147th Auction

When the Beate Uhse Museum had to close its doors in 2014, the history of a Berlin institution came to an end. However, you now have the opportunity to privately acquire the exhibits that were once on public display. Several hundred objects related to the history of morality from all times and cultures, especially from the Asian and African regions, are up for auction. This way, the museum collection is once again made accessible to the public. It is hoped that some of the exhibition pieces will find their way into other public collections.

The jewelry department can once again impress with nearly 600 items, offering a variety of attractively priced rings, both old and new jewelry, a collection of unset stones, and around 50 wrist and pocket watches. A standout piece is a patented world time watch, including the patent and construction plans, based on the legendary ETA Automatic Cal. 2893-2 elaboré movement. Only seven examples have been made so far, with one set to be displayed at the Museum of Technology starting in March. Exclusivity comes at a price, and the starting bid is set at €210,000.

Among the nearly 280 silver lots, a Russian eight-flame table candelabrum stands out, likely crafted by the Moscow master Lev Fridrikhovitch Oleks. It enters the auction as lot 1454 with a starting bid of €5,000. From Hanau comes a strictly designed lidded box with an enameled, stylized swan and coat of arms on the lid. The interesting yet unidentified design starts at €2,000.

The porcelain offering, comprising nearly 800 pieces, features not only extensive sets but also high-quality figurative designs, among which the Malabar and Malabarin from Meissen are particularly noteworthy (Lot 2172, limit €2,800). Among the nearly 140 glass objects, a series of seven vases by Emile Gallé will be auctioned (limits €450-€1,800).

The nearly 170 large clocks on offer are led by an opulent, 90 cm tall Boulle clock from the 19th century, featuring two gilded angel sculptures. The minimum bid for this masterful work is €5,000. The highlight of the nearly 200 sculptures that follow is the "Meerweibchen" by Georg Kolbe, cast by the Noack Foundry in Berlin. Only eight casts are known, so the minimum price is already set at €60,000.

Among the approximately 900 lots in the Asian art and collectibles categories, all common and a few lesser-known collecting fields are represented. Books and autographs, weapons and militaria, small bronzes, instruments, and decorative everyday objects. One of the most interesting pieces is certainly the small figure of a Neo-Mamluk monkey god, which starts at €1,000 (Lot 4000).

Among the older of the more than 700 paintings and works on paper is one of the extremely rare watercolors by Friedrich Hoffstadt (1802-1846) from 1832 (Lot 7173, limit €2,500). Fans of Dadaism will be delighted by Marcel Duchamp. The rare portfolio "The Large Glass and Related Works" in two volumes includes 18 aquatint etchings by Duchamp. Also noteworthy is a small, charming watercolor by Ernst Wilhelm Nay. The Christmas card from 1956 comes under the hammer with a starting bid of €1,500 (Lot 7521).