Record-breaking Lichtenstein leads $272 million Christie's sale
- November 10, 2010 20:24
Post-War and Contemporary Art at Christie's Nov. 10 evening sale in New York garnered an impressive total of $272.8 million for 75 lots (5 passed).
Pop Art from the 1960s secured the hefty prices realized. The leading lot of the night was Roy Lichtenstein's (1923-1997) comic-style painting Ohhh...Alright... (ex-collection: Steve Martin; Steve Wynn), depicting a worried redhead on the phone, which went for $42,642,500 (prices include buyer's premium).
The artist's previous auction record was $16,256,000.
Andy Warhol (1928-1987) once again this week brought in strong prices although his Big Campbell's Soup Can with Can Opener (Vegetable) fetched well below the low estimate of $30 million, selling for $23,882,500.
On the other hand, of the 15 Warhols on offer, several swept by their estimates, including his sculptural Brillo Box (3 cents off) which secured $3,050,500 from a pre-sale estimate of $600,000 - $800,000, a pink Dollar Sign made $5,122,500, and Campbell's Soup Can (Tomato) went way up to $9,042,500.
Also appealing to buyers was a white mobile by Alexander Calder (1898-1976) which brought $2,658,500 from a low estimate of $1 million. His red Bourges [maquette] took in $2,546,500 and a multicolored Untitled mobile swung to $2,434,500.
A record auction price for Calder was secured for his 1973 "Red Curlicue" sheet-metal sculpture which went for $6.3 million.
One of five unique versions, the very shiny and big Balloon Flower (Blue) by Jeff Koons secured $16,882,500, just over the high estimate. In contrast, his Balloon Flower (Magenta) sold for the artist's auction record price of $25,783,060 in 2008.
