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For Immediate ReleaseWednesday 27 June 2012
Contact: Cristiano De Lorenzo +44 (0) 207 389 2283
[email protected]
CHRISTIES LONDON EVENING AUCTIONOF
POST-WAR&CONTEMPORARY ARTREALISES
132.8M / $207.3M / 165.8M
THE HIGHEST EVER RESULT FOR THE CATEGORY IN EUROPE
Yves Kleins Le Rose du bleusells for 23.5M ($36.7M / 29.4M)A new
world record for a French post-war artist at auction
4 lots sold above 10 million / 5 lots sold above $10 million
5 new world artist records were established
London - Christie's Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening
Auction totalled 132,819,400 ($207,331,083 /
165,891,431), selling 98% by value and 87% by lot. This is the
highest total for any auction of Post-War &Contemporary Art in
Europe. The top lot of the sale was Yves Klein s Le Rose du bleu
(RE 22), which sold for23,561,250 ($36,779,111 / 29,428,001;
illustrated above), a world record price for any French post-war
artist atauction. In total, 4 lots sold above 10 million / 21 lots
sold above 1 million and record prices were establishedfor David
Altmejd, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Marcel Broodthaers, Yves Klein and
Beatriz Milhazes.
Francis Outred, Christie's Head of Post-War & Contemporary
Art, Europe: Following the record result achieved atChristie's New
York in May, we are delighted with tonight results which
established a new record for an auction of Post-War
&Contemporary Art in Europe. Totalling more than 132.8 million,
at the foundation of the auctions success were fivemasterworks
byYves Klein, Francis Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Gerhard
Richter. The price for the Bacon was particularly satisfactory
followingthe discovery that this self-portrait carries the body of
Lucian Freud. Overall we brought together consignments from four
continents,reached buyers on four continents and benefitted from a
depth and strength of bidding from across the room and on the
phone.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
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7/31/2019 ChristieS London Evening Auction Of Post-War &
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The top price of the auctionwas paid for Yves Kleins magnificent
sponge reliefLe Rose du bleu (RE22) (1960), which sold for
23,561,250 / $36,779,111 / 29,428,001 (estimate on request), a
world recordprice for a French post-war artist at auction. By far
the largest pink sponge relief ever created by the Frenchmaster, it
previously formed part of the renowned Madeleine Everaert and Menil
collections and was includedin all the artists major exhibitions
over the past 50 years.
Further Leading Highlights of The Sale:
An extremely rare Study for Self-Portraitpainted byFrancis Bacon
in 1964 sold for 21,545,250 /$33,632,135 /26,910,017 (estimate on
request). This poignant and exceptionally intimate painting
byFrancis Bacon marries the artists face to the figure of friend
and fellow painter, Lucian Freud. It is oneof only twelve,
floor-length self-portraits ever to be realised by Francis Bacon,
four of which are nowheld in international museum collections. It
is the only one to undertake the almost devotional act ofconflating
the two artists bodies.
A pivotal painting created in the seminal year of 1981,
Jean-Michel Basquiats Untitled sold for12,921,250 / $20,170,071 /
16,138,641 (estimate on request), a world record price for the
artist at
auction. Formerly owned by the Israel Museum, Jerusalem,
Untitled is one of the artists earliestmasterpieces, combining the
gritty urbanism of his street graffiti with his raw and guttural
symbolism.
A mesmeric and monumental abstraktes bild, Gerhard Richters
Struktur 2 sold for 12,697,250 /$19,820,407 / 15,858,865 (estimate:
9,000,000-12,000,000). Executed in 1989 - the same year as
thetotemic fall of the Berlin Wall, this work translates the
powerful climate of change into its dynamiccomposition. In May this
year, another major abstract work by the artist set a world record
price atauction, selling for $21.8 million at Christies, New
York.
Rouge triomphant,Alexander Calder's largest hanging 'mobile'
ever sold at auction, realised 6,201,250/ $9,680,151 / 7,745,361
(estimate: 6,000,000-8,000,000). Stretching almost half a dozen
metres
across, this sculpture, which the artist installed in his 1962
retrospective at the Tate, London, is historic,and was clearly a
source of some fascination for Calder, who expanded it twice,
adding new, largemobile elements; it was acquired by the Mobil
Corporation shortly after the artist's death in 1976.
About ChristiesChristies, the world's leading art business, had
global auction and private sales in 2011 that totaled 3.6
billion/$5.7 billion. Christies is a nameand place that speaks of
extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as
international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie,Christie's
has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions
through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique
andthe beautiful. Christies offers over 450 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 historyconducting private sales for its clients in
all categories, with emphasis on Post-War and Contemporary,
Impressionist and Modern, Old Mastersand Jewellery. Private sales
totaled 502 million / $808.6m in 2011, an increase of 44% on the
previous year.
Christies has a global presence with 53 offices in 32 countries
and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, NewYork,
Paris, Geneva,Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zrich, and Hong Kong. More
recently, Christies has led the market with expanded initiatives in
growth markets suchas Russia, China, India and the United Arab
Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai
and Dubai.*Estimates do not include buyers premium. Sales totals
are hammer price plus buyers premium and do not reflect costs,
financing fees orapplication of buyers or sellers credits.
# # #
Images available on request
Visit Christies Website at www.christies.comComplete catalogue
available online at www.christies.com or via the Christies iPhone
app
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Post-War &Contemporary Art Evening AuctionLondonWednesday,
27 June 2012
Sale no: 5488Top Ten
[All sold prices include buyers premium]
Sold: 132,819,400 $207,331,083 165,891,431Lots Sold: 60 Lots
Offered: 69 Sold by Lot: 87% Sold by : 98%
Exchange Rate := $1.561 / 1.249
Lot Description Estimate () Purchase PriceBuyer
9
Yves Klein (1928-1962), Le Rose du bleu (RE 22),1960WORLD RECORD
PRICE FOR THE
ARTIST AT AUCTION
Estimate on Request23,561,250$36,779,11129,428,001
Anonymous
25Francis Bacon (1909-1992), Study for Self-Portrait,1964
Estimate on Request21,545,250$33,632,13526,910,017
Christophe Van de Weghe
31Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), Untitled, 1981WORLD RECORD
PRICE FOR THE
ARTIST AT AUCTIONEstimate on Request
12,921,250$20,170,07116,138,641
Anonymous
16Gerhard Richter (b. 1932), Struktur (2), 1989
9,000,000 - 12,000,00012,697,250$19,820,407
15,858,865Anonymous
12 Yves Klein (1928-1962), Rlief ponge bleu (RE 51),1959
6,000,000 - 9,000,000 7,657,250$11,952,9679,563,905
Anonymous
61Alexander Calder (1898-1976), Rouge triomphant(Triumphant
Red), 1959-1963
6,000,000 - 8,000,0006,201,250$9,680,1517,745,361
European Trade
24Lucian Freud (1922-2011), Naked Portrait II, circa1974
3,800,000 - 4,500,0004,297,250$6,708,007
5,367,265European Private
30Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), Reflections on JessicaHelms,
1990
3,500,000 - 4,500,0004,017,250$6,270,9275,017,545
European Private
23Lucian Freud (1922-2011), Head of a Greek Man,1946 1,500,000 -
2,000,000
3,401,250
$5,309,3514,248,161
Anonymous
13Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), Concetto spaziale,
Attese, 1963-642,200,000 - 2,800,000
2,729,250$4,260,3593,408,833
European Private
Comment: See separate release
Press Contact: Cristiano De Lorenzo +44 7500 815 344
[email protected]
