It was an amazing display of people spending money — and a lot different from last night’s session at Sotheby’s. Here, Christie’s blew the doors off the competition. By lot 50 they were up to $377M — and I will add that the auctioneer is giddy! By lot 53 they were over $411M and when they hit lot 55 the auctioneer lost his voice — literally! One lot later his voice was back (after the Rothko made $24M hammer).
When the sale ended, of the 72 lots offered, 2 were withdrawn and 66 sold … a sell-through rate of 94% (WOW) and a total take of over $495M (Double WOW). I am at a loss for words.
Jackson Pollock’s “Number 19, 1948” ($58.4M)