art market viewers (including me) were correct for the incorrect reasons it looks. At the Sotheby's contemporary art auction yesterday, $84.5 million in sales were accomplished, however the highly desired Lucian Freud did not hit its low estimation. Lucio Fontana, Yves Klein, Willem de Kooning, Peter Doig and Frank Auerbach, but, generated pitched bidding battles.
The evening's best price was covered delaware Kooning's "Untitled XIV," which fetched 4 million pounds over the phone, beating its high-end estimation by a third. The seller was an enthusiast from Europe who acquired the painting from the artist's house. Doig's "Saint Anton (Flat Light )," an Alpine world, was great for 2.8 million, also via phone.
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But, Lucian Freud still stole the limelight, or even the top bid. Best Jaquet Droz Watches
His self-portrait with a black eye carried a low-end presale estimate of 2.8 million – after having been presented at a lesser cost in private sale prior to the auction. Owner, Victor Chandler, is a bookmaker located in Gibraltar with a for secrecy: his press officer declined to be named (according to Bloomberg News ).
The Lenz variety, also high-profile, performed very well at Sotheby's. Only 1 of the 47 lots wasn't ready to move, and the whole selection offered for 23.2 million pounds, well defeating a presale estimate of 11.2 million pounds to 15.2 million pounds. Probably the most expensive piece was Klein's "Fire" Brand Panerai Watches
painting "F 88," which introduced 3.3 million pounds, just shy of its large estimate of 3.5 million.
The evening's shock came from Auerbach, who's 1956 drawing was purchased by London art vendor Offer Waterman for 1 million pounds, far above the presale appraisal of 50,000 pounds to 80,000 pounds. Interestingly, Sotheby's mature international specialist Oliver Barker noted to Bloomberg News, "The hole between Auerbach and Freud and Bacon is closing." Are we observing a brand new evolution in the Francis Bacon offer chain? Michele Brand Watches
Total, the contemporary art auction beat its high-end presale estimate of 45 million pounds and thrashed this year's effect for exactly the same auction, a mere 17.9 million pounds for 27 lots.