Auction Results: Contemporary Art Evening and Day Sales, June 27 and 28, 2013 @Phillips London

Cindy Sherman saved the day for the photography buried in Phillips' Contemporary Art sales in London last week. Her two lots in the Evening sale brought in more than half the total haul for photography across the two sales. With an overall Buy-In rate over 40%, the Total Sale Proceeds worked hard to get near the low estimate.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 32
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: £1064000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: £1528000
Total Lots Sold: 18
Total Lots Bought In: 14
Buy In %: 43.75%
Total Sale Proceeds: £1005250

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 0
Low Sold: NA
Low Bought In: NA
Buy In %: NA
Total Low Estimate: £0
Total Low Sold: NA

Mid Total Lots: 16
Mid Sold: 9
Mid Bought In: 7
Buy In %: 43.75%
Total Mid Estimate: £258000
Total Mid Sold: £136250

High Total Lots: 16
High Sold: 9
High Bought In: 7
Buy In %: 43.75%
Total High Estimate: £1270000
Total High Sold: £869000

The top photography lot by High estimate was lot 6, Cindy Sherman, Untitled #426, 2004, at £200000-300000; it sold for £242500. The top photography outcome of the two sales was lot 8, Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #36, estimated at £60000-80000, sold at £302500 (image at right, top, via Phillips).

100.00% of the lots that sold had proceeds above or in the estimate range. There was only one positive surprise in the two sales (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 8, Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #36, estimated at £60000-80000, sold at £302500

Complete lot by lot results can be found here (Evening) and here (Day).

Phillips
Howick Place
London SW1P 1BB

Auction Results: Contemporary Art Evening and Day Auctions, June 26 and 27, 2013 @Sotheby's London

Andreas Gursky easily carried the photographic load at Sotheby's Contemporary Art auctions in London last week. His five stock exchange images in the Evening sale brought in just under £5.5M in aggregate, and with the help of the Struth Pantheon image at roughly £800K, basically made the rest of the results irrelevant. Even with an overall Buy-In rate near 35%, the Total Sale Proceeds still soared over the pre-sale high estimate.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Photography Lots: 43
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: £3961000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: £5503000
Total Lots Sold: 28
Total Lots Bought In: 15
Buy In %: 34.88%
Total Sale Proceeds: £7171475

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 0
Low Sold: NA
Low Bought In: NA
Buy In %: NA
Total Low Estimate: £0
Total Low Sold: NA

Mid Total Lots: 22
Mid Sold: 14
Mid Bought In: 8
Buy In %: 36.36%
Total Mid Estimate: £343000
Total Mid Sold: £250625

High Total Lots: 21
High Sold: 14
High Bought In: 7
Buy In %: 33.33%
Total High Estimate: £5160000
Total High Sold: £6920850

The top lot by High estimate was lot 28, Andreas Gursky, Chicago Board of Trade, 1997, estimated at £700000-900000; it sold for £1538500. The top outcome of the two sales was lot 26, Andreas Gursky, Chicago Board of Trade III, 1999-2009, estimated at £600000-800000, sold at £2154500 (image at right, top, via Sotheby's).

100.00% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above their estimate. There were four surprises in these sales (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 26, Andreas Gursky, Chicago Board of Trade III, 1999-2009, estimated at £600000-800000, sold at £2154500
Lot 437, Mona Hatoum, Performance Still, 1985-1995, estimated at £6000-8000, sold at £20000 (image at right, middle, via Sotheby's)
Lot 447, Thomas Struth. Jiangxi Zhong Lu, Shanghai, 1996, estimated at £12000-18000, sold at £40000
Lot 448, Thomas Struth, Nanjing Xi Lu 2, Shanghai, 2002, estimated at £18000-25000, sold at £57500 (image at right, bottom, via Sotheby's)

Complete lot by lot results can be found here (Evening) and here (Day).

Sotheby's
34-35 New Bond Street
London W1A 2AA

Auction Results: Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening and Day Auctions, June 25 and 26, 2013 @Christie's London

The results for the photography included in Christie's Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening and Day sales in London last week were driven down by the failure of the two top photo lots to find buyers. With an overall Buy-In rate under 14%, we might have expected the Total Sale Proceeds to cover the top end of the range; as it was, they fell meaningfully below the low end.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 22
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: £734000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: £1068000
Total Lots Sold: 19
Total Lots Bought In: 3
Buy In %: 13.64%
Total Sale Proceeds: £552500

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 1
Low Sold: 1
Low Bought In: 0
Buy In %: 0.00%
Total Low Estimate: £5000
Total Low Sold: £9375

Mid Total Lots: 14
Mid Sold: 13
Mid Bought In: 1
Buy In %: 7.14%
Total Mid Estimate: £218000
Total Mid Sold: £216125

High Total Lots: 7
High Sold: 5
High Bought In: 2
Buy In %: 28.57%
Total High Estimate: £845000
Total High Sold: £327000

The top lot by High estimate was lot 21, Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Our prices are insane!), 1997, at £200000-300000; it did not sell. The top photography outcome of the two sales was lot 251, Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Your life is a perpetual insomnia!), 1984, estimated at £60000-80000, sold at £127875 (image at right, top, via Christie's).

89.47% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above their estimate. There was only one surprise in these sales (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 285, Andreas Gursky, Gelsenkirchen, Ratingen, Moers, 1988, estimated at £8000-12000, sold at £27500 (image at right, bottom, via Christie's)

Complete lot by lot results can be found here (Evening) and here (Day).

Christie's
8 King Street, St. James's
London SW1Y 6QT

Auction Results: Photographie, June 14, 2013 @Van Ham

The outcomes at the photography sale at Van Ham in Cologne last week were generally uneventful. While there were a number of positive surprises, an overall Buy-In rate near 50% and the failure of the two top lots to find buyers dampened the aggregate results. Overall, the Total Sale Proceeds fell meaningfully below the pre-sale estimate. (Van Ham does not provide an estimate range in many cases, just a single estimate number, so this figure is used as the High estimate in our calculations).

