The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
Postcards
Condition report:
Missing the original envelope and the pages with the listing of the production. The cards are hinged to the mat board along the upper edges. The edges and corners are slightly worn. There are nicks on some edges. There is some minor foxing visible in some of the cards. There is minor surface dirt, discoloration and fading overall.
AFTER LÉON BAKST (1866-1924)
Costume design for 'Le Dieu Bleu': Sultan
signed 'BAKST' in the plate (lower left)
lithograph in color, heightened with gold, on paper
125⁄8 x 93⁄4 in. (32 x 34.7cm.)
Catalog note:
Bakst's design of the Sultan for Le Dieu Bleu was reproduced in C. Einstein, Léon Bakst, Berlin, 1928, plate 40 as 'Der sultan'.
Condition report:
The sheet is hinged to the mat board at the upper left and right corners. The left edge is lined with adhesive tape. The left, lower and right edges are uneven, with some nicks and minor tears with associated losses. There is minor surface staining visible overall. Very faint traces of foxing are visible primarily in the lower right. There is acidic discoloration visible along all four edges. The sheet has discolored and the pigments have faded.
AFTER LÉON BAKST (1866-1924)
Two costume designs for 'La belle au bois dormant': Un courtisan and Le Maréchal Cantalabutte
the first signed and dated 'Bakst/1922' in plate (lower right); the second signed 'BAKST' in plate (lower right)
photomechanical reproductions laid down on paper
image: 91⁄4 x 61⁄8 in. (23.5 x 15.5 cm.); and smaller
sheet: 151⁄4 x 11 in. (38.7 x 27.9 cm.); and smaller
Condition report:
There is minor buckling overall. There are surface scratches, scuffs and dirt visible on the surface. There are losses visible near the head of the figure of Le Maréchal Cantalabutte.
The edges of the backing sheet are uneven overall, and the right edges are jagged. They have discolored.
ATTRIBUTED TO ERNST STERN (1876-1954)
Costume design for 'La Légende de Joseph' - The first (pink)
inscribed 'BAKST' (center left)
pencil, charcoal, ink and gouache, heightened with gold, on paper
131⁄2 x 101⁄4 in. (34.3 x 26 cm.)
Catalog note:
For the ballet La Légende de Joseph, which premiered in 1914, Sergei Diaghilev (1872-1929) commissioned Bakst to make designs for the ladies in the suite of Potiphar’s wife. These works were intended as promotional drawings for the Illustrated London News and were likely executed by the artist Ernst Stern (1876-1954) with Bakst’s approval.
Provenance:
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 18 July 1996, lot 44.
Acquired at the above sale by Ann and Gordon Getty.
Condition report:
The work was not examined outside of its housing, thus the extreme edges are not visible. The sheet is fully laid down on paper which has cockled slightly. There are minor surface scratches in localized areas, particularly to the lower right of the figure’s dress. There is some minor pigment loss visible in the figure’s dress, most prominently in the lower left. There is minor surface dirt overall. The sheet has discolored and the pigments have faded.
ATTRIBUTED TO ERNST STERN (1876-1954)
Costume design for 'La Légende de Joseph' - The second (Blue)
inscribed 'BAKST' (center right)
pencil, charcoal, watercolor and gouache, heightened with silver, on paper
131⁄4 x 103⁄4 in. (33.5 x 27.5 cm.)
Provenance:
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 18 July 1996, lot 43.
Acquired at the above sale by Ann and Gordon Getty.
Condition report:
The sheet is hinged to the matboard at the upper left and right corners. All four edges are uneven, with minor nicks and tears, particularly at the left and lower edges. The sheet has slightly cockled. There is craquelure visible in the red pigments, and there are tiny losses in the silver. There is minor surface dirt overall. There is faint acidic discoloration at the left edge. The sheet has discolored and the pigments have faded.
AFTER ADRIAN ALLISON (1890-1959)
A group of twelve theatre studies
six signed 'Allinson' and two inscribed with titles and artist’s name (on the reverse)
pencil, ink, gouache and watercolor on paper
11 x 71⁄2 in. (27.9 x 19 cm.); and smaller
Catalog note:
The group of theatre set and costume design studies after Bakst were done by the British artist Adrian Allinson (1890-1959). Guided by Walter Sickert (1860-1942) in the production of theatre, music hall and ballet scenes, Allinson went on to sell some of his work to British dance historian and publisher Cyril W. Beaumont (1891-1976).
Condition report:
Seven are laid down on paper. The edges are uneven and there are faint scratches and scuffs to the surfaces overall. There are minor nicks and tears and old adhesive stains to some. One has a diagonal tear measuring approximately 4 in. in the center of the composition. The sheets have discoloured but the pigments remain relatively fresh.
UNKNOWN ARTIST
Set design
pencil, watercolor, gouache, and oil, heightened with gold, on paper
9 x 141⁄8 in. (23 x 35.9 cm.)
Condition report:
The sheet is hinged to the mat board at the upper left and right corners. The sheet has cockled.
For further information on this lot please contact Izabela Grocholski on + 1 212 636 2302 or at igrocholski@christies.com.
Print Report