Asger Jorn: "Bel-Air" (Beautiful Sky), Læsø 1971. Signed. Oil on canvas. 89 x 116 cm. Hammer price: DKK 1,750,000.

CoBrA Calling! Consign Artwork to Auction

In collaboration with Bonhams’ global network of auction houses, we will be hosting a third major CoBrA Live Auction and subsequent Online Auction in December 2024. Once again, the focus is on one of the most pioneering art movements of the 20th century, which influenced a large group of artists over several decades. We are currently on the lookout for works of art for the auction.

Powerful Voices of Post-war Europe

At the auction, we highlight the creativity, community, spontaneity and experimental approach to art that represent the core ideas of CoBrA. The movement was established in 1948 by a group of artists of different nationalities. After the horrors of the two world wars, CoBrA's ideology emerged as a desire to reform society, transcend conventions and create a better world for humanity to thrive in. Art was considered a means to this change. All previously held truths had to be broken down in the attempt to create a new kind of art.

Pierre Alechinsky: "Les inondés", 1959. Signed. Oil on canvas. 97 x 130 cm. Estimate: DKK 2,000,000-2,300,000.

Karel Appel: "Comme les planètes", 1959. Signed. Oil on canvas. 130 x 195 cm. Hammer price: DKK 1,800,000.

Do You Want Your CoBrA Work to Be Included in the Auction?

For the auction, we are currently looking for works by artists who were part of the CoBrA movement. If you have works by CoBrA artists that you are considering selling at auction, you should contact us right now – please view contact details below. The consignment deadline is on the 4 November.

Corneille: "Mon canal chante", 1949. Signed. Oil on canvas. 70 x 70 cm. Hammer price: DKK 2,500,000.

Constant: "Mask", 1949. Signed. Oil on canvas. 35 x 28 cm. Hammer price: DKK 700,000.

We are looking for artists such as …

Asger Jorn – Pierre Alechinsky

Constant – Corneille

Christian Dotremont – Karel Appel

Else Alfelt – Jean-Michel Atlan

Mogens Balle – Ejler Bille

Eugene Brands – Georges Collignon

Jacques Doucet – Reinhoud d’ Haese

William Gear – Stephen Gilbert

Svavar Gudnason – Henry Heerup

Carl Otto Hultén – Egill Jacobsen

Lucebert – Ernest Mancoba

Sonja Ferlov Mancoba – Jan Nieuwenhuis

Erik Ortvad – Carl-Henning Pedersen

Jean Raine – Anton Rooskens

Shinkichi Tajiri – Erik Thommesen

Serge Vandercam – Theo Wolvecamp

Anders Österlin – Henry Heerup

Svavar Gudnason – William Gear

Erik Thommesen: “Mand”, 1950. Oak wood. Estimate: DKK 350,000-400,000.

Exhibition Across National Borders and Global Marketing

In the Bonhams network, we have a long tradition of selling CoBrA art at our auctions and have a large group of passionate and affluent clients worldwide. To raise awareness for the auction, highlighted works will be shown in a travelling exhibition around Europe. All works will also be part of a beautiful auction catalogue with pictures and detailed descriptions by our experienced art specialists who are unparalleled on the auction market in their knowledge of CoBrA. We are also promoting the works via advertising, media coverage, newsletters and social media. Our marketing strategy ensures our sellers of CoBrA art an international level of exposure and the market's highest hammer prices.