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 216
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: €566800
Total Lots Sold: 114
Total Lots Bought In: 102
Buy In %: 47.22%
Total Sale Proceeds: €322460

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 201
Low Sold: 95
Low Bought In: 106
Buy In %: 52.74%
Total Low Estimate: €306800
Total Low Sold: €218080

Mid Total Lots: 13
Mid Sold: 7
Mid Bought In: 6
Buy In %: 46.15%
Total Mid Estimate: €140000
Total Mid Sold: €104380

High Total Lots: 2
High Sold: 0
High Bought In: 2
Buy In %: 100.00%
Total High Estimate: €120000
Total High Sold: €0

The top lot by High estimate was tied between two lots: lot 1111, Christian Boltanski, Jewish School, Große Hamburger Straße, Berlin, 1939, 1993, and lot 1221, Candida Höfer, Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, 2006, both estimated at €50000-60000; neither lot sold. The top outcome of the sale was lot 1108, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Industriebauten, estimated at €15000-18000, sold at €43750

88.60% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate. There were a total of 15 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 1103, David Hockney, Sur le Motif, 1974, estimated at €1000, sold at 2€000 (image at right, middle, via Van Ham)
Lot 1104, Luigi Ghirri, Atelier Giorgio Morandi, 1989/1990, estimated at €3000, sold at €10000 (image at right, top, via Van Ham)
Lot 1108, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Industriebauten, estimated at €15000-18000, sold at €43750
Lot 1122, August Sander, Antlitz der Zeit, 1929, estimated at €1500-2000, sold at €8130
Lot 1137, Lee Friedlander, Baltimore Maryland, 1962, estimated at €2000-3000, sold at €6250
Lot 1140, Jeanloup Sieff, Portrait avec Violette, estimated at €1200, sold at €3000
Lot 1175, Luigi Ghirri, Ferrara, 1979, estimated at €2000, sold at €6250
Lot 1185, Thomas Struth, Paradies, 2004, estimated at €1200, sold at €4380
Lot 1197, Ludwig Windstosser, Schallplatten, 1955, estimated at €1800, sold at €4130
Lot 1271, Claus Goedicke, III-17, 1995, estimated at €300, sold at €750 (image at right, bottom, via Van Ham)
Lot 1286, Felix Bonfils, Album mit Aufnahmen aus Indien, Japan, Vietnam, Israel, Syrien, Libanon, 1880-1900, estimated at €800, sold at €1750
Lot 1295, Siegfried Lauterwasser, Wasser, 1948, estimated at €600, sold at €5380
Lot 1306, Albert Renger-Patzsch, 8 Anischtskarten, 1929, estimated at €800, sold at €2000
Lot 1310, August Sander, Madchenportrait, 1925, estimated at €800-1000, sold at €5000
Lot 1320, Karl Hugo Schmolz, Ohne Titel, 1950s, estimated at €800, sold at €2500

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Van Ham Kunstauktionen
Schönhauser Straße 10 - 16
D - 50968 Köln

Auction Results: Photographies, May 29, 2013 @Sotheby's Paris

The results from Sotheby's recent Photographies sale in Paris were generally weaker than expected. At one point during the early part of the sale, in a run of 36 lots, only 2 lots found buyers. With an overall Buy-In rate over 50%, it isn't hugely surprising that the Total Sale Proceeds missed the low end of the estimate range by a meaningful margin.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 221
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: €1725400
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: €2399800
Total Lots Sold: 105
Total Lots Bought In: 116
Buy In %: 52.49%
Total Sale Proceeds: €1478550

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 103
Low Sold: 43
Low Bought In: 60
Buy In %: 58.25%
Total Low Estimate: €541800
Total Low Sold: €330775

Mid Total Lots: 111
Mid Sold: 59
Mid Bought In: 52
Buy In %: 46.85%
Total Mid Estimate: €1488000
Total Mid Sold: €960875

High Total Lots: 7
High Sold: 3
High Bought In: 4
Buy In %: 57.14%
Total High Estimate: €370000
Total High Sold: €186900

The top lot by High estimate was lot 172, Helmut Newton, Naomi, Cap D'Antibes, 1998, estimated at €80000-120000; it did not sell. The top outcome of the sale was lot 143, Robert Mapplethorpe, Ken, Lydia & Tyler, 1985, estimated at €30000-40000, sold at €73500.

95.24% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range. There were thirteen surprises in this sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 2, Anonyme, Marin Grec, 1844, estimated at €6000-8000, sold at €25000
Lot 4, Anonyme, Les Remparts D'Alger, 1844, estimated at €7000-9000, sold at €30000
Lot 6, Anonyme, Vue du Port D'Alger, 18444, estimated at €5000-7000, sold at €39900
Lot 7, Anonyme, Le Port D'Alger, 1844, estimated at €8000-12000, sold at €37500
Lot 8, Anonyme, Mosquee de Coleah, 1844, estimated at €6000-8000, sold at €18750
Lot 50, Etienne Leopold Trouvelot, Etincelle electrique directe, 1885, estimated at €4000-5000, sold at €11250 (image at right, top, via Sotheby's)
Lot 74, Constantin Brancusi, Sans Titre, 1920, estimated at 6000-8000, sold at $37500 (image at right, bottom, via Sotheby's)
Lot 75, Constantin Brancusi, Isac, 1920, estimated at €4000-6000, sold at €12500
Lot 79, Laure Albin-Guillot, Orchidees, 1927, estimated at €4000-6000, sold at €32500 (image at right, middle, via Sotheby's)
Lot 118, Philippe Halsman, Woody Allen, 1969, estimated at €1500-2000, sold at €4250
Lot 147, Herb Ritts, Versace Dress, Back View, El Mirage, 1990, estimated at €10000-15000, sold at €32500
Lot 151, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Frida Kahlo, 1933/later, estimated at €4000-6000, sold at €23750
Lot 200, Andres Serrano, The Morgue (Child Abuse), 1992, estimated at €8000-12000, sold at €28750

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Sotheby's
76, Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
75008 Paris

Auction Results: Photographie, May 29, 2013 @Villa Grisebach

The results of the recent Photography sale at Villa Grisebach in Berlin were generally solid. While the overall Buy-In rate was a bit high (just over 30%), there were enough positive surprises to bring the Total Sale Proceeds in at the midpoint of the estimate range.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 161
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: €474200
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: €654400
Total Lots Sold: 111
Total Lots Bought In: 50
Buy In %: 31.06%
Total Sale Proceeds: €553636

