Auction Results: A Life Among Artists: Contemporary Photographs from an Esteemed Private Collection, September 29, 2021 @Sotheby’s

The results from the recent single collector photography sale at Sotheby’s (online) were largely uneventful. The top lot Cindy Sherman clown image sold within its estimate range, and the overall Buy-In rate under 20% meant decent sell through. When the dust settled, the Total Sale Proceeds came in at roughly $990K, in the middle of the aggregate pre-sale estimate range.

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

Summary Statistics
Total Lots 56
Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate $849500
Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate $1285500
Total Lots Sold 45
Total Lots Bought In 11
Buy In % 19.64%
Total Sale Proceeds $993888

Here is the breakdown (using our typical Low, Mid, and High definitions):

Detailed Breakdown
Low Total Lots 29
Total Low Lots Sold 23
Total Low Lots Bought In 6
Low Buy In % 20.69%
Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots $171500
Total Proceeds from Low Lots $91728
Mid Total Lots 22
Total Mid Lots Sold 18
Total Mid Lots Bought In 4
Mid Buy In % 18.18%
Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots $504000
Total Proceeds from Mid Lots $398160
Total High Lots 5
Total High Lots Sold 4
Total High Lots Bought In 1
High Buy In % 20.00%
Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots $610000
Total Proceeds from High Lots $504000

The top lot by High estimate was lot 5, Cindy Sherman, Untitled #425, 2004, estimated at $200000-300000; it was also the top outcome of the sale at $252000 (image above via Sotheby’s.)

77.78% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were a total of 42 positive surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate) (images above via Sotheby’s):

Lot 14, Sarah Charlesworth, Seated Buddha (from 0 + 1), 1999, estimated at $8000-12000, sold at $25200

Lot 33, Bill Jacobson, #3543, 2000, estimated at $2000-3000, sold at $6300

The complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Send this article to a friend

Read more about: Bill Jacobson, Cindy Sherman, Sarah Charlesworth, Sotheby's

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.

Recent Articles

Reality Reframed: Recent Works by Todd Gray @The 8th Floor

Reality Reframed: Recent Works by Todd Gray @The 8th Floor

JTF (just the facts): A total of 15 photographic works, installed against white walls in a series of connected gallery spaces. (Installation shots below.) The following works are included in ... Read on.

Sign up for our weekly email newsletter