Chagall’s ‘Arabian Nights’ series may see $350K
A seldom-seen publisher’s set of “Arabian Nights” lithographs, by Marc Chagall, circa 1948, is heading into the March 2 auction at Swann Galleries with a high estimate of $350K.
NEW YORK — Swann Galleries will hold an auction of 19th and 20th century prints and drawings, offering rare portfolios by masters (Chagall, Vuillard, Bonnard) of the last two centuries, on March 2. The sale, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, is led by two lithograph sets, each with additional and complementary works.
Chagall Lithograph Eyeing Top Lot Spot
The publisher’s own set of the rare deluxe edition of “Arabian Nights,” 1948, by Marc Chagall, boasts an additional lithograph showing the King and Scheherazade under the guardianship of a glowing bird. The set by Chagall is expected to command between $250,000 and $350,000.
Joining the offering by Chagall is Édouard Vuillard’s 1899 Paysages et Intérieurs. Already scarce, this portfolio of 13 color lithographs includes additional impressions of two of the plates, for a total of 15 works. The set is estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.
In addition to works by Chagall and Vuillard, there is a selection of works by 19th century masters. This selection is led by Pierre Bonnard’s rare color lithograph, La Petite Blanchisseuse, dating to 1896. Plus, Mary Cassatt’s “The Coiffure,” circa 1891, a color drypoint and soft-ground etching. The works carry estimate of $50,000 to $80,000 and $40,000 to $60,000, respectively. A color lithograph by Pierre-Auguste Renoir titled “Enfants Jouant à la Balle,” circa 1900, is valued between $40,000 and $60,000.
1895 Set by Toulouse-Lautrec On Offer
The sale opens with 50 highlights from the collection of Eric Carlson. This selection features works by masters including Eugène Delacroix, Paul Gauguin, Paul Signac and Félix Vallotton. In addition, a complete set of “Mélodies de Désiré Dihau,�� 1895, by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It's estimate is $30,000 to $50,000.
Additional featured lots include, but are not limited to,
• Egon Schiele’s first lithograph, circa 1912 ($20,000-$30,000).
— Pen and ink drawing of bulls, circa 1915, by Paul Klee ($25,000-$35,000).
• 1934 etching “Femme torero I” ($50,000-$80,000).
—1948 lithograph “Femme au fauteuil, No. 1” ($40,000-$60,000), by Pablo Picasso.
For more information, visit www.swanngalleries.com, email tweyman@swanngalleries or call 212-254-4710.