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 141
Low Sold: 96
Low Bought In: 45
Buy In %: 31.91%
Total Low Estimate: €416400
Total Low Sold: €353556

Mid Total Lots: 20
Mid Sold: 15
Mid Bought In: 5
Buy In %: 25.00%
Total Mid Estimate: €238000
Total Mid Sold: €200080

High Total Lots: 0
High Sold: NA
High Bought In: NA
Buy In %: NA
Total High Estimate: €0
Total High Sold: NA

The top lot by High estimate was lot 2086, Martin Munkacsi, Brasilien erstickt im Kaffee, 1932, estimated at €15000-20000; it sold for €24400. The Munkacsi print shared the top outcome honors with lot 2046, Hugo Erfurth, Otto Dix in Profil, 1920, estimated at €8000-10000, and also sold for €24400. (image at right, top, via Villa Grisebach)

96.40% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate. There were a total of 19 surprises in this sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 2003, Ansel Adams, Oaktree, Snowstorm, Yosemite National Park, California, 1948/later, estimated at €700-900, sold at €1952
Lot 2012, Aenne Biermann, Ohne Titel (Montage), 1931, estimated at €2000-3000, sold at €9150 (image at right, bottom, via Villa Grisebach)
Lot 2013, Aenne Biermann, Feuerwerk, 1928, estimated at €1000-1500, sold at €4270
Lot 2014, Aenne Beirmann, Paprika rund, 1928, estimated at €1000-1500, sold at €7930
Lot 2019, Aenne Biermann, Mein Kind, 1931, estimated at 2€000-3000, sold at €6100
Lot 2046, Hugo Erfurth, Otto Dix in Profil, 1920, estimated at €8000-10000, sold at €24400
Lot 2053, Arno Fischer, Marlene Dietrich, Moskau, 1964/later, estimated at €1000-1500, sold at €4636
Lot 2081, Herbert Matter, Alberto Giacometti, Paris, 1965/later, estimated at €800-1000, sold at €3416
Lot 2087, Paco, Ohne Titel, 1935, estimated at €500-700, sold at €1952
Lot 2089, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Butte auf der Strasse, Weinlese an der Mosel, 1927, estimated at €2000-3000, sold at €6100
Lot 2096, Max Scheler, A hard day's night, London, 1964/later, estimated at €900-1100, sold at €2440
Lot 2098, Jeanloup Sieff, Nude climbing a dune, Le Pyla,1970/1975, estimated at €1500-2000, sold at €4636
Lot 2100, Michel Sima, Alberto Giacometti in seinem Studio rue Hippolyte-Maindron, 1946/later, estimated at €2000-3000, sold at €7930
Lot 2116, Anton Corbijn, Miles Davis, 1985/1990, estimated at €5000-7000, sold at €20740 (image at right, middle, via Villa Grisebach)
Lot 2117, Thomas Florschuetz, Ricochet-II, 2tellig, 1997/1999, estimated at €4000-6000, sold at €13664
Lot 2122, Jitka Hanzlova, Alexandra, Coney Island, 2000/2003, estimated at €700-900, sold at €2074
Lot 2134, Robert Mapplethorpe, Tulips, 1983, estimated at €7000-9000, sold at €20740
Lot 2140, Judith Joy Ross, Untitled from Eurana Park, Weatherly, PA, 1982, estimated at €1200-1800, sold at €4880
Lot 2150, Thomas Struth, Pergamon V, Berlin, 2001, estimated at €800-1200, sold at €2440

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Villa Grisebach Auktionen
Fasanenstraße 25
D-10719 Berlin

Auction Results: Photography and Contemporary Art, May 24, 2013 @Lempertz

The results from the Photography and Contemporary Art sales on May 24th at Kunsthaus Lempertz in Cologne were solidly on the mark. While the overall Buy-In rate was over 35%, there were enough positive surprises to keep the Total Sale Proceeds near the estimate target. Lempertz does not provide an estimate range in most cases, just a single estimate number, so this figure is used as the High estimate in the calculations.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 227
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: €556200
Total Lots Sold: 143
Total Lots Bought In: 84
Buy In %: 37.00%
Total Sale Proceeds: €471590

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 214
Low Sold: 136
Low Bought In: 78
Buy In %: 36.45%
Total Low Estimate: €389200
Total Low Sold: €336170

Mid Total Lots: 13
Mid Sold: 7
Mid Bought In: 6
Buy In %: 46.15%
Total Mid Estimate: €167000
Total Mid Sold: €135420

High Total Lots: 0
High Sold: NA
High Bought In: NA
Buy In %: NA
Total High Estimate: €0
Total High Sold: NA

The top lot by High estimate was tied between two lots: lot 22, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Portrait Ellen Frank, 1929, (image at right, top, via Lempertz), and lot 560, Thomas Ruff, Ohne Titel (B. Junger), 1985, both estimated at €20000-25000; the Moholy-Nagy was the top outcome of the sale at €52460, while the Ruff did not sell.

86.01% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate. There were a total of 18 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 1, Wilhelm Schneider, Spiegel und Konsole Eines Salons, 1860, estimated at €1200, sold at €5120
Lot 8, Eugene Atget, Marche au Timbres, 1898, estimated at €1800, sold at €3660
Lot 19, Josef Tokayer, Ohne Titel (Treppenhaus des Bauhausgebaudes in Dessau), 1928-1931, estimated at €1800-2000, sold at €4880
Lot 22, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Portrait Ellen Frank, 1929, estimated at €20000-25000, sold at €52460
Lot 25, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Ohne Titel (Maschinendetail), 1920, estimated at €1500, sold at €3660
Lot 59, Anonyme, Hochseilartisten am Heumarkt, Koln, 1946, estimated at €1200, sold at €4800
Lot 61, Edmund Kesting, Kameramann Konstantin Kesting, 1948, estimated at €1200, sold at €2440 (image at right, bottom, via Lempertz)
Lot 69, Otto Steinert, Junge Schauspielerin, 1949, estimated at €1200-1500, sold at €4640
Lot 78, Rene Burri, Rio de Janeiro, 1960/1998, estimated at €1000, sold at €2560
Lot 86, Erwin Blumenfeld, Decolete, 1952/later, estimated at €1600, sold at €3900
Lot 111, Heinz Hajek-Halke, Verbrannte Barmherzigkeit, 1969, estimated at €600, sold at €1460
Lot 120, Robert Lebeck, Joseph Beuys und familie auf der Documenta in Kassel, 1968/later, estimated at €800, sold at €3900
Lot 133, Gundula Schulze Eldowy, Tamerlan, Berlin, 1984, estimated at €1500, sold at €3170
Lot 137, Klaus Frahm, Judisches Museum, Berlin, 1998, estimated at €1000-1200, sold at €2810
Lot 168, Joint Army Task Force One Photo, The Test Baker Column, 1946, estimated at €1000, sold at €6340
Lot 169, Joint Army Task Force One Photo, Close-up View of Wall of Water after the Explosion of the Atomic Bomb, 1946, estimated at €1000, sold at €7080 (image at right, middle, via Lempertz)
Lot 175, Bernd und Hilla Becher, Anonyme Skulpturen, 1970, estimated at €1000, sold at €2810
Lot 187, Bernd und Hilla Becher, Siegener Strasse, Gosenbach, 1960, estimated at €700, sold at €1590

