20th Century & Contemporary Art, London
Phillips’ 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale Achieves Over £17.5 Million
The sale total of over £17.5 million is a robust result that caps off an exceptional season at Phillips. The sale was 94% sold by lot and saw spirited bidding across the middle market. Blue chip artists shared the stage with the ultra-contemporary, the fastest growing sector in the auction market right now. There was strong representation by women artists, with a new generation of British women artists eliciting fast-paced bidding from the phones, the floor and online. Kicking off the sale, Antonia Showering’s We Stray set a new world auction record for the artist. Caroline Walker and Flora Yukhnovich also sparked lengthy bidding battles, with Yukhnovich’s Moi aussi je déborde selling for over £1.7 million to an online bidder. Each work was carefully sourced by our global team, with 94% of the lots in this sale having never been offered at auction.
20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design, Hong Kong
Phillips Hong Kong Sales of 20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Realise HK$357 Million/ US$45 Million
The Evening sale was led by George Condo’s Transparent Female Forms from his seminal Drawing Paintings series which sold for HK$36 million/ US$4.6 million, demonstrating a robust market in Asia for leading international contemporary masters. We were delighted to uphold our reputation for presenting a rich diversity of female artists from the contemporary scene. 90 % of works by 40 female soared past their estimates in the Evening and Day Sales including examples from Lucy Bull, Ayako Rokkaku, Shara Hughes, and Katherine Bernhardt. Phillips is renowned for debuting new artists to the Asian market, and we were particularly excited to make the Asian auction debut for a number of international artists and setting auction records for Lucy Bull, Trey Abdella, and Ben Sledsens.
Building on the success of Phillips’ ULTRA/NEO series presented in Hong Kong last season, we were excited to continue with this initiative which shined a spotlight on a new generation of ultra-contemporary artists this Spring. Works featured in the series were 100% sold again with majority of them above high estimates and set multiple auction records for Trey Abdella, Michael Kagan, Miwa Komatsu, and Moe Nakamura. The number of online registrants reached an unprecedented level, and the Day Sale on 21 June saw the most online bidders in any 20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design sale for Phillips Asia in history, with nearly 600 participants from 45 countries / regions taking part and resulting in 50% of the sale total selling online.
20th Century & Contemporary Art, New York
20th Century & Contemporary Evening Sale realizes $225 million, a 90% increase from the previous year
In a historic evening at Phillips, our 18 May 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York achieved a major milestone: the $225 million sale total marked the highest ever in company history. From Robert Delaunay to Anna Weyant, the auction presented the very best of the past 100 years of art, distilled into 36 lots. We saw strong international interest with equal participation from Asia and Europe, each representing over 20% of the registered bidders. The sale was led by Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled from the esteemed collection of Yusaku Maezawa, which realized $85 million, a 50% increase from the painting’s last sale in 2016. The evening's result reflects strength across all sectors of the market. From a seven-minute bidding war for Alexander Calder’s 1959 mobile, to fierce demand for Shara Hughes’ 2017 canvas, a remarkable 70% of works sold above their high estimates. A particular high point of the evening was the battle for the 1961 Yves Klein, which realized nearly $20 million, doubling its last sale in 2010. Reflecting a conscious choice, 14 of the 31 artists in tonight’s sale were women, which included new world auction records for Yayoi Kusama and Robin F. Williams, and outstanding results for works by Anna Weyant and María Berrío.
20th Century & Contemporary Art, London
Phillips’ 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale achieves £30 Million, with 100% of the buyer’s premium and vendor’s commission to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, totaling £5.8 million
We are extremely proud to support the Ukrainian Red Cross Society with a £5.8 million donation on the back of an exceptional 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale. "It is our hope," Chief Executive Officer Stephen Brooks said, that we can "help this extraordinary charity as they continue their lifesaving mission."
The flavor of the evening's sale was truly international, with bidders participating from 40 countries, including significant engagement from across Asia. Led by David Hockney's Self-Portrait on the Terrace at £4.8 million, blue-chip artists shared the stage with a carefully edited selection of cutting-edge contemporary names. The sale opened with fierce bidding for the auction debuts of Lauren Quin and Doron Langberg, and we went on to achieve a new world record for Issy Wood. Indeed British art triumphed, with seminal works by Cecily Brown and Hurvin Anderson each achieving over £1 million. It was exciting to open the week with the unveiling in London of our forthcoming Basquiat masterpiece from the collection of Yusaku Maezawa, expected to realise in the region of $70 million when it is offered in New York in the spring.
