Anselm Kiefer Leads Christie's $19.22m 'Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale' in London

A work by Anselm Kiefer was the headline sale at Christie's 'Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale' on March 6 in London.

• The sale totaled $19.22m (GBP14.89m), meeting the pre-sale estimate.

Snapshot of the sale

• 138 works sold totaling $19.22m.
• Estimates totaled: $13.32m (low) and $19.6m (high), excluding premiums.
• The sell-through rate was 90% of the original 153 lots announced.

The star lot was: Anselm Kiefer, Velimir Chlebnikow (2005), which sold for $845,700, 67% above its $503,900 low estimate. It has been traded once in the past.

The outperformer sold for 674% above its low estimate. Sophia Loeb, O despertar do seu fogo ardente (The Awakening of Your Burning Fire) (2024), sold for $48,800 ($6,299 low estimate). It has not been traded before.

• 70 works, or 51%, sold above their high estimate.
• 55 works, or 40%, sold within their low and high estimate.
• 13 works, or 9%, sold below their low estimate.
• 0 sold with undisclosed estimates.

Guaranteed sales

2 works were backed by guarantees, including: Andy Warhol, (i) Cardi Smith (Madame Smith)(ii) Cardi Smith (Madame Smith) (1974). It sold for $487,900, 3% below its $503,900 low estimate.. It has been traded 5 times in the past.

Works that did not sell

12 works were bought-in, including: Chris Ofili, Head of an Afronaught (1999), estimated at $251,900 (low) to $377,900 (high). It has been traded 3 times in the past.

Withdrawn before the sale

3 works were withdrawn before the sale, including: Joseph Beuys, Gefängis (Kabir + Daktyl) (Prison (Cabir + Dactyl)) (1983) estimated at $314,900 (low) to $440,900 (high).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Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.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.