Christie's to Auction 600+ Hiroshige Prints from Alan Medaugh Collection
Starting September 15 in New York, Christie's will present an auction featuring more than 600 prints from Alan Medaugh's esteemed Utagawa Hiroshige collection, which includes over 180 prints. This collection ranks among the finest ever gathered. The market for Japanese prints is flourishing, with Hokusai at the forefront; last year, Sotheby's sold a Great Wave for $2.8 million. Takaaki Murakami from Christie's highlighted the rising estimates and growing global interest. Medaugh, who celebrates his 83rd birthday this month, began his Hiroshige collection following his honeymoon in Japan, making over two dozen trips and acquiring around 700 pieces, particularly valuing early impressions. He hopes to find new owners for his collection and may initiate another small collection with the proceeds.
Key facts
- Christie's will auction more than 600 Hiroshige prints from Alan Medaugh's collection.
- First auction on September 15 in New York includes over 180 prints.
- Medaugh spent 50 years collecting, made 2+ dozen trips to Japan.
- Collection includes roughly 700 Hiroshige works.
- Sotheby's sold a Great Wave from Okada Museum collection for $2.8 million last year.
- Takaaki Murakami is Christie's head of Japanese and Korean Art.
- Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo inspired Van Gogh and Monet.
- Takashi Murakami devoted a Gagosian exhibition to Hiroshige's series last year.
- Medaugh turns 83 this month.
- Medaugh may start another small collection with proceeds.
Entities
Artists
- Alan Medaugh
- Utagawa Hiroshige
- Katsushika Hokusai
- Takashi Murakami
- Vincent van Gogh
- Claude Monet
Institutions
- Christie's
- Sotheby's
- Okada Museum
- Gagosian
Locations
- New York
- Japan