Sotheby’s New York‘s 11 November postwar and contemporary sales totalled $343m (£217.7m), less than the $380.6m taken in its equivalent sale last year. Jasper John’s encaustic and silk Flag, (1983) went for $36 million, an auction record for the artist, with the top price of the night $45 (£28.56m), going to Rothko’s No. 21 (Red, Brown, Black and Orange), 1951, albeit $5m less than its estimate. Jeff Koons’ Moon (Yellow), 1995–2000, owned by Damien Hirst, failed to sell, as did work by Ad Reinhardt and Keith Haring.
Christie’s New York‘s 12 November sales totalled $852.9 (£541.32), a postwar and contemporary record for the auction house. A 1970 painting from Cy Twombly’s Blackboard series set an auction record for the artist of $69.6m (£44.17m), and a 1960 Yayoi Kusama infinity net painting White No. 28, sold for $7.1 (£4.51). A collection of Cindy Sherman’s Untitled Film Stills, (1977-1980), also went for record prices. While other works by Lichtenstein found buyers, his painting Keds (1961), was bought in by the auction house for $19 million (£12.06m).
For further details see bloomberg.com
13 November 2014