Complete lot by lot results can be found here (Photography) and here (Contemporary Art).

Kunsthaus Lempertz
Neumarkt 3
D-50667 Köln

Auction Results: Photographs from the Teutloff Collection, May 24, 2013 @Lempertz

The results of the recent sale of photographs from the Teutloff Collection at Kunsthaus Lempertz in Cologne were decidedly flat. The overall Buy-In rate was nearly 50% and the Total Sale Proceeds came in well below the estimate target. Lempertz does not provide an estimate range in most cases, just a single estimate number, so this figure is used as the High estimate in the calculations.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 99
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: €436500
Total Lots Sold: 52
Total Lots Bought In: 57
Buy In %: 47.47%
Total Sale Proceeds: €297520

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 82
Low Sold: 44
Low Bought In: 38
Buy In %: 46.34%
Total Low Estimate: €232500
Total Low Sold: €178570

Mid Total Lots: 17
Mid Sold: 8
Mid Bought In: 9
Buy In %: 52.94%
Total Mid Estimate: €204000
Total Mid Sold: €118950

High Total Lots: 0
High Sold: NA
High Bought In: NA
Buy In %: NA
Total High Estimate: €0
Total High Sold: NA

The top lot by High estimate was lot 313, Hendrik Kerstens, Bag, 2007, estimated at €15000-20000; it sold for €19520. The top outcome of the sale was lot 343, Jürgen Klauke, Toter Photograph, estimated at €14000-18000, sold at €29280.

100.00% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate. There were a total of 9 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 341, Dieter Appelt, Image de la Vie et de la Mort, 1979, estimated at €5000, sold at €10980 (image at right, middle, via Lempertz)
Lot 346, Stefan Moses, Jospeh Beuys, Munchen, 1968/later, estimated at €800, sold at €2070
Lot 348, Cindy Sherman, Ancestor, 1985, estimated at €1500-2000, sold at €4880
Lot 349, Joel-Peter Witkin, La Giovanissima, 2007, estimated at €2000, sold at €13420 (image at right, top, via Lempertz)
Lot 357, Mario Cravo Neto, O Deus da Cabeca, 1988, estimated at €1500, sold at €3900
Lot 358, Mario Cravo Neto, Voodoo Figure, 1988, estimate at €1500, sold at €3900
Lot 359, Adam Nadel, Ohne Titel, 2004, estimated at €2500, sold at €5120
Lot 361, Steve McCurry, India, Kerala, Hundus During Trichur Pooram, 1996, estimated at €1800, sold at €3900
Lot 392, Rudolf Schwarzkogler, Aktion mit Seinem Eigenen Korper, 1966, estimated at €6000, sold at €12200 (image at right, bottom, via Lempertz)

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Kunsthaus Lempertz
Neumarkt 3
D-50667 Köln

Auction Results: Contemporary Art Evening and Day Sales, May 16 and 17, 2013 @Phillips New York

The photography buried in Phillips' two Contemporary Art sales last week provided ample proof that if the available works are well edited and the Buy-In rate can be kept low, the overall results are usually plenty successful. In this case, less than 9% of the photographs on offer failed to find buyers, driving the Total Sale Proceeds over the top of aggregate pre-sale high estimate.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 34
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: $2680000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: $3980000
Total Lots Sold: 31
Total Lots Bought In: 3
Buy In %: 8.82%
Total Sale Proceeds: $4073250

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 0
Low Sold: NA
Low Bought In: NA
Buy In %: NA
Total Low Estimate: $0
Total Low Sold: NA

Mid Total Lots: 19
Mid Sold: 18
Mid Bought In: 1
Buy In %: 5.26%
Total Mid Estimate: $480000
Total Mid Sold: $568750

High Total Lots: 15
High Sold: 13
High Bought In: 2
Buy In %: 13.33%
Total High Estimate: $3500000
Total High Sold: $3504500

The top photography lot by High estimate was lot 7, Andreas Gursky, Rhein, 1996, estimated at $1000000-1500000; it was also the top outcome of the sales at 1925000

82.35% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range, and there were a total of 3 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 194, Andreas Gursky, Untitled 1 (Carpet), 1993, estimated at $60000-80000, sold at $173000 (image at right, top, via Phillips)
Lot 210, Vik Muniz, Valentine, The Fastest from The Sugar Children, 1996, estimated at $20000-25000, sold at $81250 (image at right, middle, via Phillips)
Lot 252, Ruud van Empel, World #16, 2006, estimated at $12000-18000, sold at $43750 (image at right, bottom, via Phillips)

Complete lot by lot results can be found here (Evening) and here (Day).

