While the top lot Richard Avedon diptych was withdrawn before the recent various owner Photographs sale at Phillips in London, the rest of the sale generally hit its marks. Prints by Peter Lindbergh and Avedon tied for the top outcome of the sale, and between a respectable Buy-In rate (of roughly 26%) and plenty of positive surprises, the Total Sale Proceeds (of roughly £2.3M) fell 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 | 166 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | £1714200 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | £2500800 |
| Total Lots Sold | 129 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 37 |
| Buy In % | 22.29% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | £2383145 |
Here is the breakdown (using our typical Low, Mid, and High definitions).
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 69 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | 51 |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | 18 |
| Low Buy In % | 26.09% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | £418800 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | £403479 |
| Mid Total Lots | 91 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 74 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 17 |
| Mid Buy In % | 18.68% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | £1622000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | £1585966 |
| Total High Lots | 6 |
| Total High Lots Sold | 4 |
| Total High Lots Bought In | 2 |
| High Buy In % | 33.33% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots | £460000 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | £393700 |
The top lot by High estimate was lot 21, Richard Avedon, Jesus Cervantes and Manuel Heredia, prisoners, Bexar County Jail, San Antonio, Texas, 6/5/80, 1980/1985, estimated at £130000-190000; this lot was withdrawn before the sale. The top outcome of the sale was tied between two lots, both selling at £139700: lot 9, Peter Lindbergh, Kate Moss, Harper’s Bazaar USA, Long Island, New York, 1994, and lot 138, Richard Avedon, Dovima with Elephants, Evening Dress by Dior, Cirque d’Hiver, Paris, August, 1955/later (images above, via Phillips).
91.47% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were a total of 13 positive surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate) (images above via Phillips):
Lot 15, Maria Svarbova, Grössling City Bath, 2020, estimated at £12000-18000, sold at £38100
Lot 16, Amanda Means, Light Bulb (008BYs), 2007, estimated at £10000-15000, sold at £38100
Lot 36, Sally Mann, Holding Virginia, 1989, estimated at £8000-12000, sold at £44450
Lot 41, Nan Goldin, At the bar: Toon, Cee, and So, Bangkok, 1992, estimated at £5000-7000, sold at £17780
Lot 64, Chris Smith, Ali and The Beatles, 1964/later, estimated at £15000-20000, sold at £40640
Lot 98, Henri Cartier-Bresson, On the Banks of the Marne, 1938/later, estimated at £4000-6000, sold at £12065
Lot 150, Terry O’Neill, Faye Dunaway, Hollywood, 1977/later, estimated at £10000-15000, sold at £40640
Lot 151, Robert Mapplethorpe, Deborah Harry, 1973/later, estimated at £7000-9000, sold at £27940
Lot 152, Brian Duffy, David Bowie, 1973/later, estimated at £7000-9000, sold at £27940
Lot 153, Ellen von Unwerth, Your Turn, Rihanna, 2009/later, estimated at £6000-8000, sold at £20320
Lot 154, Terry O’Neill, Brigitte Bardot, Spain, 1971/later, estimated at £4000-6000, sold at £48260
Lot 167, Terry O’Neill, Elton John Performing at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, 1975/later, estimated at £4000-6000, sold at £15240
Lot 168, Terry O’Neill, Elton John Performing at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, 1975/later, estimated at £4000-6000, sold at £12700
The complete lot by lot results can be found here.
