The photography lots included in Phillips’ late season New Now and Modern & Contemporary Art online sales last week in London performed respectably. The top lot Gilbert & George work found a buyer, and between a solid overall Buy-In rate for photography (under 17%, minus three withdrawals) and a handful of positive surprises, the Total Sale Proceeds for photography (of roughly £325K) found their way to 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 | 36 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | £250000 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | £362700 |
| Total Lots Sold | 30 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 6 |
| Buy In % | 16.67% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | £325629 |
Here is the breakdown (using our usual Low, Mid, and High price tier definitions):
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 23 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | 21 |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | 2 |
| Low Buy In % | 8.70% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | £112700 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | £126239 |
| Mid Total Lots | 12 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 8 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 4 |
| Mid Buy In % | 33.33% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | £180000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | £151130 |
| Total High Lots | 1 |
| Total High Lots Sold | 1 |
| Total High Lots Bought In | 0 |
| High Buy In % | 0.00% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots | £70000 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | £48260 |
The top photography lot by High estimate was lot 21, Gilbert & George, Hooligans, 2004, estimated at £50000-70000; it was also the top photography outcome of the sales at £48260 (image above, via Phillips).
73.33% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were 5 positive surprises in the sales (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate)(image above, via Phillips):
Lot 28 (12/5), Christopher Williams, Focal length: 15mm. Aperture range: 2.8-22, 2013, estimated at £8000-12000, sold at £30480
Lot 29 (12/5), Elad Lassry, Onions, 2012, estimated at £1000-2000, sold at £5715
Lot 30 (12/5), Torbjørn Rødland, Fever, 2009-2018, estimated at £2000-3000, sold at £6985
Lot 92 (12/4), Louise Lawler, Pictures that May or May not go together, 1997-1998, estimated at £5000-7000, sold at £16510
Lot 92 (12/5), Rewind Collective, Mother Nature X, 2021, estimated at £4000-6000, sold at £27940
The complete lot by lot results can be found here (New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art) and here (Modern & Contemporary Art: Online).
