The Swiss-based auction house Koller is one of the world's leading. For four days between 26-29 March, enthusiastic collectors can turn their eyes towards Zurich, where ten outstanding catalogs will be auctioned.
It all begins on the 26 March with Koller’s auction of valuable books. The top lot can be found in the ‘Zoology’ category: Dissertation de generatione et metamorphosibus insectorum Surinamensium by Maria Sibylla Merian, in which the flora and fauna of northeastern South America is illustrated. It is the third edition of the work with 72 old coloured copper plates and the first with Latin-French parallel text.
During the same day another auction will be held, the rich catalogue of which is full of documents and medieval writings. A richly-illustrated manuscript, Horae BMV Hours is written in Latin and has been dated around the year 1460. This type of manuscript is one of the last of its kind - belonging to a dying breed of book printing.
While 27 March is completely dedicated to jewellery with auction sessions on both the pre and afternoon, the next day offers craftsmanship of the highest quality. After the day started with carpets, Koller continues with furniture, porcelain and silver in the afternoon. In addition, early Meissen porcelain and an unusual writing cupboard from the middle of the 19th century will pass under the hammer. The cabinet has been decorated with a technique known as lacca povera, an Italian variant on the then very popular Chinese and Japanese crafts.
29 March is the time for painting and graphics. Among the highlights are the Dutch Renaissance artist Jan Wellens de Cock, where he portrays the temptation of Saint Antony.
Other highlights include a portrait of Frederick III of Saxony, a German curator who lived in the 15th and 16th centuries. The portrait has been painted by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a German painter and book illustrator. In addition, a scene from Don Juan's life, depicted by the baroque painter Jan van Noordt, will be auctioned.
The painting shows the first meeting between Don Juan and his love interest Preziosa. The scene is framed by a richly decorated frame with hunting motifs.
Koller's extensive auction ends on 29 March with 19th-century painting. Of course, the painter Carl Spitzweg, who is particularly popular in Germany, is represented here, with the work Der Schmetterlingsfänger, which represents a busy butterfly collector.
In addition, parts of the TV producer Jef Rademaker's collection will be auctioned, which includes romantic paintings from both the Netherlands and Belgium.
Finally, we finish with one of Koller's most acclaimed exclamations, namely Arnold Böcklin's monumental Der Kampf auf der Brücke from 1889. The work depicts a blow between German and Roman forces. Böcklin arranged the motif in accordance with Peter Paul Rubens The Battle of the Amazon. Böcklin admired the baroque painting tradition from a young age when he was travelling in Belgium at the age of 20.