 17th Street, New York, NY  10011

Tel: 212-787-4000 • email: info@posterauctions.com. Visit posterauctions.com.