The results from the various owner Photographs sale last week at Phillips in New York were generally solid, led by a top lot Helmut Newton print which found a buyer within its range. The overall Buy-In rate came in at respectable 23% (after one withdrawal), and with a handful of positive surprises, the Total Sale Proceeds (of roughly $5.04M) fell squarely 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 | 239 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | $4319500 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | $6456500 |
| Total Lots Sold | 184 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 55 |
| Buy In % | 23.01% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | $5037708 |
Here is the breakdown (using our typical Low, Mid, and High definitions):
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 89 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | 67 |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | 22 |
| Low Buy In % | 24.72% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | $583500 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | $440148 |
| Mid Total Lots | 124 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 98 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 26 |
| Mid Buy In % | 20.97% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | $2938000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | $2578710 |
| Total High Lots | 26 |
| Total High Lots Sold | 19 |
| Total High Lots Bought In | 7 |
| High Buy In % | 26.92% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots | $2935000 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | $2018850 |
The top lot by High estimate was lot 34, Helmut Newton, Elsa Peretti as a Bunny, Costume by Halston, New York, 1975/later, estimated at $200000-300000; it was also the top outcome of the sale at $258000 (image above via Phillips).
91.85% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were a total of 9 positive surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate) (images above via Phillips):
Lot 8, Ansel Adams, San Francisco Bay Bridge Pier and Ferry Boat from the Air, 1954/1954-1962, estimated at $12000-18000, sold at $45150
Lot 12, Masahisa Fukase, Cape Erimo from Ravens, 1976/1985-1991, estimated at $20000-30000, sold at $109650
Lot 15, Eiji Ohasi, Roadside Lights #153, 2025, estimated at $10000-15000, sold at $30960
Lot 28, Robert Mapplethorpe, Irises, 1987, estimated at $40000-60000, sold at $121260
Lot 96, Zanele Muholi, Thembitshe, Parktown, 2014, estimated at $8000-12000, sold at $28380
Lot 143, André Kertész, Tokyo, 1968, estimated at $4000-6000, sold at $12255
Lot 146, Louis Stettner, Six Lights, Penn Station, 1958/later, estimated at $3000-5000, sold at $10320
Lot 150, Burt Glinn, Andy Warhol with Edie Sedgwick and Chuck Wein, New York City, 1966/later, estimated at $3000-5000, sold at $12255
Lot 180, Ansel Adams, Stream, Sea, Clouds, Rodeo Lagoon, Marin County, California, 1962/1978, estimated at $15000-25000, sold at $51600
The complete lot by lot results can be found here.
