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Life, Love and Art: The Collection of John Githens and Ingeborg ten Haeff

Photo: Annie Schlechter

From their historic Washington Square Park townhouse to East Hampton’s artistic circles, their lives epitomized New York’s creative, bohemian spirit.

In the heart of New York City, where the vibrant energy of Washington Square Park meets the bohemian spirit of Greenwich Village, the love story of John Githens and Ingeborg ten Haeff unfolded like a living canvas, with the city itself serving as both muse and ever-present character in their wholly unique life together.

With friends like Alexander Calder and Willem de Kooning, their Washington Square apartment, where they resided for over five decades, became a vibrant hub where weekly dinner parties and artful conversation flowed. Thursday Morning at STAIR on February 13th will include selections from their New York apartment, where many facets of their highly personal collection shine in a variety of fine paintings, ceramics, and modern furniture – all objects that acted as extensions of their intellectual and altogether glamourous world.

The couple in their Washington Square Park apartment.

Photo: Nina Subin

Lot 309: Ludwig Sander (1906-1975): Georgic III

Lot 324: Gen’ichirō Inokuma (1902-1993): Untitled

Lot 305: Esteban Vicente (1903-2001): Untitled

John Githens, a scholar and translator, first became acquainted with the emblematic apartment in 1968 when, as a 30-year-old Russian professor at Vassar College, he met and fell in love with German-born artist Ingeborg ten Haeff. At the time, ten Haeff was mourning the loss of her second husband, architect Paul Lester Wiener. Despite a 22-year age difference, Githens and ten Haeff’s connection was profound, leading him to move into her Washington Square North apartment — “there was nobody really like her” — Githens would jokingly remark about his devotion to both his wife and their living space, “Well, I married the apartment.”

Photo: Annie Schlechter

Photo: Annie Schlechter

Lot 343: Latin American School: Christ

Lot 310: Trudi Kearl: Footed Dish and Vessel

Lot 347: Gilbert Rohde Metal and Upholstered Armchair

Ingeborg ten Haeff’s life was bookmarked by rich cultural experiences and creative leaps. Fleeing Germany during World War II, she relocated to Brazil, where she married the eldest son of President Getúlio Vargas. After the war, she moved to New York, pursued a degree in classical guitar at Juilliard, and immersed herself in the city’s vibrant post-war cultural scene. Her second marriage to architect Paul Lester Wiener further integrated her into New York’s bohemian circles, fostering relationships with artists like Alexander Calder, who crafted a brooch and earrings as a wedding gift. During this period, ten Haeff began to seriously pursue painting, creating works in an Abstract Expressionist style.

Photo: Annie Schlechter

Lot 344: Latin American School: San Calletano

Lot 304: Latin American School: Virgin of Bethlehem

Lot 332: Latin American School: Saint Mary

Following Wiener’s passing in 1967, ten Haeff’s relationship with Githens flourished. They married, with notable artists such as Willem de Kooning and Alfonso Ossorio in attendance, and became central figures in New York and East Hampton’s artist communities. Their home became a hub for social gatherings, reflecting their deep engagement with the arts. Their personal art collection, amassed over the years, included pieces by contemporaries like Herbert Bayer, Kurt Seligmann, Le Corbusier, and Calder, alongside ten Haeff’s own paintings.

Photo: Annie Schlechter

Contemporary pottery, as seen in the kitchen cabinets of John Githens and Ingeborg ten Haeff, will be offered in various group lots such as lots: 366, 340, 342, 321, and 341.

After ten Haeff’s death in 2011, Githens continued to reside in their Greenwich Village apartment, remaining an active participant in the city’s artistic scene. His devotion to ten Haeff endured, as he continued to champion her artwork until his death in early 2024 at the age of 87. Their collection stands as a testament to their shared vision and love for New York, exemplifying a lifetime of engagement with the artistic community through highly personal objects. As Githens poignantly expressed days before his passing, “I love this constantly mutating place, and pray that heaven will be exactly like New York.”

Highlighting Thursday Morning at STAIR on February 13th  is property from the Estate of John Githens and Ingeborg Ten Haeff whose bohemian apartment on Washington Square Park was filled with interesting objects, paintings by artist peers and friends, and furniture designed by architect Paul Lester Wiener.

Lot 301: Pair of Leather and Metal Side Chairs

Lot 325: Japanese Stained Wood Low Bed

Lot 323: Pair of Mid-Century Metal and Upholstered Armchairs

CATALOGUE ONLINE: Friday, January 31, 2025

GALLERY PREVIEW

Friday, January 31: 9am – 5pm
Saturday, February 1: Closed
Sunday, February 2: Closed
Monday, February 3: 9am – 5pm
Tuesday, February 4: 9am – 5pm
Wednesday, February 5: 9am – 5pm
Thursday, February 6: 9am – 5pm
Friday, February 7: 9am – 5pm
Saturday, February 8: 11am – 5pm
Sunday, February 9: Closed
Monday, February 10: 9am – 5pm
Tuesday, February 11: 9am – 5pm
Wednesday, February 12: 9am – 5pm

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