Seymour Stein, the founder of Sire Records, was the man who put Punk and New Wave on the map. In January 2018, his private collection of art and music memorabilia will be hitting the auction market.
Stein was a pioneer, predicting trends and signing several bands and artists that would go on to be the sounds of the 1970s and 80s. In 1975, as Stein watched four guys from Queens play, he knew he had spotted something special. Stein signed them to his label, and The Ramones set the world on fire with their punk rock sounds, releasing their first album in 1976. Talking Heads, Pretenders, The Cure, The Smiths, Cult, Radio Birdman and Soft Cell are just some of the other names that Stein brought to the world's stage.
Stein was also behind Madonna's first single, Everybody, which was released in 1982.Madonna herself has expressed her fascination with Stein's passion for music and praised him for the risks he has taken during his career.
David Rago, Rago's owner, says: "Seymour Stein has been a dedicated collector for decades and a client of our firm for most of that time. His emphasis has been on European ceramics and glass, as well as fine art. This single-owner auction consists of nearly 200 lots , a compendium of Mr. Stein’s involvement with the arts, featuring pottery, glass, fine art, and rock and roll memorabilia.''
The auction includes works by Rene Buthaud, R. Lalique, Ceramics by Jean Mayodon, Eduard Cazaux, Rene Buthaud, Chales Catteau, Boch Freres, Robert Lallemand, Wedgewood and Sevres, as well as rock memorabilia which includes platinum albums by Madonna, The Ramones, K.D. Long and Depeche Mode.
Alongside this incredible auction, the auction house will host the sale of works directly from the studio of sculptor Albert Paley.
Known for his metal sculptures, he worked for 40 years as an artist in Rochester, New York. The American Institute of Architects awarded him The Institute Honors, the most prestigious award given to non-architects, and made him the first metal sculptor to receive this award. In 2012, Paley received an honorary doctorate from Gothenburg University, which is one of many in the field of international awards he received as a published lecturer.
With commissions from both private companies and public institutions, Paley has completed more than 50 site-specific works, and his art can be found in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and on Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Rago has been responsible for many sales of Paley's work over the past two decades and the upcoming auction will include art, drawings, models, jewelry and sculptures, all of which have come directly from Paley Studios.
The auction of Seymour Stein's collection will take place on 20th January, 2018. On the same day, Design and Modern auctions will also take place. The Albert Paley auction will be held on 21st January, as will auctions featuring Modern Design, Ceramics and Glass. There is still a chance to consign pieces to the Modern Design, Modern Ceramics and Glass auctions through Rago's website.
