Peter Doig, Cabin Essence (1993-1994), via Christie’s
The sales have concluded in London tonight, after Christie’s capped a tightly run 54-lot auction that saw a final tally of £35,562,500, with 9 lots going unsold.
The sale kicked off with striking results, as Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s Knave shot out of the gate, rising on multiple phone bidders to sell for a final price of £446,500, more than five times its estimate, and bringing an auction record for the artist. A Jonas Wood followed up strong, bringing a £542,500 over its estimate. Several lots later, an early Robert Ryman started steadily and crept up slowly to a final of £962,500. Peter Doig’s impressive Cabin Essence came one lot later, selling for a strong price of £9,602,500, while a Lucian Freud followed, meeting estimate for £542,500.
Gerhard Richter, Abstraktes Bild (1992), via Christie’s
An early surprise came from Gerald Laing, whose Commemoration doubled estimates to achieve a £1,202,500 final, placing it among the top sales of the evening. An Andy Warhol Flowers followed after, selling just under its high estimate for £1,846,500. Several lots later, an Alexander Calder mobile settled just within estimate for £1,166,500, continuing the auction house’s consistent performance until a Dan Flavin passed one lot later, and a Gerhard Ricther’s Abstraktes Bild sold for a final price of £2,658,500 also sitting squarely within estimate.
Martin Kippenberger, Bekannt durch Film, Funk, Fernsehen und Polizeinotrufsäulen (A celebrity in film, radio, television and police call boxes) (1981), via Christie’s
As the sales continued, a number of works passed almost consecutively, with works by Sigmar Polke and Yoshitomo Nara failing to find a buyer. Several smaller lots and quick sales followed, with action picking up again with lot 31, a 2011 Joe Bradley that saw strong interest to beat its £700k estimate for a final of £986,500, and an Albert Oehlen piece that followed up with a strong £1,142,500 final. Kippenberger followed a strong night for the German painters, as his Police Call Boxes piece sold just shy of the high estimate for a final of £2,434,500.
Alexander Calder, Little Red Face (1955), via Christie’s
The late lots of the sale were dictated mostly by passes and minimal interest, with the exception of a Keith Haring at lot 47 that brought a final price of £1,010,500, doubling its low estimate.
The fall sales will reach their apex next month, as the major houses open their doors in New York
Andy Warhol, Flowers (1964), via Christie’s
Gerald Laing, Commemoration (1965), via Christie’s
— D. Creahan
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Christie’s Contemporary Art Sale [Christie's]
