Led by Richard Avedon’s Beatles portfolio, the various owner Photographs auction at Phillips in London last week performed well. A selection of Ellen von Unwerth polaroids (including several of Kate Moss) jumped up above their modest estimate ranges, and with the help of a handful of additional 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 | 136 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | £2016500 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | £2796500 |
| Total Lots Sold | 103 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 33 |
| Buy In % | 24.26% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | £2339270 |
Here is the breakdown (using our typical Low, Mid, and High definitions). Given recent currency fluctuations, we have once again re-adapted our local currency thresholds to match roughly $10000 and $50000 break points between categories.
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 67 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | 57 |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | 10 |
| Low Buy In % | 14.93% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | £352500 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | £454860 |
| Mid Total Lots | 61 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 40 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 21 |
| Mid Buy In % | 34.43% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | £1064000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | £752850 |
| Total High Lots | 8 |
| Total High Lots Sold | 6 |
| Total High Lots Bought In | 2 |
| High Buy In % | 25.00% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots | £1380000 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | £1131560 |
The top lot by High estimate was lot 64, Richard Avedon, The Beatles Portfolio: John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Paul McCartney, London, 1967/1990, estimated at £700000-900000; it was also the top outcome of the sale at £809000 (image above, via Phillips).
96.12% 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 2, Peter Hujar, Christopher Street Pier #2 (Crossed Legs), 1976/later, estimated at £12000-18000, sold at £44100
Lot 31, Wolfgang Tillmans, Jeremy, 2001, estimated at £5000-7000, sold at £15120
Lot 41, Man Ray, Meret Oppenheim, c1930, estimated at £6000-8000, sold at £32760
Lot 47, Stephen Shore, Beverly Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, California, June 21, 1975, estimated at £10000-15000, sold at £32760
Lot 59, Prince Gyasi, The Arrival, 2022, estimated at £18000-22000, sold at £44100
Lot 116, Wolfgang Tillmans, Anders pulling splinter from his foot (b/w), 2004, estimated at £3000-5000, sold at £18900
Lot 120, Ellen von Unwerth, Miami Blues, Kate Moss, Miami, 1993, estimated at £2000-3000, sold at £20160
Lot 121, Ellen von Unwerth, Splendor in the Garden, Kate Moss, Miami, 1993, estimated at £2000-3000, sold at £44100
Lot 123, Ellen von Unwerth, Chimney Sweeper, Kate Moss, Paris, 1995, estimated at £2000-3000, sold at £47880
Lot 129, Ellen von Unwerth, Kaffeeklatsch, Karen Mulder and Deon Bray, Café de Flore, Paris, 1991, estimated at £2000-3000, sold at £8190
Lot 130, Ellen von Unwerth, Jump Over the Eiffel Tower, 1987, estimated at £2000-3000, sold at £6300
Lot 136, Ellen von Unwerth, Soaked, Girls in the Bath, 1992, estimated at £2000-3000, sold at £6300
Lot 137, Ellen von Unwerth, Unveiled, Adriana Lima, Mexico, 1999, estimated at £2000-3000, sold at £8190
The complete lot by lot results can be found here.
