Auction Results: Photographie, November 26 and 27, 2013 @Lempertz

The NASA photographs from the Gemini and Apollo moon missions drawn from the collection of John Siebert were the stars of Lempertz’ recent photography sale, with more than half of the selected lots doubling their pre-sale high estimates. Overall, the Buy-In rate hovered just under 40% and the Total Sale Proceeds topped €400K.

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

Summary Statistics
Total Lots 279
Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate NA
Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate €625500
Total Lots Sold 171
Total Lots Bought In 108
Buy In % 38.71%
Total Sale Proceeds €441050

Here is the breakdown (using the Low, Mid, and High definitions from the preview post):

Detailed Breakdown
Low Total Lots 261
Total Low Lots Sold 162
Total Low Lots Bought In 99
Low Buy In % 37.93%
Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots €418500
Total Proceeds from Low Lots €336740
Mid Total Lots 18
Total Mid Lots Sold 9
Total Mid Lots Bought In 9
Mid Buy In % 50.00%
Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots €207000
Total Proceeds from Mid Lots €104310
Total High Lots 0
Total High Lots Sold NA
Total High Lots Bought In NA
High Buy In % NA
Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots €0
Total Proceeds from High Lots NA

The top lot by High estimate was lot 57, Karl Blossfeldt, Equisetum Hyemale, 1928, estimated at €15000-20000; it did not sell. The top outcome of the sale was lot 228, Balthasar Burkhard, Namibia, 2000, estimated at €15000-18000, sold at €17690.

81.29% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were a total of 31 surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate). 24 of those surprises came as part of the 43 lots of NASA imagery on offer. For this group of prints, the results were very positive: 2 lots passed, 2 lots below the estimate, 39 above the estimate, with 24 at least double the estimate (ranging in price from €1100 to €6340). (Lot 39, NASA, Harrison H. Schmitt next to the United States flag, Apollo 17, 1972, estimated at €2000, sold at €5610, image above, middle, via Lempertz)

Here are the 7 non-NASA surprises:

Lot 120, Fritz Henle, Nieves -Model of Diego Rivera, 1943/1983, estimated at €700, sold at €1460

Lot 130, Associated Press, Atomic Test, Nevada Proving Ground, 1952, estimated at €600, sold at €1340

Lot 145, Franz Lazi, Garnrollen, 1959, estimated at €500, sold at €1220 (image above, right, via Lempertz)

Lot 165, Harmut Zickmantel, Arbeit im Thomas-Stahl-Werk, Huttenwerke Salzgitter, 1957, estimated at €400, sold at €1340

Lot 175, Yousuf Karsh, Joan Miro, 1965, estimated at €1000, sold at €2200

Lot 183, John Dominis, Steve McQueen Aims a Pistol in his Living Room, 1963/2013, estimated at €900-1200, sold at €3170 (image above, left, via Lempertz)

Lot 210, Robert Lebeck, Leopoldville. Dem Konig Von Belgien Wird Der Sabel Gestohlen, 1960/later, estimated at €800, sold at €2440

Complete lot by lot results can be found here.

Send this article to a friend

Read more about: Franz Lazi, John Dominis, NASA, Kunsthaus Lempertz

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