Phillips
450 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Auction Results: Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening, Morning, and Afternoon Sales, May 15 and 16, 2013 @Christie's New York

While Christie's was busy setting auction records and selling nearly half a billion dollars worth of Contemporary Art in the evening sale alone last week, the photography buried in its three sales didn't offer any particular lightning strikes or frothy exuberance. Of the just under $600 million in sales across the three sessions, a little less than $6.5 million came from photography, or a fraction more than 1% of the total proceeds. From the vantage point of the photography on offer, the overall Buy-In rate was just under 30% and the Total Sale Proceeds fell in the middle of the range, a generally predictable result all things considered.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 57
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: $5178000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: $7340000
Total Lots Sold: 40
Total Lots Bought In: 17
Buy In %: 29.82%
Total Sale Proceeds: $6440750

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 0
Low Sold: NA
Low Bought In: NA
Buy In %: NA
Total Low Estimate: $0
Total Low Sold: NA

Mid Total Lots: 28
Mid Sold: 20
Mid Bought In: 8
Buy In %: 28.57%
Total Mid Estimate: $900000
Total Mid Sold: $730000

High Total Lots: 29
High Sold: 20
High Bought In: 9
Buy In %: 31.03%
Total High Estimate: $6440000
Total High Sold: $5710750

The top photography lot by High estimate was lot 3, Andreas Gursky, Klitschko, 1999, estimated at $800000-1000000; it was also the top outcome of the sales at $1323750.

90.00% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were a total of only two surprises (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 424, Rodney Graham, Can of Worms, 2000, estimated at $15000-20000, sold at $47500 (image at right, bottom, via Christie's)
Lot 487, Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #54, 1980, estimated at $250000-350000, sold at $723750 (image at right, top, via Christie's)

Complete lot by lot results can be found here (Evening), here (Morning), and here (Afternoon).

Christie's
20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020

Auction Results: Contemporary Art, Evening and Day Sales, May 14 and 15, 2013 @Sotheby's New York

When Andreas Gursky's Rhein II sold for just over $4.3 million dollars in 2011, setting the record for the top price ever paid at auction for a photograph, the result created a flood of commentary in the popular press. Some writers took the approach of considering the sale of the Gursky as a signpost for the ever increasing value of contemporary photography in comparison to other types of contemporary art, while others opted for the snarkier "would you pay that kind of money for a boring river landscape?" kind of hatchet job. In both cases, there was plenty of hue and cry over a photograph garnering such astronomical sums and plenty of speculation about what it all might mean.

 

Last week, the Jeff Koons photograph shown above, The New Jeff Koons, from 1980, sold for $9405000 and hardly a peep was heard from either the photography press or the mainstream art media. For the record, the work is a Duratrans transparency displayed on a lightbox (the power cord is just visible in the lower left). Duratrans is a color transparency material developed by Kodak in the late 1970s that is generally used for backlit photographic signage, tradeshow booths, and TV studio displays. So apart from the technical hairsplitters who will want to consider the printing differences between this process and that used by Jeff Wall for his color transparencies, I think we are safe in calling this work a "photograph", especially given the way the work is presented and Koons' options in 1980 when he made the work. In an age when the definition of "photograph" has been extended in so many different ways, I don't think I'm out on a limb in any way in including this particular image under the larger umbrella of the medium. So shouldn't we be having an overheated debate about the merits of Koons' early image, where it fits in his artistic development, where it belongs in the history of photographic portraiture, and whether its recent price is in any way correlated its overall importance? Didn't we just more than double the top price ever paid for a photograph?

In the context of the photography buried in Sotheby's pair of Contemporary Art sales last week, there's nothing like a work estimated at $2.5-3.5M selling for $9.4M to pump up the results numbers. More generally, the overall Buy-In rate was up over 35% and there were hardly any positive surprises beyond the Koons, so while we might have predicted a less than stellar overall outcome, the astonishing success of the Koons drowns out any other statistical analysis we might normally make.

As usual, the summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Photography Lots: 53
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: $7086000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: $10018000
Total Lots Sold: 33
Total Lots Bought In: 20
Buy In %: 37.74%
Total Sale Proceeds: $13291625

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 0
Low Sold: NA
Low Bought In: NA
Buy In %: NA
Total Low Estimate: $0
Total Low Sold: NA

Mid Total Lots: 22
Mid Sold: 15
Mid Bought In: 7
Buy In %: 31.82%
Total Mid Estimate: $618000
Total Mid Sold: $485000

High Total Lots: 31
High Sold: 18
High Bought In: 13
Buy In %: 41.94%
Total High Estimate: $9400000
Total High Sold: $12806625

The top photography lot by High estimate was lot 9, Jeff Koons, The New Jeff Koons, 1980, estimated at $2500000-3500000; it was also the top outcome of the sale at $9405000 (image at top, via Sotheby's).

93.94% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above their estimate. There were only two surprises in these sales (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 9, Jeff Koons, The New Jeff Koons, 1980, estimated at $2500000-3500000, sold at $9405000
(image at right, top, via Sotheby's)
Lot 604, Ashley Bickerton, The Expats, 2004, estimated at $30000-50000, sold at $100000 (image at right, bottom, via Sotheby's)

Complete lot by lot results can be found here (Evening) and here (Day).

Sotheby's
1334 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021

Auction Results: Photographs, May 15, 2013 @Christie's London

The parade of Peter Beard prints in Christie's recent various owner Photographs sale in London held up well, pushing the Total Sale Proceeds for the auction solidly into the middle of the pre-sale estimate range. With an overall Buy-In rate under 30% and a number of positive surprises, the sale easily met expectations.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 108
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: £1159000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: £1678000
Total Lots Sold: 76
Total Lots Bought In: 32
Buy In %: 29.63%
Total Sale Proceeds: £1485375

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 13
Low Sold: 11
Low Bought In: 2
Buy In %: 15.38%
Total Low Estimate: £51000
Total Low Sold: £65125

Mid Total Lots: 75
Mid Sold: 52
Mid Bought In: 23
Buy In %: 30.67%
Total Mid Estimate: £827000
Total Mid Sold: £722900

High Total Lots: 20
High Sold: 13
High Bought In: 7
Buy In %: 35.00%
Total High Estimate: £800000
Total High Sold: £697350

The top lot by High estimate was lot 19, Peter Beard, Giraffes in mirage on the Taru Desert, Kenya for the End of the Game, June 1960, 1960/1997, at £50000-70000; it sold for £85875. The top outcome of the sale was lot 25, Peter Beard, Tsavo National Park, founded April Fool's Day, 1948, 1968/1997, estimated at £40000-60000, sold at £103875.

