Led by an eclectic mix of Helmut Newton prints, Andy Warhol Polaroids, and benefit lots for Aperture, the sprawling various owner Photographs sale at Christie’s in New York last week tallied up at nearly 300 lots and $9M of estimated value. While the top lot Edward Curtis North American Indian volumes didn’t sell, there were enough positive surprises to fill in a few of the gaps. In the end, the overall Buy-In rate lingered just above 30%, and the Total Sale Proceeds topped $6M, just above the low end of the aggregate pre-sale estimate range.
The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):
| Summary Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Total Lots | 296 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | $6006000 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | $9041500 |
| Total Lots Sold | 203 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 93 |
| Buy In % | 31.42% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | $6015000 |
Here is the breakdown (using our typical Low, Mid, and High definitions):
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 104 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | 71 |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | 33 |
| Low Buy In % | 31.73% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | $717500 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | $559750 |
| Mid Total Lots | 163 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 112 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 51 |
| Mid Buy In % | 31.29% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | $3254000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | $2497500 |
| Total High Lots | 29 |
| Total High Lots Sold | 20 |
| Total High Lots Bought In | 9 |
| High Buy In % | 31.03% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots | $5070000 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | $2957750 |
The top lot by High estimate was lot 136, Edward Curtis, The North American Indian (20 portfolios and 20 text volumes), 1907-1930, estimated at $600000-900000; it did not sell. The top outcome of the sale was lot 349, Helmut Newton, Panoramic Nude, Woman with Gun, Villa d’Este, Como, 1989, estimated at $300000-500000, sold at $399000 (image above via Christie’s).
94.09% 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 Christie’s):
Lot 101, Doris Ulmann, Lang Syne Plantation, South Carolina, c1927, estimated at $5000-7000, sold at $16250
Lot 107, Sid Grossman, Mr. Parr and his boys, c1940, estimated at $3000-5000, sold at $10250
Lot 115, Walker Evans, Mule Team and Poster, Demopolis, Alabama, 1936, estimated at $10000-15000, sold at $43750
Lot 139, Lewis Hine, New York City from the Empire State Building, 1931, estimated at $40000-60000, sold at $125000
Lot 156, Weegee, Weegee portfolio, 1936-1952/1982, estimated at $20000-30000, sold at $62500
Lot 240, Sally Mann, Virginia at 9, 1994, estimated at $8000-12000, sold at $35000
Lot 241, William Wegman, On and On, 2015, estimated at $12000-18000, sold at $50000
Lot 301, Fan Ho, Fisherman’s Return, 1957, estimated at $10000-15000, sold at $32500
Lot 339, Lynn Davis, Iceberg #30, Disko Bay, Greenland, 2000/2001, estimated at $7000-9000, sold at $36250
Lot 340, Lynn Davis, Iceberg #27, Disko Bay, Greenland, 2000/2001, estimated at $7000-9000, sold at $20000
Lot 342, Peter Beard, Large tusker (c 150 lbs per side), Tsavo North, near hunting block 33/Ithumber Hill on the Athi-Tiva dry river, 1965/later, estimated at $40000-60000, sold at $225000
Lot 343, Peter Beard, World-Class Black Rhino, Aberdare Forest, 1972/later, estimated at $40000-60000, sold at $250000
Lot 351, Helmut Newton, Yves St. Laurent, Rue Aubriot, French Vogue, Paris, 19575/1988, estimated at $15000-25000, sold at $90000
The complete lot by lot results can be found here.
