Hans Coper Leads Bonhams $515,700 'Modern Decorative Art & Design' Auction

A work by Hans Coper was the headline sale at Bonhams 'Modern Decorative Art & Design' auction on June 11.

• The sale totaled $515,700 (GBP382,900), falling short of its pre-sale low estimate.

Snapshot of the sale

• 87 works sold totaling $515,700.
• Estimates totaled: $832,000 (low) and $1.21m (high), excluding premiums.
• The sell-through rate was 58% of the original 150 lots announced.

The star lot was: Hans Coper, Ovoid form with flattened cylinder (1966), which sold for $86,100, 111% above its $40,600 low estimate. It has been traded twice in the past.

The outperformer sold for 766% above its low estimate. John Maltby, 'Ancient King', sculpture (Undated), sold for $5,861 ($677 low estimate).

• 35 works, or 40%, sold above their high estimate.
• 44 works, or 51%, sold within their low and high estimate.
• 8 works, or 9%, sold below their low estimate.
• 0 sold with undisclosed estimates.

Guaranteed sales

No sales had a guarantee.

Works that did not sell

51 works were bought-in, including: Lucie Rie, Footed bowl (1978), estimated at $67,700 (low) to $94,700 (high). It has been traded once in the past.

Withdrawn before the sale

12 works were withdrawn before the sale, including: Lina Bo Bardi, Pair of deck chairs (1958) estimated at $20,300 (low) to $27,100 (high).

Terms and definitions

All results include the fees and premiums added to the price of a work of art when the auctioneer's hammer falls. Estimates, sale prices and totals are converted into US dollars. 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Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.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.