Kate Taylor listens to the dealers’ as the talk about holding their breath until collectors make a decision:

With so many collectors waiting to make decisions, many dealers won’t know until the weekend how they did.
Jack Shainman said the three large El Anatsui hangings he brought were all on reserve. Nick Cave’s three “Soundsuits” were also on reserve, to institutions, he added. He had made one big sale so far: Bharti Kher’s “Diamonds” (2007), which sold for 100,000 euros. (Ms. Kher’s work is priced in euros.)

David Zwirner said that all of the fairs he’d been to “in the new economy” had been backloaded, so he was hoping some of his reserves would turn into sales by Sunday. So far, he said, business has been slow.

At least one art advisor was doing healthy business: Kim Heirston was leading a young couple around with purpose, and seemed to be engaged in a negotiation at White Cube.

Given the lack of pressure on collectors in this buyers’ market, they probably put the piece on reserve.