Led by continuing strength in the market for Constantin Brancusi’s photographs, Christie’s various owner photographs sale during Paris Photo performed solidly. With a Buy-In rate under 25% and plenty of positive surprises, the Total Sale Proceeds fell squarely in the middle of the pre-sale estimate range.
The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):
| Summary Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Total Lots | 113 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | €2089000 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | €3066000 |
| Total Lots Sold | 86 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 27 |
| Buy In % | 23.89% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | €2519250 |
Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post):
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 18 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | 12 |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | 6 |
| Low Buy In % | 33.33% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | €106000 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | €99125 |
| Mid Total Lots | 80 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 63 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 17 |
| Mid Buy In % | 21.25% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | €1470000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | €1499425 |
| Total High Lots | 15 |
| Total High Lots Sold | 11 |
| Total High Lots Bought In | 4 |
| High Buy In % | 26.67% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots | €1490000 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | €920700 |
The top lot by High estimate was lot 318, Edward Steichen, Bricks (West 86th Street) New York, 1922, estimated at €120000-180000; it did not sell. The top outcome of the sale was lot 314, Gustave Le Gray, Ciel chargé, Mer Méditerranée, 1857, estimated at €80000-120000, sold at €217500 (image above, middle, via Christie’s)
95.35% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were a total of 12 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate):
Lot 304, Constantin Brancusi, Melle Pogany II, vue de trois-quarts, bronze poli, vers 1920, estimated at €20000-30000, sold at €79500 (image above, left, via Christie’s)
Lot 305, Constantin Brancusi, Melle Pogany II, vue de trois-quarts, marbre veiné, vers 1920, estimated at €20000-30000, sold at €67500
Lot 306, Constantin Brancusi, Vue d’atelier avec Eve et Nouvé Né, vers 1919, estimated at €10000-15000, sold at €59100
Lot 309, Constantin Brancusi, Léda, bronze poli, vers 1926, estimated at €20000-30000, sold at €67500
Lot 310, Constantin Brancusi, L’Oiseau dans l’espace, marbre blanc, vers 1925, estimated at €10000-15000, sold at €43500
Lot 329, W. Eugene Smith, The Walk to Paradise Garden, 1946, estimated at €6000-8000, sold at €22500
Lot 343, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Valence, Espagne, 1933/1950, estimated at €5000-7000, sold at €16250
Lot 357, Robert Mapplethorpe, Orchid, 1987, estimated at €10000-15000, sold at €31250
Lot 374, Raphael Mazzucco, Sans Titre (The World is No Longer Flat), estimated at €8000-12000, sold at €25000
Lot 375, John Coplans, SP 40 99 Interlocking Fingers n. 10, 1999, estimated at €4000-6000, sold at €18750 (image above, right, via Christie’s)
Lot 410, Paolo Roversi, Natalia, Studio 9 rue Paul Fort Paris, 23 novembre 2003, estimated at €5000-7000, sold at €15000
Lot 411, William Eggleston, Sans titre (from Los Alamos series), vers 1960-70/2002, estimated at €6000-8000, sold at €17500
Complete lot by lot results can be found here.
