Avantgarde Art 1960 + 1970 - Exhibition in Paris

While the famous art fair "Biennale des Antiquaires" is being held at the Grand Palais, Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers of Fine Art will for the third time exhibit its most coveted paintings and furniture pieces at the auction association Drouot in Paris. This time there is a special focus on international avant-garde art from the 1960s to the 70s. These works are accompanied by items such as a rare "Museum Table" by Peder Moos from 1968 and an exclusive Louis XVI- bureau by David Roentgen from ca. 1780.

"It is with great pleasure that we travel to Paris again this autumn. We have had great success with promoting our international auctions in France, and we look forward to presenting the September auction's absolute highlights for an international audience in one of the world's most important art metropolises," says Frederik Bruun Rasmussen, who is in charge of the exhibition.

Avantgarde 1960 + 1970

The exhibition's masterpiece is a hitherto unknown painting by the Italian artist Paolo Scheggi from 1962-63. The painting has been in a private Danish collection until today, and it was only just recently registered with the Associazione Paolo Scheggi in Milan. The development of the experimental art scene in Copenhagen during the 1950s to 70s is the reason why Scheggi’s work ended up in Denmark, where several international avant-garde movements intersected at the time, including the School of Paris, the emerging Fluxus movement, Tachism and "Gruppo Zero", which Scheggi was a part of.

The exhibited works represent a diverse field of different art movements from the period, which all had the common goal of transcending the frames of art and examining what an art object actually is. This is illustrated by the Italian Paolo Scheggi’s use of multi-layered surfaces in his painting, Carlos Cruz-Diez' shimmering painting and Daniel Spoerri’s kitschy shower scene, which combines different genres, media and materials.

The exhibition also includes avant-garde works by André Marfaing, Armando, Bruno Cassinari, Bruno Gambone, Enzo Cacciola, Mario Ceroli, Raymond Hains, Renato Birolli and Toni Costa.

Peder Moos' Unique "Museum Table"

This time we also have items on display by Peder Moos (1906-1991), such as an until recently unknown lamp called ”Lidt af hvert” (A bit of everything) and a rare "Museum Table", which comes with a correspondence between the cabinetmaker himself and the doctor Gert Poulsen, who had ordered the table. The correspondence begins in the spring of 1968 and provides a unique insight into the table's creation. At the same time Moos describes how the table should be treated, which is the likely reason why the table now appears in such an excellent condition.

Peder Moos is one of the most original and uncompromising designers within Danish furniture design. He focused on the detail as a decorative element and an exclusive expression. Like no other, he managed to highlight the wooden material's organic and living character to perfection. He maintained many of the old traditions of craftsmanship and often assembled his furniture with wooden dowels, which he sought to emphasize rather than hide.

Roentgen Louis XVI-Cylinder Bureau

Last but not least we have a German Louis XVI cylinder bureau with the most beautiful inlaid chinoiserie. It was made by David Roentgen, who was one of Europe's leading cabinetmakers in the 1700s. His list of clients included famous figures from society's elite, such as Marie Antoinette of France and Catherine the Great of Russia.

The bureau comes from a private French collection and has previously been traded through the acclaimed German art dealer Albrecht Neuhaus in Würzburg. Roentgen's work is characterized by the extremely beautiful marquetry, which the master himself called "Marquettery à la Mosaique". It consists of small pieces of wood, which were covered by scorching sand to achieve a picturesque expression. The result can be seen in the exhibited bureau that belongs to the absolute elite among European antiques.

The Exhibition in Paris

12 Drouot, 12, rue Drouot, Paris 9e.

Monday, 12 September, 11 am – 6 pm, cocktails at 7 pm

Tuesday, 13 September, 11 am – 6 pm

International Auction in Copenhagen

Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers of Fine Art, Bredgade 33, 1260 Copenhagen K

Preview: 15-19 September

Auction: 20-29 September