“Anyone Can Do It Once”

Carol Vogel’s profiles the Phillips de Pury Carte Blanche sale that will compete with Sotheby’s and Christie’s marquee Contemporary art sales the second week of November. The story contains a broad mix of recycled puffery that Vogel has previously published on Ségalot’s impressive career and touch of art market huffing as when an anonymous source sniffs, “Anyone can do it once.”

Of course, the most important art market question remain unanswered. Vogel’s story suggests that Ségalot is tapping inventory and his best clients to populate the sale. That raises the question, how much of the buyer’s commission will Ségalot receive? By all rights, it should be 100% with Phillips de Pury reaping the value of the visibility and market share boost.

Whatever those details, here are the top lots:

But the biggest star of all is “Men in Her Life,” a 1962 Warhol painting based on an image of Elizabeth Taylor when she was between husbands that may sell for around $50 million. Mr. Ségalot pried the Warhol out of the private collection of the Mugrabi family, Manhattan dealers known for their vast holdings of Warhols. “My father was adamantly opposed to selling this painting, but Philippe was so convincing,” said Alberto Mugrabi, referring to his father, Jose. “Philippe can do things nobody else can. He’s crazy, but good crazy.” […]

Mr. Cattelan’s sculpture is one of an edition of three and an artist’s proof. In 2003, before the marriage started to sour, Mr. Brant commissioned the artist to do a work for his vast collection. Looking at all his art trophies — Warhols and Basquiats and Richard Princes — Mr. Cattelan was inspired to create something that embodied Mr. Brant’s trophy wife. But there were strings attached: “I wanted other men to be able to share her,” Mr. Cattelan said; hence the edition of sculptures. Mr. Ségalot estimates that this particular one should fetch $1.5 million to $2 million. […]

Also for sale will be a careful mix of artists that rarely come to auction, like Robert Morris, Lee Lozano and Mr. Buren, as well as some emerging ones like Matthew Day Jackson. There will also be work by big names like Mr. Murakami, whose “Miss ko2,” one of the Japanese artist’s sculptures of a fantastical waitress (it stands more than eight feet tall) is expected to bring $4 million to $6 million.