It was a record year. The auction turnover at DESA Unicum amounted to nearly PLN 200 million, which allows us to maintain the title of the leader on the Polish auction market for the ninth consecutive year. We organized 150 auctions, 63 of them were online auctions. We also recorded spectacular records - among them the biggest is the sale of Wojciech Fangor's painting "M22" for nearly PLN 7.3 million. It is currently the most expensive painting in Poland and the most expensive painting by this outstanding artist in the world. Nearly 4.5 million zlotys were paid for the canvas by Tamara Łempicka, which became the most expensive work of the painter in Poland, and for the canvas "Children and animals" by Tadeusz Makowski.
Record results at Desa Unicum in 2020
nr 1
an unrivaled leader of the auction market for the last 9 years
196 mln zł
yearly auction turnover
153
auctions -The most in Poland (including 63 online auction)
Desa Unicum - the leader of polish auction market
51,6%
our share in the auction market
29,1%
increase in turnover compared to 2019
32,8%
of all art auctions in Poland were held at DESA Unicum
Record year 2020 at DESA UNICUM
6350
number of sold objects
196 mln zł
yearly turnover at the auctions
24
number of objects sold for over 1mln zł
Record sales in 2020 - modern art
1938
number of sold objects
80,5 mln
turnover at modern art auctions
7
number of objects sold for over 1mln zł
Record sales in 2020 - non-contemporary art
1202
number of sold objects
67,2 mln
turnover at non-contemporary art auctions
12
number of objects sold for over 1mln zł
Auction records at Desa Unicum in 2020
7,3 mln
the most expensive piece of art sold in Poland, Wojciech Fangor, M22, 1969
4,5 mln
the most expensive painting by a Polish female artist, Tamara Łempicka, Czytająca I, ok. 1951
4,5 mln
the most expensive piece of non-contemporary art sold (ex aequo): Tadeusz Makowski, "Dzieci i zwierzęta", 1928
New types of auction records at Desa Unicum in 2020
1,3 mln
the most expensive musical instrument: the piano Steinway & Sons, ~1937, from the collection of Władysław Szpilman
2,8 mln
the most expensive coin: Zygmunt III Waza, 50 crown ducats , 1621, Mennica Bydgoszcz, Samuel Ammon
520 000
the most expensive fabric: Magdalena Abakanowicz, "Dorota", 1965
Charity auctions at desa unicum in 2020
850 000
the most expensive piece of art sold at a charity auction: Juliana Fałat, Wyjazd na polowanie, 1898
2,67 mln
charity auctions turnover
466
number of objects sold at charity auctions
22 december 2020
Record young polish artists auction
The result of the December auction of Young Polish Artists at the DESA Unicum Auction House exceeded all expectations. The total value of the auctioned objects amounted to almost PLN 550 thousand, and set a record for auctions of this type in Poland.
10-17 december 2020
Record-breaking two sessions of non-contemporary auctions
Spectacular finale of two auction sessions: Old masters. 19th century and modern art at DESA Unicum. The total turnover was nearly PLN 27.4 million.
Archiwalne
Tadeusz Makowski
"Children and animals (Jardin d’acclimatation)", 1928
Archiwalne
Boleslaw Cybis
"Nativity in Lowicz", 1930
Archiwalne
Tamara Lempicka
"Reading Girl I" ("La Liseuse I"), circa 1951
Archiwalne
Jozef Chelmonski
"Return from the fields", 1911
Archiwalne
Juliusz Kossak
"With Fire and Sword" - series of 12 compositions for a novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz, 1885-1886
Archiwalne
Mojzesz Kisling
Portrait of the writer Francis de Miomandre, 1915
Archiwalne
Maria Melania Mutermilch / Mela Muter
Maria with Child in front of a Provencal landscape (recto) / Allegorical composition with a cross (verso), 1940-1950
See Auction Results - Session I
See Auction Results - Session II
See The Catalog I
See The Catalog II
10 december 2020
RECORD BREAKING ŁEMPICKA
Sales record for the painting by the Queen of Art Déco. The canvas "Reading I" by Tamara Łempicka - the most expensive Polish artist and the third most expensive artist in the world - was sold at DESA Unicum at the Old Masters. 19th Century and Modern Art for almost 4.5 million PLN!
10 december 2020
CYBIS and MAKOWSKI - WORLD MARKET RECORDS
World auction records for works by Bolesław Cybis and Tadeusz Makowski were broken at DESA Unicum! During the Old Masters. 19th Century and Modern Art, Tadeusz Makowski's painting "Children and animals" was sold for PLN 4.5 million. On the other hand, "Nativity in Łowicz", considered to be the most outstanding painting by Bolesław Cybis, was sold for nearly 1.6 million pln. These are currently the most expensive works by these artists on the world art market.
