Christie’s will sell nine works from the Bass House, a Fort Worth, Texas home designed by architect Paul Rudolph for collectors Sid and Anne Bass, in its 20th century evening sale this May in New York. The group, with estimates totaling over $60 million, includes pieces by Mark Rothko, Alexander Calder, Ellsworth Kelly, Frank Stella, Agnes Martin, Gino Severini, and Morris Louis, with the top lot being Rothko’s *No. 4 (Two Dominants) [Orange, Plum, Black]* (1950–51) estimated at around $35 million. The works were carefully placed throughout the house, which was custom-built to prioritize art display, and most remained in their original positions after installation.
This sale matters because it represents a rare opportunity to acquire a cohesive collection from one of the most architecturally significant private homes in America, where art and architecture were seamlessly integrated. The Bass House consignment follows Christie’s previous record-breaking sales from the Bass collections, including $363.1 million from Anne Bass’s New York apartment in 2022 and $68.3 million for an Ed Ruscha work from Sid Bass in 2024. The auction highlights the enduring market strength of blue-chip modern and contemporary artists, as well as the continued demand for collections with distinguished provenance tied to notable collectors and architectural landmarks.