LAMA’s Largest Sale, Ever.

We broke many records in yesterday’s Modern Art & Design Auction.

Highest grossing sale : $2,256,323 Highest sell through rate since 2005: 82%

Fresh material from local estates with attractive estimates led to record attendance in the room, as well as on the phones, absentee and internet bidding.

Custom designs by Ettore Sottass for the late Max Palevsky were sold on Sunday at the LAMA …

Continue Reading >> Posted on March 7, 2011
Posted in Auction Highlights, LAMA Exclusive | Tagged Ettore Sottsass, James Byrnes, Max Palevsky, Reg Butler | 1 Comment

Palevsky and Byrnes on Art Market Views

If you don’t read Lindsay Pollock Art Market Views, you most definitely should. Pollock’s Art Market Views provides daily breaking news and analysis for readers seeking an insider’s perspective on the art industry.

Check out the post on the Palevsky and Byrnes collections on Art Market Views.

Continue Reading >> Posted on March 3, 2011
Posted in LAMA in the Press | Tagged Ettore Sottsass, James Byrnes, Max Palevsky | Leave a comment

Peter’s Auction Pick of the Day: February 28th

Antiques Roadshow Moment

Sometimes we get the opportunity as an auctioneer to share our insight and knowledge with a client. This is one benefit of being in a business where it is beneficial to give information freely.

The Roberto Matta drawing, one of the 50 lots from the Collection of James Byrnes to be offered in the March 6th auction, is not only a beautiful …

Continue Reading >> Posted on February 28, 2011
Posted in LAMA Exclusive, Peter's Auction Picks, Words from Peter Loughrey | Tagged Gloria de Herrera, James Byrnes, Roberto Matta | Leave a comment

The James Byrnes Collection

We have the great honor to offer 50 lots from the James Byrnes collection in the March 6, 2011 Modern Art & Design Auction.

From 1946 – 1953 James Byrnes was the first curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Los Angeles County Museum of History, Science, and Art, which is now known as LACMA. In the thirties, Byrnes had studied art …

Continue Reading >> Posted on February 26, 2011
Posted in Buzzworthy Items, LAMA Exclusive | Tagged Alexander Calder, Elaine de Kooning, James Byrnes, Man Ray, Pablo Picasso | 1 Comment

The Lost Harry Bertoia Brooch

Today marks the first day of preview for the March 6th Modern Art & Design Auction, and we kicked it off with a special private tour led by our director Peter Loughrey.

During the tour Peter told a great story about Lot 220, the Harry Bertoia brooch which came from  James Byrnes, the first curator of Modern & Contemporary Art at LACMA from 1947- 1953. …

Continue Reading >> Posted on February 25, 2011
Posted in Buzzworthy Items, LAMA Exclusive | Tagged Harry Bertoia, James Byrnes | Leave a comment

Al Held Geometric Forms

The Poindexter Gallery, known to represent abstract artist such as Richard Diebenkorn and  Jules Olitski, offered Al Held his first solo show in 1959 and again in 1960 at their New York gallery.

That same year Sam Francis, whom Held met at the Poindexter Gallery, loaned Held his painting studio on Broadway, in which he painted large-scale works for the next two years.  …

Continue Reading >> Posted on February 8, 2011
Posted in Buzzworthy Items | Tagged Al Held, James Byrnes | Leave a comment