M.F. Husain Leads Christie's Online $1.3m 'South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art Online' Auction

A work by M.F. Husain was the headline sale at Christie's Online 'South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art Online' auction on March 25.

• The sale totaled $1.3m, exceeding the pre-sale high estimate.

Snapshot of the sale

• 117 works sold totaling $1.3m.
• Estimates totaled: $732,200 (low) and $1.06m (high), excluding premiums.
• The sell-through rate was 89% of the original 132 lots announced.

The star lot was: M.F. Husain, Untitled (Horse) (2000), which sold for $176,400, 252% above its $50,000 low estimate. It has been traded twice in the past.

The outperformer sold for 1109% above its low estimate. Nalini Malani, The Job (1997), sold for $30,200 ($2,500 low estimate). It has been traded once in the past.

• 66 works, or 56%, sold above their high estimate.
• 37 works, or 32%, sold within their low and high estimate.
• 14 works, or 12%, sold below their low estimate.
• 0 sold with undisclosed estimates.

Guaranteed sales

No sales had a guarantee.

Works that did not sell

10 works were bought-in, including: Sadequain Naqqash, Untitled (Spring is Her Attire) (1985), estimated at $50,000 (low) to $70,000 (high). It has been traded once in the past.

Withdrawn before the sale

5 works were withdrawn before the sale, including: Allah Bux, Untitled (1959) estimated at $25,000 (low) to $35,000 (high).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. 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Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.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.