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TOBEY, MARK

* 11.12.1890 Centerville, † 24.4.1976 Basel

Mark Tobey was born in Centerville, Wisconsin in 1890. From 1906 to 1908 he attended courses in oil and watercolour painting at the Art Institute in Chicago. In 1911 Tobey moved to New York, continued to teach himself painting and drawing, and earned his living as a fashion illustrator, portraitist, and caricaturist.

From the time of his conversion to the Bahai faith in 1918, the meditative scriptural exercises and pictorial worlds of the Far East increasingly influenced his compositions. From 1925 Tobey began to travel, with visits to Paris and the Middle East. A longer trip took Tobey to China and Japan, where he closely studied Zen teachings and painting, as well as calligraphy, in a Zen monastery. From the 1940s onwards, Tobey produced his famous White Writings, which present a network of fine marks inspired by calligraphy.

Tobey's international breakthrough came in 1958 when he won the International Prize for Painting at the Venice Biennale. Although Mark Tobey never lost contact with the country of his birth, he finally moved to Basel in 1960, where he died in 1976.

Works from our auctions

Works by this artist from our auctions

Following are some examples of works by this artist from our past and future auctions.
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Lot 3422 - A211 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 28 November 2024, 04.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1957.

Tempera, cover white and ink on firm paper.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 57.

24.4 × 35.4 cm.

CHF 20 000 / 25 000 | (€ 20 620 / 25 770)

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Lot 3423 - A211 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 28 November 2024, 04.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1969.

Tempera on paper laid on firm cardboard.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 69.

33.4 × 27 cm.

CHF 15 000 / 25 000 | (€ 15 460 / 25 770)

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Lot 3424 - A211 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 28 November 2024, 04.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

La Festa. 1967.

Tempera and collage on paper, firmly laid down on canvas.

Signed and dated lower left: Tobey 67.

93.5 × 64.5 cm.

CHF 90 000 / 160 000 | (€ 92 780 / 164 950)

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Lot 3459 - A211 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 28 November 2024, 04.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1956.

Tempera, cover white and ink on firm paper.

Signed lower right: Tobey.

56.7 × 38.4 cm.

CHF 10 000 / 15 000 | (€ 10 310 / 15 460)

PLACE A BID

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Lot 3413 - A205 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 22 June 2023, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Aquarium. 1964.

Tempera on paper firmly laid down on cardboard.

Signed lower left: Tobey.

100 × 69.5 cm.

CHF 130 000 / 180 000 | (€ 134 020 / 185 570)

Sold for CHF 274 800 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3411 - A185 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 30 June 2018, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Western Pagodas. 1953.

Tempera on cardboard laid down on cardboard.

Signed and dated lower left (difficult to read): Tobey 53.

45.5 x 60.6 cm.

CHF 150 000 / 250 000 | (€ 154 640 / 257 730)

Sold for CHF 180 500 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3414 - A183 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 09 December 2017, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Blue Interval. 1969/70.

Tempera on paper.

Signed and dated lower left: Tobey 69, as well as lower right: Tobey 70.

65.5 x 50.7 cm.

CHF 10 000 / 15 000 | (€ 10 310 / 15 460)

Sold for CHF 140 900 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3710 - A193 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 04 July 2020, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1960.

Tempera on wove paper.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 60.

48.5 × 38 cm.

CHF 60 000 / 80 000 | (€ 61 860 / 82 470)

Sold for CHF 132 060 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3406 - A195 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 05 December 2020, 02.30 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Circular Rhythms. 1965.

Tempera on paper.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 65.

87 × 57 cm.

CHF 80 000 / 140 000 | (€ 82 470 / 144 330)

Sold for CHF 122 300 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3424 - A195 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 05 December 2020, 02.30 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1967.

Tempera on paper.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 67.

68 × 48 cm.

CHF 70 000 / 90 000 | (€ 72 160 / 92 780)

Sold for CHF 116 200 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3413 - A199 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 02 December 2021, 04.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Aspects. 1965.

Tempera with monotype on thin paper, firmly laid down.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 65.

51 × 101.7 cm.

