Calder and Warhol jostle with the old masters at Skinner's Boston art sale

Fine paintings and sculpture from some of the art markets' most eminent names will be auctioned by Skinner in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 9.

The likes of Alexander Calder, Maurice Utrillo and Andy Warhol will each be appearing in the sale which is offering contemporary artists alongside old masters.

Among the sale's expected star lots is this Alexander Calder sculpture Shoe with Split Heel. Dated to 1946, the piece is expected to bring $30,000-50,000.

The piece has appeared at exhibitions around the world including in Switzerland and at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. Billed as being in "good" condition, its past ownership includes Boston, US's Obelisk Gallery and a private New England collection back in the 1960s.

A shoe-in... This Alexander Calder sculpture could sell for $50,000

Registered with the Calder Foundation, the work - although unsigned - will sell with an Obelisk Gallery photo-certificate autographed on the reverse by Alexander Calder himself.

Given its provenance and the continuing popularity of Calder on the art markets, the sculpture will undoubtedly generation much excitement and escalating bids at Skinner's sale.

Meanwhile, French artist Utrillo's Impasse trainee sous la neige a Montmartris expected to bring twice as much: $100,000-150,000.

Aside from the big money lots, Skinner's sale also includes a more obscure 'entry-level' buy from Andy Warhol's oeuvre, an artist whose art and memorabilia - including even his clothes - are among the markets' most valued memorabilia items.

Speed Skater is from a limited edition of 50 proofs published in Vienna. Numbered and signed "35/50 Andy Warhol" in pencil, the piece dates to 1983 and shows Warhol embracing the fluorescent colours for which the '80s is now renowned.

Need for speed: Warhol's 1983 piece Speed Skater could bring $7,000

Unframed, the piece measures 33 1/2 x 24 1/8 inches and is estimated at $5,000-7,000 - an obscure, coveted and not-too-expensive piece for your art portfolio.

Skinner has enjoyed its fair share of World Record prices in the past, including the $5.5 million sale of a previously undiscovered FH Lane painting entitled Manchester Harbor.

With that in mind, the auctioneer should be expecting great things from its comprehensive September 9 auction.

Watch this space for more news from the collectible art markets.