Challenged Auction Of Man Ray Photos Sells Out Above Predicted Values

According to Vincent Noce, writing for The Art Newspaper, the widow of Man Ray’s assistant, Lucien Treillard, put to auction in Paris188 works by the artist. The Man Ray Trust raised concerns that the assistant may have stolen 148 of the pieces for sale, and some of them may have had a fraudulent stamp. The Trust asked to delay the auction.

Reportedly, Christie’s had vetted the works through a former curator for the Paris Modern Art Museum. Having found no reason to suspect the works, it proceeded.

The collection was initially valued at €2m, but brought in €6m. The print, Erotique voilée sold for €312,500, which was over the estimate by a factor of six.

Self-Portrait (detail) by Man Ray (with cropping marks) from Google Arts and Culture.