10 december 2020
Gottlieb's painting, found after over 100 years later, went to the Polin Museum
The "Self-portrait in Polish nobleman's dress" by Maurycy Gottlieb, considered lost, will enrich the permanent exhibition of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
26 november - 3 december 2020
Three Record-breaking sessions of modern art auctions
30 million PLN! This spectacular turnover was brought about by three sessions of contemporary art auctions: Post-War & Contemporary Art, Post-War and Contemporary Art. Op-Art and Geometric Abstraction, Post-War & Contemporary. Installations - Environment - New Media
Archiwalne
Wojciech Fangor
"M 22", 1969
Archiwalne
Henryk Stazewski
Relief in white, black and purple, 1963
Archiwalne
Victor Vasarely
"VEGA-BK", 1976
Archiwalne
Roman Opalka
"Detail 3546421 - 3562392" from the series "1965/1 - ?", 1965
Archiwalne
Ryszard Winiarski
“Game No. 7” (The Dice Rolls Calculator), lata 70. XX w.
Archiwalne
Tadeusz Kantor
"Wrapped canvas" from the series "Everything's handing by a thread", 1973
Archiwalne
Maria Jarema
Composition, 1955
Archiwalne
Teresa Pagowska
"Magic group II", 1979
Archiwalne
Jan Dobkowski
"Ethereal", 1972
Archiwalne
Tomasz Tatarczyk
"Three artists", 1985
3 december 2020
Fangor broke his own record!
7.3 million PLN! This absolute sales record was achieved by Wojciech Fangor's "M22" rosette at the auction: Contemporary Art. Op-Art and Geometric Abstraction in DESA Unicum. It is the highest amount obtained for a work of art at an auction in Poland and at the same time the most expensive-sold artist's work in the world.
30 november 2020
The most expensive coin in Poland
For over 2.8 million PLN, 50 crown ducats of Sigismund III Vasa from 1621 were auctioned at the auction of the Collection of Polish Gold Coins 1535 - 1925 at DESA Unicum. This is a record amount paid for a coin in Poland. The total turnover of the auction was over PLN 8 million.
26 november 2020
Pągowska, Dobkowski, Tatarczyk - new world records for avant-garde classics
Over 7.3 million PLN was the turnover of the auction: Post-War & Contemporary Art after 1945. As a result of the auction, "Composition" by Maria Jarema, reached 732 thousand. PLN. Sales records for paintings by Teresa Pągowska, Jan Dobkowski and Tomasz Tatarczyk were also broken.
Archiwalne
Teresa Pagowska
"Magic group II", 1979
Post-War & Contemporary Art
Hammer price:
400,000 PLN
Archiwalne
Jan Dobkowski
"Ethereal", 1972
Post-War & Contemporary Art
Hammer price:
110,000 PLN
Archiwalne
Tomasz Tatarczyk
"Three artists", 1985
Post-War & Contemporary Art
Hammer price:
240,000 PLN
19 november 2020
Exclusive auction of Edgar Degas sculptures
Sculptures by one of the world's greatest artists, Edgar Degas, appeared on the Polish auction market for the first time. More than 70 impressive bronze sculptures could be viewed and auctioned at DESA Unicum at the auction: Edgar Degas. Sculptural Atelier.
30 october 2020
World auction record for a sculpture by Igor Mitoraj
Over 2.7 million PLN is a sales record for Igor Mitoraj's work on the world market. For this amount, Igor Mitoraj's "Ikaria" from the mBank collection was sold at the DESA Unicum auction. The total turnover of the auction amounted to over PLN 8.5 million.
15 october 2020
Record sales at a photography auction
The most recognizable photo in history, Steve McCurry's iconic "Afghan Girl" photography has sold for over 283,000 PLN at the auction: Photography Classics and Avant-garde at DESA Unicum. A moving portrait of an Afghan girl has become the most expensive photo at an auction in Poland.
29 september 2020
A controversial painting by Bogacka sold for a record amount
118,000 PLN is the amount for which Agata Bogacka's painting "Yes" was sold at the Polish Contemporary Art. The New Generation after 1989 auction, causing a wave of controversy. It is the artist's most expensive work. The picture caused a great stir, and was widely commented on in the media, and the discussion around it on DESA Unicum's Facebook account included almost 1000 comments.
22 september 2020
Over a million zlotys for Szpilman's piano
2.5 million PLN was the turnover of the record-high memorabilia auction on the Polish market: Władysław Szpilman. Composer's cabinet. A considerable amount, 1.3 million PLN was paid for a Steinway piano belonging to this outstanding pianist. It is currently the most expensive musical instrument sold in Poland.
