Ernst Ludwig Kirchner Leads Grisebach $4.01m 'Selected Works' Auction in Berlin

A work by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was the headline sale at Grisebach 'Selected Works' auction on May 30 in Berlin.

• The sale totaled $4.01m, falling short of its pre-sale low estimate.

Snapshot of the sale

• 17 works sold totaling $4.01m.
• Estimates totaled: $4.92m (low) and $4.92m (high), excluding premiums.
• The sell-through rate was 50% of the original 34 lots announced.

The star lot was: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, ”Heuernte (1924), which sold for $894,900, 18% above its $753,000 low estimate. It has not been traded before.

The outperformer sold for 175% above its low estimate. Helmut Middendorf, ”Sänger (1980), sold for $123,900 ($43,000 low estimate). It has not been traded before.

• 17 works, or 100%, sold above their high estimate.
• 0 works, or 0%, sold within their low and high estimate.
• 0 works, or 0%, sold below their low estimate.
• 0 sold with undisclosed estimates.

Guaranteed sales

No sales had a guarantee.

Works that did not sell

17 works were bought-in, including: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, ”Glockenblumen (1919), estimated at $376,000 (low) to $376,000 (high). It has not been traded before.

Withdrawn before the sale

0 works were withdrawn

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Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.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.