97.37% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above their estimate. There were a total of nine surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):
Lot 1, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Nude on beach, California, 1948/1988, estimated at £5000-7000, sold at £16250
Lot 2, Javier Vallhonrat, Inner edge, the Possessed Space, 1991, estimated at £2000-3000, sold at £10000
Lot 8, Helmut Newton, Henrietta, beginning of the Big Nudes, Vogue Studio, Paris, 1981, estimated at £6000-8000, sold at £22500
Lot 15, Horst P. Horst, Narcissus, O.B., N.Y., 1992, estimated at £8000-12000, sold at £27500
Lot 30, Andy Warhol, Self-portrait, 1986, estimated at £10000-15000, sold at £30000 (image at right, bottom, via Christie's)
Lot 43, Josef Koudelka, Spain, 1979/later, estimated at £4000-6000, sold at £14375 (image at right, middle, via Christie's)
Lot 78, Francesca Woodman, Untitled, Providence, Rhode Island, 1977/2008, estimated at £3000-5000, sold at £13750
Lot 89, Nick Brandt, Elephant group on bare earth, Amboseli, 2008, estimated at £15000-20000, sold at £55875
Lot 93, Marcus Lyon, Exodus VI, West Lamma Channel, South China Sea, 2011, estimated at £5000-7000, sold at 5£2275 (image at right, top, via Christie's)

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Christie's
8 King Street, St. James's
London SW1Y 6QT

Auction Results: Photographs, May 8, 2013 @Phillips London

Phillips' various owner Photographs sale in London last week delivered solid, workmanlike results. With a Buy-In rate just over 30% and Total Sale Proceeds that found the middle of the estimate range, it generally performed according to plan.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 123
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: £1184000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: £1676500
Total Lots Sold: 86
Total Lots Bought In: 37
Buy In %: 30.08%
Total Sale Proceeds: £1291750

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 49
Low Sold: 36
Low Bought In: 13
Buy In %: 26.53%
Total Low Estimate: £182500
Total Low Sold: £159375


Mid Total Lots: 59
Mid Sold: 41
Mid Bought In: 18
Buy In %: 30.51%
Total Mid Estimate: £714000
Total Mid Sold: £574125

High Total Lots: 15
High Sold: 9
High Bought In: 6
Buy In %: 40.00%
Total High Estimate: £780000
Total High Sold: £558250

The top photography lot by High estimate was lot 32, Nobuyoshi Araki, 77 works, n.d., estimated at £100000-120000; it was also the top outcome of the sale at £110500.

96.51% of the lots that sold had proceeds above or in the estimate range, and there were 5 positive surprises (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 63, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Ice Skating Waiter, St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1932/later, estimated at £6000-8000, sold at £16250 (image at right, top, via Phillips)
Lot 73, Elliott Erwitt, New York City, 1974/later, estimated at £1500-2500, sold at £5250
Lot 112, Albert Watson, Monkey With Gun, New York City, 1992, estimated at £2000-3000, sold at £6000 (image at right, bottom, via Phillips)
Lot 117, Loretta Lux, The Drummer, 2004, estimated at £4000-6000, sold at £13750 (image at right, middle via Phillips)
Lot 122, Helmut Newton, Sumo, estimated at £2500-3500, sold at £10000

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Phillips
Howick Place
London SW1P 1BB

Auction Results: Photographs, May 7, 2013 @Bonhams New York

The results of Bonhams' Photographs sale yesterday in New York were generally lackluster. The overall Buy-In rate was more than 35% and the Total Sale Proceeds missed the low end of the estimate range by more than a whisker.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 135
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: $843000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: $1204500
Total Lots Sold: 86
Total Lots Bought In: 49
Buy In %: 36.30%
Total Sale Proceeds: $674750

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 113
Low Sold: 74
Low Bought In: 39
Buy In %: 34.51%
Total Low Estimate: $633500
Total Low Sold: $393000

Mid Total Lots: 20
Mid Sold: 11
Mid Bought In: 9
Buy In %: 45.00%
Total Mid Estimate: $396000
Total Mid Sold: $201250

High Total Lots: 2
High Sold: 1
High Bought In: 1
Buy In %: 50.00%
Total High Estimate: $175000
Total High Sold: $80500

The top lot by High estimate was lot 27, Edward Weston, Fiftieth Anniversary Portfolio, 1902-1952, c1952, estimated at $60000-90000; it was also the top outcome of the sale at $80500.

70.93% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range. There were a total of 4 surprises in this sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):
Lot 38, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, La buena fama, durmiendo, 1938-1939/1970s, estimated at $5000-7000, sold at $21250 (image at right, bottom, via Bonhams)
Lot 81, Nicholas Nixon, Yazoo City, 1979, estimated at $2000-3000, sold at $6000 (image at right, middle, via Bonhams)
Lot 93, Sebastião Salgado, Man Lying in Oil, Kuwait, 1991, estimated at $3000-5000, sold at $15000 (image at right, top, via Bonhams)
Lot 94, Sebastião Salgado, Greater Buhrman Oil Field, Kuwait, 1991, estimated at $2000-3000, sold at $6875

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Bonhams
580 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Auction Results: Under the Influence, April 11, 2013 @Phillips London

It was a pretty dismal outcome for the photography included in Phillips' Under the Influence sale in London last week. With a Buy-In rate for photography topping 60% and no positive surprises, it is no surprise that the Total Sale Proceeds for photography missed the low end of the estimate range by a meaningful margin.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 41
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: £221000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: £318000
Total Lots Sold: 16
Total Lots Bought In: 25
Buy In %: 60.98%
Total Sale Proceeds: £116063

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 11
Low Sold: 4
Low Bought In: 7
Buy In %: 63.64%
Total Low Estimate: £51000
Total Low Sold: £14000

Mid Total Lots: 30
Mid Sold: 12
Mid Bought In: 18
Buy In %: 60.00%
Total Mid Estimate: £267000
Total Mid Sold: £102063

High Total Lots: 0
High Sold: NA
High Bought In: NA
Buy In %: NA
Total High Estimate: £0
Total High Sold: NA

The top photography lot by High estimate was lot 122, Jitish Kallat, Cenotaph (A Deed of Transfer), 2007, at £18000-25000; it was also the top photography outcome of the sale at £20000.

81.25% of the lots that sold had proceeds above or in the estimate range, but that statistic is a little misleading, since only 3 photography lots sold above the range and there were no positive surprises (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate).

