A work by Russian avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich fetched $33 million and a pale, full-length portrait by Gustav Klimt brought $39 million at a strong Sotheby's Impressionist and Modern art sale in London. The sale total was $282 million, well beyond Christie's total, boosted by nine elots that went over $10 million. The Tuesday and Wednesday sale series at both auction houses brought a total $393 million.

Both the Malevich and Klimt were rare, fresh-to-market works. The Malevich was on the market for the first time in 100 years and came from the artist's family. It surpassed on estimate of $23.1 million to $30.8 million.

The Klimt was estimated to sell for between $18.5 million and $27.7 million and was sold by the Klimt foundation in a restitution case. The painting was taken by the Nazis after the Viennese sitter, Gertha Felsőványi, was forced to flee the regime.