The top photography lots at Christie’s recent Post War and Contemporary Art auctions in London carried the sales. Led by prints by Barbara Kruger and Wolfgang Tillmans (both of which found buyers) and followed by a dozen more in the top price tier (that also found buyers), even with only two positive surprises, the Total Sale Proceeds came in 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 | 25 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale Low Estimate | £845000 |
| Aggregate Pre Sale High Estimate | £1185500 |
| Total Lots Sold | 19 |
| Total Lots Bought In | 6 |
| Buy In % | 24.00% |
| Total Sale Proceeds | £1296375 |
Here is the breakdown (using our usual Low, Mid, and High price tier definitions):
| Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Low Total Lots | 4 |
| Total Low Lots Sold | 3 |
| Total Low Lots Bought In | 1 |
| Low Buy In % | 25.00% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Low Lots | £9500 |
| Total Proceeds from Low Lots | £4375 |
| Mid Total Lots | 9 |
| Total Mid Lots Sold | 4 |
| Total Mid Lots Bought In | 5 |
| Mid Buy In % | 55.56% |
| Aggregate High Estimate of Mid Lots | £131000 |
| Total Proceeds from Mid Lots | £98750 |
| 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 | £1045000 |
| Total Proceeds from High Lots | £1193250 |
The top photography lot by High estimate was tied between two lots: lot 30, Wolfgang Tillmans, Freischwimmer 207, 2012, and lot 320, Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Perpetual Still Life), 1986, both estimated at £180000-250000. The Kruger print was the top photography outcome of the sales at £383250 (image above, via Christie’s); the Tillmans print sold for £225000.
94.74% of the photo lots that sold had proceeds in or above the estimate range and there were 2 positive surprises in the sales (defined as having proceeds of at least double the high estimate) (images above, via Christie’s):
Lot 215, Gerhard Richter, Untitled (1.12.88), 1988, estimated at £25000-35000, sold at £75000
Lot 321, Wolfgang Tillmans, JAL, 1997, estimated at £15000-20000, sold at £40000
Complete lot by lot results can be found here (Evening) and here (Day).
