Saturday, June 24, 2023

Saul Steinberg: An Untitled Paper Bag Mask

A colorful paper bag mask by Saul Steinberg was offered for sale Wednesday at Los Angeles Modern Auctions. The face on the mask is rendered very geometrically, largely with zigzags and meanders, giving the image an imposing yet playful feel. The Matthew Marks Gallery of New York once offered the work and dated it to circa 1967. Later, the Adam Baumgold Gallery, also of New York, held the art and dated it to 1962. The Saul Steinberg Foundation dates the artist's mask output to 1959-1962, so this latter date is more plausible. This week the piece came to auction with a slightly revised date of circa 1962 and with an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. Online bidding opened at $5,000.





Saul Steinberg
Los Angeles Modern Auctions listing accessed June 18, 2023



The lot was passed and is now offered for a flat price of $7,560. This number is the presumed reserve of $6,000 plus the 26% buyer's premium.




Note:  For more on the subject, see the Saul Steinberg Foundation's page on the artist's paper bag masks.




04360

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