3 min read · 22 Feb 2024
Flower Thrower Triptych by Banksy sold for $1.93m. Image courtesy of Christie's
A work by Banksy was the headline sale at Christie's 'The Collection of Sir Elton John: Opening Night' auction on February 21 in New York.
The star lot was: Banksy, Flower Thrower Triptych (2017), which sold for $1.93m, 92% above its $1m low estimate. It has not been traded before.
The outperformer sold for 2500% above its low estimate. David LaChapelle, A NEON 'HORNY?!' SIGN (2003), sold for $26,500 ($1,000 low estimate).
A talking point was Keith Haring, Untitled (1982), which sold for $756,000, 150% above the low estimate. The early, dayglo-on-wood piece has been traded once in the past and came from the artist's estate.
Breakdown of results against auction house estimates that are disclosed
No sales had a guarantee.
0 works were bought-in.
1 work was withdrawn before the sale: Damien Hirst, Your Song (2008) estimated at $350,000 (low) to $450,000 (high).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Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.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.