3 min read · 08 Dec 2023
REFLECTION II by Anthony Gormley sold for $917,100. Image courtesy of Christie's
A work by Anthony Gormley was the headline sale at Christie's 'Ancient to Modern Art from the Mougins Museum of Classical Art, Part I' auction on December 7 in London.
The star lot was: Anthony Gormley, REFLECTION II (2008), which sold for $917,100, 85% above its $495,000 low estimate. It has been traded once in the past.
The outperformer sold for 375% above its low estimate. Jean Cocteau, Hermès (Mercure) (1958), sold for $11,900 ($2,475 low estimate). It has been traded once in the past.
A talking point was Elisabeth Frink, Midas Head (1989), sold for $87,000, 125% above its $37,000 low estimate. The work has been traded twice in the past.
Breakdown of results against auction house estimates that are disclosed
No sales had a guarantee.
12 works were bought-in, including: M. Antonine, A MONUMENTAL ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT BUST OF THE EMPEROR LUCIUS VERUS (Undated), estimated at $618,800 (low) to $990,000 (high). It has been traded 8 times in the past.
1 work was withdrawn before the sale: Lucio Fontana, Concetto spaziale (1960) estimated at $49,500 (low) to $74,300 (high).
All results include the fees and premiums added to the price of a work of art when the auctioneer's hammer falls. Sale prices are compared to the auction house’s low estimate, which do not include premiums.
Guarantees: Sometimes an auction house guarantees to pay a seller for a work, regardless of whether the bidding reaches the reserve price, a figure that is typically confidential.
Bought-in: If there are no bids for a work, or if bidding falls short of the reserve price, the lot is unsold or “bought-in”.
Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.
Premiums: Typically a sliding-scale of charges paid in addition to the hammer price by the buyer, plus any other fees.