Complete lot by lot results can be found here

Phillips
Howick Place
London SW1P 1BB

Auction Results: Photographs, April 6, 2013 @Sotheby's New York

The results from Sotheby's various owner sale last Saturday might best be called workmanlike. A decent Buy-In rate (just under $24%), a few positive surprises, and Total Sale Proceeds that fell within the range (albeit on the low side) add up to an outcome that was solid, if uneventful.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 239
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: $4546000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: $6946000
Total Lots Sold: 182
Total Lots Bought In: 57
Buy In %: 23.85%
Total Sale Proceeds: $5061190

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 97
Low Sold: 71
Low Bought In: 26
Buy In %: 26.80%
Total Low Estimate: $705000
Total Low Sold: $530315

Mid Total Lots: 117
Mid Sold: 94
Mid Bought In: 23
Buy In %: 19.66%
Total Mid Estimate: $2871000
Total Mid Sold: $2592625

High Total Lots: 25
High Sold: 17
High Bought In: 8
Buy In %: 32.00%
Total High Estimate: $3370000
Total High Sold: $1938250

The top lot by High estimate was lot 165, Man Ray, Calla Lilies, 1931, estimated at $300000-500000; it did not sell. The top outcome of the sale was lot 151, Robert Frank, New Orleans (Trolley), 1955/1972, estimated at $200000-250000, sold at $293000.

84.07% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range. There were a total of 9 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):
Lot 17, Anonymous American Photographer, Three Men Smoking, 1840s, estimated at $5000-10000, sold at $23750
Lot 36, Paul Strand, Photographs of Mexico, 1932-1933/1940, estimated at $10000-15000, sold at $37500
Lot 38, Laura Gilpin, Selected Studies, 1925-1937, estimated at $5000-7000, sold at $16250
Lot 72, Minor White, Selected Images, 1957-1960/1970, estimated at $3000-5000, sold at $10000
Lot 80, Various Photographers, Select Portraits and Landscapes, 1860-1930, estimated at $500-1000, sold at $3125
Lot 121, Robert Frank, Tesuque, NM (Santa Fe), 1955/later, estimated at $25000-35000, sold at $137000 (image at right, top, via Sotheby's)
Lot 173, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Untitled (Positive Photogram), 1925-1928, estimated at $30000-50000, sold at $185000(image at right, middle, via Sotheby's)
Lot 224, Francesca Woodman, Untitled, Self-Portrait, Providence, Rhode Island, 1975-1976, estimated at $10000-15000, sold at $68750 (image at right, bottom, via Sotheby's)
Lot 225, Francesca Woodman, Untitled, Providence, Rhode Island, 1975-1976, estimated at $8000-12000, sold at $37500

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Sotheby's
1334 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021

Auction Results: The Modern Image, Photographs from an Important American Collection, April 5, 2013 @Sotheby's New York

The results from this single owner sale at Sotheby's last week are proof that if the overall Buy-In rate can be kept low, even if prices aren't particularly frothy, the Total Sale Proceeds will likely come in in an acceptable range. Roughly 35% of the lots that sold in this auction found buyers below their pre-sale estimates, but with a Buy-In rate of just under 17%, the aggregate proceeds fell right in the middle of the range.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 59
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: $1943000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: $2950000
Total Lots Sold: 49
Total Lots Bought In: 10
Buy In %: 16.95%
Total Sale Proceeds: $2544376

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 21
Low Sold: 16
Low Bought In: 5
Buy In %: 23.81%
Total Low Estimate: $181000
Total Low Sold: $156875

Mid Total Lots: 25
Mid Sold: 21
Mid Bought In: 4
Buy In %: 16.00%
Total Mid Estimate: $598000
Total Mid Sold: $487126

High Total Lots: 13
High Sold: 12
High Bought In: 1
Buy In %: 7.69%
Total High Estimate: $2180000
Total High Sold: $1909375

The top lot by High estimate was lot 18, Edward Weston, Two Shells, 1927, estimated at $600000-900000; it was also the top outcome of the sale at $533000.

Only 65.31% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range. There were a total of 4 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 16, Edward Steichen, Anna May Wong, 1930, estimated at $7000-10000, sold at $25000
Lot 17, Edward Steichen, Douglass Lighters (for J. Walter Thompson), 1926, estimated at $40000-60000, sold at $203000 (image at right, top, via Sotheby's)
Lot 28, Walker Evans, Defensa Carniceria, Havana, 1933, estimated at $6000-9000, sold at $20000 (image at right, bottom, via Sotheby's)
Lot 55, Irving Penn, Nude Torso, Soaping, New York, 1978/1992, estimated at $15000-25000, sold at $59375 (image at right, middle, via Sotheby's)

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Sotheby's
1334 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021

Auction Results: Photographs, April 5, 2013 @Christie's New York

Christie's various owner Photographs sale blew past its pre-sale aggregate High estimate, bringing in an extra $700K in proceeds for good measure. To complete the broad-based success, the overall Buy-In rate was low (just over 15%) and there were lots of positive surprises.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 204
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: $4303000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: $6512000
Total Lots Sold: 172
Total Lots Bought In: 32
Buy In %: 15.69%
Total Sale Proceeds: $7245375

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 43
Low Sold: 35
Low Bought In: 8
Buy In %: 18.60%
Total Low Estimate: $333000
Total Low Sold: $343250


Mid Total Lots: 140
Mid Sold: 119
Mid Bought In: 21
Buy In %: 15.00%
Total Mid Estimate: $3169000
Total Mid Sold: $3094625

High Total Lots: 21
High Sold: 18
High Bought In: 3
Buy In %: 14.29%
Total High Estimate: $3010000
Total High Sold: $3807500

The top lot by High estimate was lot 251, Robert Frank, Trolley-New Orleans, 1955, estimated at $400000-600000; it was also the top outcome of the sale at $663750

