Pablo Picasso Leads Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr $554,300 'Limited Editions and Artists' Jewellery' Auction in Paris

A work by Pablo Picasso was the headline sale at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr 'Limited Editions and Artists' Jewellery' auction on May 30 in Paris.

• The sale totaled $554,300, falling short of its pre-sale low estimate.

Snapshot of the sale

• 116 works sold totaling $554,300.
• Estimates totaled: $582,100 (low) and $822,600 (high), excluding premiums.
• The sell-through rate was 68% of the original 171 lots announced.

The star lot was: Pablo Picasso, Suite of 180 Drawings by Picasso portfolio (Verve No. 29-30) (1954), which sold for $52,500, 300% above its $13,100 low estimate. It has not been traded before.

The outperformer sold for 300% above its low estimate. Pablo Picasso, Suite of 180 Drawings by Picasso portfolio (Verve No. 29-30) (1954), sold for $52,500 ($13,100 low estimate). It has not been traded before.

• 45 works, or 39%, sold above their high estimate.
• 53 works, or 46%, sold within their low and high estimate.
• 18 works, or 16%, sold below their low estimate.
• 0 sold with undisclosed estimates.

Guaranteed sales

No sales had a guarantee.

Works that did not sell

54 works were bought-in, including: Niki de Saint Phalle, Bathers (1980), estimated at $32,600 (low) to $43,500 (high). It has been traded twice in the past.

Withdrawn before the sale

1 work was withdrawn before the sale: Takashi Murakami, And Then (x 5) (2011) estimated at $2,719 (low) to $3,807 (high).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Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.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.