At Christie’s today, Laurance Graff was a big buyer. He picked up a range of works from the record-setting opening lot by Michael Day Jackson to the two Yves Klein works that led the sale. Judd Tully tracked Graff down:
London–based jewelry magnate Laurence Graff was a major buyer, nabbing two of the top lots, including the Yves Klein cover lot, the electric blue and flame-thrown Anthropométrie (ANT 5), from 1962 (est. £5-7 million), for £4,129,250 ($6,441,630). It last sold at Sotheby’s London in June 2001 for £388,500.
“It’s the first Klein in my collection,” Graff said moments after the sale, “I’ve wanted to buy one for a long time and I remember the one that came up ten years ago. I consider it a masterpiece, and it could be Klein’s last painting.” The artist died in 1962.
At this sale, Graff also bought a Warhol Dollar Sign and he took home the late Picasso last week that was a star lot in the Impressionist and Modern sales.
Boosted by Klein (Again), the Art Market Continues Its Streak at Chrstie’s (ArtInfo.com)
