Christie’s is using a cluster of mid-range and entry level sales to catalyze some activity this Fall – a First Open sale in London, a First Exposure sale online, and this First Open sale in New York. While there are few photographic standouts here (or in the other two auctions for that matter), collectively they do get the ball rolling. Overall, there are a total of 46 lots of photography available across this particular sale, with a Total High Estimate of $916500.
Here’s the statistical breakdown:
| Preview Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Total Low Lots (high estimate up to and including $10000) | 17 |
| Total Low Estimate (sum of high estimates of low lots) | $104500 |
| Total Mid Lots (high estimate between $10000 and $50000) | 27 |
| Total Mid Estimate | $672000 |
| Total High Lots (high estimate above $50000) | 2 |
| Total High Estimate | $140000 |
The top photographic lot by High estimate is tied between two lots: lot 311, Matthew Barney, Cremaster 4: Descending Manual, 1994, and lot 338, Vik Muniz, Bust of a Woman, After Picasso (Pictures of Pigment), 2007 (image above, via Christie’s), both estimated at $50000-70000.
Here’s the complete list of photographers with two or more photography lots in the sale, along with the number of lots on offer:
| Multiple Lots For Sale | |
|---|---|
| Vik Muniz | 4 |
| Walead Beshty | 3 |
| Cindy Sherman | 3 |
| Andy Warhol | 3 |
| Gregory Crewdson | 2 |
| Elger Esser | 2 |
| Rodney Graham | 2 |
| Michal Rovner | 2 |
| Hiroshi Sugimoto | 2 |
Other lots of interest include (images above, via Christie’s):
Lot 235, Carolee Schneemann, Meat Joy, 1964, estimated at $15000-20000
Lot 350, Rodney Graham, Old Growth Cedar (#2)Seymour Reservoir, 2002, estimated at $20000-30000
The complete lot by lot catalog can be found here.
