Over One Half of a Billion Dollars in Art Sold in One Night
The top lots of the sale were Jeff Koon’s, Rabbit ($91,075,000) – a World Auction Record for Living Artist and Robert Rauschenberg’s Buffalo II, which sold for $88,805,000, after a bidding war on the phones which lasted over 10 minutes
Market for Contemporary Sculpture redefined with New World Auction Records set for: Jeff Koon’s, Rabbit ($91,075,000) World Auction Record for Living Artist Louise Bourgeois, Spider $32,055,000 World Auction Record and second highest price at auction for a woman artist.
6 Further Records Were Set This Evening, Including:
World Auction Record: Robert Rauschenberg, Buffalo II, $88,805,000
World Auction Record: Frank Stella, Point of Pines, $28,082,500
World Auction Record: Larry Rivers, The Last Civil War Veteran, $1,215,000
World Auction Record: Jonas Wood, Japanese Garden 3, $4,928,500
World Auction Record: Daniel Buren, Peinture aux formes indéfinies, $2,175,000
Record in the Medium: Bruce Nauman, From Hand to Mouth, $1,575,000
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Strong results achieved for collections:
Masterpieces from The Collection of S.I. Newhouse concluded with tonight’s Evening Sale with outstanding results for the 6 lots that were offered tonight, following 5 that were sold in our Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale on Monday evening, bringing the final total to $216,287,500 against an overall estimate of $136m. The group was led by Jeff Koons’ monumental Rabbit, from 1986, which realized $91,075,000, setting a new world auction record for a living artist.
The Robert B. and Beatrice C. Mayer Family Collection dedicated selection, which commenced the Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale, achieved very strong results of $157,221,000, bringing the collection’s running total to $173,448,750. Tonight’s group was led by Robert Rauschenberg’s Buffalo II, which sold for $88,805,000, setting a new world auction record for the artist. This was followed by Roy Lichtenstein’s Kiss III, which realized $31,135,000 and Larry Rivers’ The Last Civil War Veteran which doubled its high estimate to achieve a world auction record of $1,215,000. Further works will be offered in tomorrow’s Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sales.
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Christie’s, the world’s leading art business, had global auction, private and digital sales in 2018 that totalled £5.3 billion / $7 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and international expertise. Christie’s offers around 350 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie’s also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery.
Alongside regular sales online, Christie’s has a global presence in 46 countries, with 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
*Please note when quoting estimates above that other fees will apply in addition to the hammer price – see Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of the sale catalogue.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and are reported net of applicable fees.
