Christie's auction house has secured the consignment of an extraordinary wooden mobile by renowned American sculptor Alexander Calder, created early in the artist's distinguished career. The piece, titled "Painted Wood" (1943), is expected to become the star lot of Christie's upcoming 20th Century Evening Sale next month, with specialists projecting it will sell for between $15 million and $20 million—marking Calder's highest-ever auction estimate.

According to Christie's experts, "Painted Wood" represents the largest and most significant example of Calder's wooden Constellation mobiles ever to appear at auction. The work is being offered from the prestigious collection of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, a prominent collector known primarily for her extensive holdings of Latin American art. The mobile's provenance adds considerable historical significance to its value.

The artwork carries exceptional museum credentials, having been featured in Calder's landmark 1943 retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This groundbreaking exhibition made the 45-year-old Calder the youngest artist ever to receive a solo show at the prestigious institution at that time. This record was later broken by Frank Stella in 1970, who continues to hold the title today.

Calder's current auction record was established in 2014, when one of his later mobiles sold at Christie's New York for $25.93 million, including fees, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of $9 million to $12 million. The artist, who passed away in 1976 at the age of 78, continues to command significant attention in the contemporary art market and institutional settings.

The timing of this sale coincides with multiple high-profile institutional presentations celebrating Calder's artistic legacy. The newly opened Calder Gardens in Philadelphia recently welcomed visitors this weekend, offering a dedicated space to experience the artist's work. Additionally, the Whitney Museum of American Art is opening a major exhibition this weekend that celebrates the centennial of Calder's famous "Circus" (1926-31), the artist's intricate miniature wire model of a circus that has become one of his most beloved creations.