The photography results from Christie’s recent Post-War & Contemporary Art Day Sale in New York were surprisingly strong. Led by a top photo lot David Wojnarowicz collaged work (which found a buyer at $500000) and supported by a white glove 0.00% Buy-In rate for photography, the Total Sale Proceeds for photography came in over $2.8M, well above the top end of the aggregate pre-sale estimate range.
The summary statistics are below (all results include the buyer’s premium):
| Summary Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Total Lots | 18 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | $1443000 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | $2035000 |
| Total Lots Sold | 18 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 0 |
| Buy In % | 0.00% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | $2835000 |
Here is the breakdown (using our typical Low, Mid, and High definitions):
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 0 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | NA |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | NA |
| Low Buy In % | NA |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | $0 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | $0 |
| Mid Total Lots | 6 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 6 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 0 |
| Mid Buy In % | 0.00% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | $185000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | $278750 |
| Total High Lots | 12 |
| Total High Lots Sold | 12 |
| Total High Lots Bought In | 0 |
| High Buy In % | 0.00% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of High Lots | $1850000 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | $2556250 |
The top photography lot by High estimate was lot 373, David Wojnarowicz, Something from Sleep IV (Dream), 1988-1989, estimated at $180000-250000; it was also the top photography outcome of the sale at $500000 (image above, via Christie’s.)
88.89% of the lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were a total of 4 positive surprises in the sale (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate) (images above, via Christie’s):
Lot 305, Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Another artist, Another exhibition, Another gallery, Another magazine, Another review, Another career, Another life), 2003, estimated at $50000-70000, sold at $187500
Lot 320, Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still, 1977, estimated at $100000-150000, sold at $300000
Lot 364, Tseng Kwong Chi, Jean-Michel Basquiat, New York, 1987/2012, estimated at $15000-20000, sold at $125000
Lot 373, David Wojnarowicz, Something from Sleep IV (Dream), 1988-1989, estimated at $180000-250000, sold at $500000
The complete lot by lot results can be found here.