93.02% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range. There were a total of 18 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 104, Hiroshi Sugimoto, UA Playhouse, Great Neck, NY, 1978, estimated at $20000-30000, sold at $62500
Lot 105, Lewis Baltz, Corona del Mar, 1971, estimated at $10000-15000, sold at $30000
Lot 113, Peter Beard, Orphaned Cheetahs, Kenya, from The End of the Game, 1968/later, estimated at $40000-60000, sold at $183750
Lot 114, Irving Penn, Ginko Leaves, New York, 1990/1992, estimated at $80000-120000, sold at $363750 (image at right, middle, via Christie's)
Lot 115, Ansel Adams, Aspens, Northern New Mexico, 1958/1958-1962, estimated at $100000-150000, sold at $423750 (image at right, top, via Christie's)
Lot 126, William Klein, Atom Bomb Sky, New York, 1955/later, estimated at $7000-9000, sold at $20000
Lot 133, Steve McCurry, Afghan Girl, 1984/later, estimated at $4000-6000, sold at $17500
Lot 136, Erwin Blumenfeld, Dictator, Paris, 1937/1940s, estimated at $30000-50000, sold at $111750
Lot 157, Minor White, Two Barns, Dansville, New York, 1955, estimated at $8000-12000, sold at $25000
Lot 165, Edward Weston, Mexico (Tina on the Azotea), 1924, estimated at $100000-150000, sold at $363750
Lot 175, Francesca Woodman, Untitled, Rome, 1977-1978, estimated at $15000-25000, sold at $117750 (image at right, bottom, via Christie's)
Lot 176, Francesca Woodman, Untitled, Providence, RI, 1975-1978, estimated at $20000-30000, sold at $105750
Lot 191, Helmut Newton, Charlotte Rampling, Portrait, Arles, France, 1973/1982, estimated at $20000-30000, sold at $68750
Lot 209, Edward Weston, Charis, 1934, estimated at $8000-12000, sold at $27500
Lot 229, W. Tom Young, Bill with Camera, New Orleans, 1987, estimated at $3000-5000, sold at $12500
Lot 247, William Eggleston, Untitled (Memphis), 1971/1999, estimated at $80000-120000, sold at $279750
Lot 268, Nan Goldin, Cookie at Tin Pan Alley, NYC, 1983, estimated at $4000-6000, sold at $22500
Lot 303, Ansel Adams, Ice on Ellery Lake, Sierra Nevada, California, 1959/1979, estimated at $7000-9000, sold at $25000

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Christie's
20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020

Auction Results: The Delighted Eye, Modernist Masterworks from a Private Collection @Christie's New York

Led by a new world record price for Man Ray (at $1203750), the proceeds from Christie's single owner Carlos Cruz sale last week easily covered the aggregate High estimate. While the Buy-In rate was likely a bit higher than expected given the quality and rarity of the material on offer, it would be hard not to be satisfied with such a robust overall outcome.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 71
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: $5069000
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: $7564000
Total Lots Sold: 54
Total Lots Bought In: 17
Buy In %: 23.94%
Total Sale Proceeds: $7654125

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 2
Low Sold: 2
Low Bought In: 0
Buy In %: 0.00%
Total Low Estimate: $16000
Total Low Sold: $18750

Mid Total Lots: 32
Mid Sold: 22
Mid Bought In: 10
Buy In %: 31.25%
Total Mid Estimate: $868000
Total Mid Sold: $723125

High Total Lots: 37
High Sold: 30
High Bought In: 7
Buy In %: 18.92%
Total High Estimate: $6680000
Total High Sold: $6912250

The top lot by High estimate was lot 7, Edward Weston, Nude, 1925, estimated at $400000-600000; it sold for $483750. The top outcome of the sale was lot 17, Man Ray, Untitled Rayograph, 1922, estimated at $250000-350000, sold at $1203750 (image at right, top, via Christie's).

88.89% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range. There were a total of 6 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):
Lot 17, Man Ray, Untitled Rayograph, 1922, estimated at $250000-350000, sold at $1203750
Lot 35, Man Ray, Untitled, Cannes, 1924, estimated at $80000-120000, sold at $387750 (image at right, bottom, via Christie's)
Lot 36, Fortunato Depero, Message with Self Portraits, 1915, estimated at $50000-70000, sold at $159750
Lot 52, Georg Muche, Reflections in a Sphere, 1924, estimated at $15000-25000, sold at $75000
Lot 54, Paul Strand, Akeley Motion Picture Camera, New York, 1922, estimated at $250000-350000, sold at $783750 (image at right, middle, via Christie's)
Lot 58, Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack, Reflected Light Composition, 1923, estimated at $10000-15000, sold at $46250

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Christie's
20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020

Auction Results: Photographs, April 3, 2013 @Phillips New York

Phillips' follow up various owner Photographs sale last week performed nearly as well its earlier single owner sale. The overall Buy-In rate was just over 15% and the Total Sale Proceeds once again came close to the High estimate.

The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):

Total Lots: 141
Pre Sale Low Total Estimate: $2411500
Pre Sale High Total Estimate: $3527500
Total Lots Sold: 118
Total Lots Bought In: 23
Buy In %: 16.31%
Total Sale Proceeds: $3307375

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post, here):

Low Total Lots: 37
Low Sold: 28
Low Bought In: 9
Buy In %: 24.32%
Total Low Estimate: $244500
Total Low Sold: $230875

Mid Total Lots: 91
Mid Sold: 78
Mid Bought In: 13
Buy In %: 14.29%
Total Mid Estimate: $2073000
Total Mid Sold: $1847000

High Total Lots: 13
High Sold: 12
High Bought In: 1
Buy In %: 7.69%
Total High Estimate: $1210000
Total High Sold: $1229500

The top lot by High estimate was lot 177, Edward Steichen, Diagram of Doom - 2, c1922, estimated at $120000-180000; it sold for $122500. The top outcome of the sale was lot 291, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Joe #2134, 2004, estimated at $60000-80000, sold at $170500 (image at right, top, via Phillips).

97.46% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range. There were a total of 6 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):

Lot 224, William Eggleston, East Memphis, 1972/1985, estimated at $8000-12000, sold at $30000
Lot 239, Helmut Newton, Shoe, Monte Carlo, 1983, estimated at $8000-12000, sold at $30000
Lot 246, Peter Beard, Cheetah cubs orphaned at Mweiga nr. Nyeri for The End of the Game, 1968/later, estimated at $10000-15000, sold at $32500
Lot 291, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Joe #2134, 2004, estimated at $60000-80000, sold at $170500
Lot 297, Gabriel Orozco, Shower Head, 2008, estimated at $7000-9000, sold at $25000 (image at right, middle, via Phillips)
Lot 306, Loretta Lux, Study of a Boy, 2002, estimated at $5000-7000, sold at $16250 (image at right, bottom, via Phillips)

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Phillips
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