CHF 120 000 / 180 000 | (€ 123 710 / 185 570)

Sold for CHF 110 100 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3409* - A191 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 07 December 2019, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Multi-Movements in Time. 1958.

Tempera and ink on wove paper.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 58.

16 x 25 cm. Firmly laid down.

CHF 14 000 / 18 000 | (€ 14 430 / 18 560)

Sold for CHF 80 820 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3409* - A203 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 01 December 2022, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1969.

Tempera on styrofoam.

Signed and dated lower left: Tobey 69.

100 × 50 cm.

CHF 50 000 / 70 000 | (€ 51 550 / 72 160)

Sold for CHF 67 400 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3426 - A201 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 30 June 2022, 05.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. Ca. 1970.

Tempera on styrofoam.

Signed on the reverse: Tobey, as well as with the artist's stamp.

99.6 × 49.7 cm.

CHF 55 000 / 75 000 | (€ 56 700 / 77 320)

Sold for CHF 67 400 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3410 - A191 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 07 December 2019, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1965.

Tempera on wove paper.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 65.

26 x 17 cm.

CHF 40 000 / 60 000 | (€ 41 240 / 61 860)

Sold for CHF 63 740 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3442 - A209 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 20 June 2024, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1957.

Tempera, ink and cover white on cardboard.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 57.

54.5 × 39.5 cm.

CHF 25 000 / 35 000 | (€ 25 770 / 36 080)

Sold for CHF 57 500 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3425 - A201 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 30 June 2022, 05.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Centered Light. 1960.

Tempera on thin paper, firmly mounted on paper.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 60.

27 × 14.3 cm.

CHF 30 000 / 40 000 | (€ 30 930 / 41 240)

Sold for CHF 49 100 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3415 - A191 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 07 December 2019, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1971.

Tempera sur papier parchemin.

Signed and dated lower left: Tobey 71.

102.5 x 53.5 cm.

CHF 40 000 / 60 000 | (€ 41 240 / 61 860)

Sold for CHF 49 100 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3423* - A207 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 30 November 2023, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Points of Light. 1961.

Tempera on firm paper.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 61, as well as signed, titled and dated on the reverse: Tobey 61 Points of Light.

22.5 × 31.5 cm.

CHF 40 000 / 60 000 | (€ 41 240 / 61 860)

Sold for CHF 48 750 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3734* - A193 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 04 July 2020, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1969.

Tempera on wove paper.

Signed and dated lower left: Tobey 69.

108 × 62 cm.

CHF 35 000 / 45 000 | (€ 36 080 / 46 390)

Sold for CHF 40 560 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3713* - A193 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 04 July 2020, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1959.

Tempera on cardboard.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 59.

30.5 × 24 cm.

CHF 15 000 / 20 000 | (€ 15 460 / 20 620)

Sold for CHF 36 900 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3404 - A195 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 05 December 2020, 02.30 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1962.

Tempera on wove paper.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 62.

21.7 × 14.5 cm.

CHF 25 000 / 35 000 | (€ 25 770 / 36 080)

Sold for CHF 34 460 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3409 - A185 PostWar & Contemporary - Saturday 30 June 2018, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1961.

Tempera and glue on paper laid on cardboard.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey. On the reverse signed and dated: Mark Tobey Bâle - 1961, as well as with the stamp signature.

37.3 x 18.3 cm.

CHF 8 000 / 10 000 | (€ 8 250 / 10 310)

Sold for CHF 28 100 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3481* - Z28 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 24 June 2010, 05.30 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

The Way Nature Draws at Night. 1965.

Tempera auf Schaumstoff.

Verso mit der Stempelsignatur.

50 x 27 cm.

CHF 10 000 / 12 000 | (€ 10 310 / 12 370)

Sold for CHF 22 800 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

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Lot 3421 - A207 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday 30 November 2023, 02.00 PM

MARK TOBEY

(Centerville 1890–1976 Basel)

Untitled. 1958.

Tempera on paper.

Signed and dated lower right: Tobey 58.

18.5 × 24.6 cm.

CHF 14 000 / 18 000 | (€ 14 430 / 18 560)

Sold for CHF 22 500 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.

Details My catalogue Query