Relics of a Bygone Era

Yesterday, Freeman’s auction house in Philadelphia raised 1.34 million from the sale of art that previously hung in Lehman Brothers offices. The pieces up for grabs included prints and photography by the likes of Claes Oldenburg, David Hockney, Robert Indiana, Frank Stella Alex Calder and Walker Evans. A Roy Lichentein print of the Statue of Liberty was the best-seller at $49,000.

The funds surpassed low presale estimates by almost 50%. The reason? Perhaps buyers hoping to turn a profit, saw the pieces as good investments. Today’s used art from yesterday’s financial behemoth may be tomorrow’s historical artifact. Perhaps one day, a Lehman-owned print or two will hang in a museum somewhere next to dinosaur fossils and pyramid engravings. Groups of school children will gaze at them and wonder aloud, “Whatever is a Lehman?”

If you would like to get your hands on some authentic Leman-owned artwork to donate to the Met one day, fret not. You’ll have a second chance to pick some up on December 12th at Freeman’s Lehman Collection Part II.

Via: Luxist