The souvenir seekers were out in force again today at Christie’s in London where the expected value of the Lehman Brothers sale as a high estimate of £1.139m and the final tally with premium was £1.6m. Most of the trade was in decorative objects prized for their noteriety:
– The sign which adorned the company’s offices in Canary Wharf sold for £42,050 / $66.355 / €48,778 against a pre-sale estimate of £2,000 to £3,000. It was underbid by an internet client in China, and was acquired by an anonymous telephone bidder.
– The commemorative plaque from the company’s offices in Canary Wharf from their opening by the Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown M.P. in 2004 as he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer sold for £28,750 / $45,368 / €33,350 against an estimate of £1,000 to £1,500.
Although there was some art on offer:
– Atomists: Jump over, 1996, by Gabriel Orozco (b. 1962) realized the highest price of the sale selling for £99,560 / $157,305 / €115,490 against an estimate of £60,000 to £80,000. Further picture highlights included Madonna by Gary Hume (b.1962) which realized £73,250 / $115,735 / €84,970; and L’embarquement de La Normandie au Havre, 1889, by Théophile Poilpot (Paris 1848-1915) realized £67,250 / $106,255 / €78,010 against an estimate of £20,000 to £30,000.