They’re Still Buying in Paris

The bidders in Paris aren’t shopped out yet. These four busts representing the continents were estimated at €300,000 but sold for €841,000 or slightly more than $1 million. Across the board decorative works are selling for multiples of the high estimates giving some evidence that–like the famous Warhol and Onassis sales–provenance far outshines intrinsic artistic value in the work’s appeal.

This pair of statues of Cupid and Mercury were estimated at €120,000 and sold for €385,000 which is about $500,000.

Ivory figure of the Virgin Mary estimated at €180,000 and selling for €385,000.

This Southern German stag was estimated at €15,000 but sold for €295,000 which must put it in the running to be the object in the sale selling for the greatest multiple of its estimate.

The sale has moved on to Venetian works of art. The copper gilt flasks, above sold for €361,000 (6x the high est.) These enamelled Venetian dishes , below, were estimated at €120,000 and sold for €337,000. Another piece of Venetian enamel ware sold for €421,000 or twice its high estimate.

The statue of Hercules, below, sold at €247,000. The estimate was €60,000.