John Chamberlain, Nutcracker, 1958. Est. $1.2/1.8 million. Photo: Sotheby's.
NEW YORK, N.Y..- This spring, 50 years after the founding of The Allan Stone Gallery, Sotheby’s
will offer property from the collection of renowned New York dealer
Allan Stone. Works will be presented in two volumes on the evening of
Monday, 9 May 2011, the night before Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening
sale on 10 May. Volume I will comprise outstanding examples by the key
artists represented and collected by Stone and highlights include works
by Willem de Kooning, John Chamberlain, Franz Kline, Joseph Cornell, and
others. Volume II will be dedicated to the West Coast artist Wayne
Thiebaud, whose work was first championed by Stone in New York more than
forty-five years ago. The two sales are estimated to bring more than
$35 million* and go on view in New York beginning 6 May 2011. "Like Leo
Castelli and Sidney Janis, Allan Stone was considered one of the preeminent
American dealers based in New York with national and international
followings for more than four decades,” said Anthony Grant,
International Senior Specialist of Contemporary Art. "Unlike his
contemporaries, who were focused almost exclusively on the New York
school, Allan built upon his strong Abstract Expressionist holdings and
expande west, representing an important group of West Coast artists who
were inspired by the Bay area Figurative movement, Abstract
Expressionism and the 1960s burgeoning Pop art movement. Allan was the
consummate dealer/collector; he had a legendary eye, sought out works he
loved, held on to them and lived with them. Through the upcoming sales,
collectors will be afforded a window onto his storied career and the
rare opportunity to own a piece of art history.”
