Last night’s sale at Phillips was pretty much business as usual for the auction house even within the new setting of their grand HQ building.
Auctioneer Alexander Gilkes moved the merchandise at prices below the estimate range, signaling his intent with the stilted, “I can honor your bid.” That move kept the sell-through rate to 80% and brought in a decent £14,862,500 / $23,631,375
Top Ten Lots:
- Christopher Wool Untitled, 1990 £2,098,500 / $3,336,615
- Tauba Auerbach Untitled (Fold), 2010 £1,142,500 / $1,816,575
- Jeff Koons Jim Beam – Observation Car, 1986 £962,500 / $1,530,375
- Anselm Kiefer Für Paul Celan, 2004 £818,500 / $1,301,415
- Martin Kippenberger Untitled, 1991 £782,500 / $1,244,175
- Banksy Submerged Phone Booth, 2006 £722,500 / $1,148,775
- Keith Haring Untitled,1988 £602,500 / $957,975
- Damien Hirst 5-Fluorotryptamine, 2007 £578,500 / $919,815
- Barry Flanagan Left Handed Drummer, 1997 £506,500 / $805,335
- Anish Kapoor Untitled, 2000 £506,500 / $805,335
Auction Records:
Tauba Auerbach Untitled (Fold), 2010 £1,142,500 / $1,816,575
Danh Vo We The People (Detail), 2011 £206,500 / $328,335
KAWS Accomplice, 2010 £266,500 / $423,735