21 september 2020
Unique Recital by Yulianna Avdeeva
The auction : Wladyslaw Szpilman. Composer's cabinet was preceded by an extraordinary event. For a group of collectors and music lovers, DESA Unicum organized a concert with works by Fryderyk Chopin and Władysław Szpilman, performed by the outstanding Russian pianist, Yulianna Avdeeva. The artist played an antique Steinway piano that once belonged to the artist.
25 june 2020
mbank collection auction
An unusual rarity on the Polish art market. The collection of mBank's works of art, built over the years, was auctioned off at DESA Unicum. The offer included works by the museum class of the most outstanding Polish artists, and the entire collection comprised an extraordinary story about Polish artistic creativity. The auction turnover amounted to over PLN 5 million. Józef Brandt's painting "Pospolite ruszenie u Brodu" was sold for over 1.7 million zlotys.
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6
Stanislaw Witkiewicz
Town's market, 1882
Hammer price:
360,000 PLN
4
Alfred Wierusz Kowalski
Unexpected blizzard, lata 80-90.XIX w
Hammer price:
800,000 PLN
17
Alfred Lenica
'Opened window', 1968
Hammer price:
70,000 PLN
1
Wlodzimierz Tetmajer
King of the peasants, circa 1900 (?)
Hammer price:
125,000 PLN
3
Jozef Brandt
Noble host, circa 1895-1902
Hammer price:
1,450,000 PLN
4 june 2020
Jacek Malczewski's "Spring" returns after over than 80 years
After more than 80 years, one of the most outstanding female portraits by Jacek Malczewski, last seen at the Palace of Arts in Krakow shortly before the outbreak of World War II, appeared at the DESA Unicum exhibition. 'Spring' was purchased for over 2.4 million PLN at the Old Masters, 19th Century and Modern Art in June.
28 may 2020
The bluest auction this year
A treat for all of those that love blue! Classic Blue, the shade of the sky at dusk, is the color of 2020 according to the Pantone Institute. It became an inspiration for the first exhibitions and auctions in Poland devoted exclusively to one color.
18 may 2020
Art goes outside
Over 1,000 works of art have found their way unexpectedly in the space of the city that comes to life after the lockdown. 1000 reproductions of street art works appeared in unusual places - as stickers on vegetables and fruits in local shops, posters in cafes, decorations of take-out coffee cups, stickers in flower shops and finally also on sidewalks. All this so that art accompanies us in returning to normalcy. DESA Unicum is responsible for the action.
21 april 2020
The most expensive fabric in Poland
The first auction in Poland devoted entirely to artistic fabric was held at DESA Unicum. For the record-breaking over half a million, Magdalena Abakanowicz's fabric "Dorota" was auctioned off, gaining the status of the most expensive-sold fabric in the country.
18-19 april 2020
Desa Design Days - viewership record
Over 20,000 - that's how many times our live broadcasts have been watched during Desa Design Days. This numerous presence is a testimony to us that even during a pandemic, when we stay at home for the common good, we can still successfully meet in the virtual world.
26 march 2020
A record amount for a set of 5 figures by Magdalena Abakanowicz
In 2019, the installation "Caminando" by Magdalena Abakanowicz was auctioned off for over 8 million PLN, thus setting an absolute sales record for a work of art in Poland. At the March auction: Sculpture and Spatial Forms, another work of this world-renowned artist, Collection of 5 Figures, achieved a considerable result of 2.36 million PLN.
20 march 2020
Art enters homes
The epidemiological situation presented us with unusual challenges and forced the art market to modify its forms of activity. The protection of our clients and the team is and has been a priority for us, both in terms of health and economy. Desa Unicum has not stopped working. We created virtual exhibitions, interesting articles, online auctions, trainings in the field of art market and films in which we talked about exceptional artists and interesting objects presented in our offer.
17 march 2020
Meeting with members of the legendary Gruppa
Absurd and grotesque - this is Gruppa's response to the gray reality of the People's Republic of Poland. At DESA Unicum, a meeting was held with members of this legendary formation - one of the most interesting artistic phenomena of the 1980s - Jarosław Modzelewski, Paweł Kowalewski, Marek Sobczyk, Ryszard Woźniak and Ryszard Grzyb, as well as collector Werner Jerke. The event preceded the auction: Gruppa.
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13 january 2020
A great auction for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity
1,160,000 PLN - was the total turnover of the second edition of the auction of works of art for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity at DESA Unicum. Nearly 120 items were auctioned off, some of them came from the mBank collection. All proceeds from the auction were donated to the purchase of the most modern devices to save the lives and health of children.