The momentum continued into the Day Sale, with the total result of £12 million marking the highest-ever result for a Day Sale in London in company history. The sale opened with fierce competition for auction newcomer Antonia Showering, pushing the 2017 painting to sell for £226,800, over 20 times its low estimate. Eight artists records were set, including those for Caroline Walker, Edgar Plans, and Emmanuel Taku, and we were excited to see works by blue-chip names such as Yayoi Kusama soar past their estimates. It was Phillips' honor to partner with the Warburg Institute on works donated by contemporary artists, which together realized £383,252 in support of the Warburg Renaissance.
New Now, London
Strong demand for contemporary artists delivers 14 auction world records and £5.3 million realized
We are delighted with the auction achievement of £5.3 million for New Now London. Fourteen world auction records were established for artists including Szabolcs Bozó, and Evgen Copi Gorišek, and further exceptional results were achieved for Kehinde Wiley’s Ferdinand-Philippe-Louis-Henri, Duc d'Orléans, Annie Morris’ Stack 9 Ultramarine Blue, 2018 and Doron Langberg’s Nisan and Idan in the Studio. The strong depth of bidding throughout the sale and results achieved show a high level of confidence among collectors of 20th Century & Contemporary Art and delivers a positive message to the market. Our international team continues to produce carefully curated sales which shine a light on high quality work by emerging and established contemporary artists.
New Now, New York
Phillips’ New Now Sale realizes $8.4 million with strong demand for blue chip and emerging artists across the board
On the heels of our 20th Century & Contemporary Art sales in London, the results for our first New Now sale of the season underscore the international demand for both blue chip names and emerging artists alike. There was strong participation in the sale across all our platforms, with bidding in the room and on the phone, as well as a great deal of activity online. Works by KAWS and Eddie Martinez led the auction, with Martinez’s I Feel Alright realizing $352,800. The enthusiasm for Jordy Kerwick’s Untitled 7 resulted in the work soaring past its high estimate of $20,000, realizing a remarkable $201,600 and besting the record price set just last week. Records were also set for Sarah Slappey, Jordy Kerwick, and Sanford Biggers. We are also proud to announce that 100% of the proceeds from Lorna Simpson’s Three Part Soul and Camille Henrot’s Untitled (Tropics of Love series), including Phillips’ buyer’s premium, will be donated to the Ukranian Red Cross Society, following the $7.7 million donation made during our London sales last week.
Editions, Southampton
Sale achieves $1.4 million with exceptional showings for some of the biggest names in modern and contemporary editions
We were delighted to welcome the local community into our Southampton gallery over two weeks and then to the saleroom as they raised their paddles alongside bidders from nearly 40 countries online and on the phone banks, all vying for blue chip examples of 20th century and contemporary prints and multiples. The success of the sale underscores the strong market for these works across the category – from a new world record for Roy Lichtenstein’s Nude Reading, from his Nudes series to Pablo Picasso’s cubist linocut Portrait de Jacqueline de face II. We were also pleased to present 19 works new to market and set 30 auction records for iconic works by Lichtenstein, Johns, Stella, Thiebaud, Calder, LeWitt, Warhol, Steir, and more. This sale concludes Phillips’ live auctions in the Americas for the season, but we invite everyone to attend our private selling exhibitions over the summer in both Southampton and on Park Avenue.
Editions, London
Phillips’ Evening & Day Editions Auctions Achieve £5.2 Million, Marking the Highest Ever Total in London
We are delighted to set a new record sale total in London with the result of £5.2 million achieved in our Evening and Day Editions auctions. The breadth of art on offer drew a truly international audience with a great depth of bidding throughout from collectors in 50 countries worldwide. Contemporary editions from the 1970s and 80s led the auction with two works by Keith Haring and five works by Any Warhol featuring prominently in the top ten lots. Following the Queen’s jubilee celebrations last week, Warhol’s Queen Elizabeth II very fittingly brought in the top price in the auction, selling for £352,800, over three times the estimate. Ahead of our dedicated David Hockney auction in September we were also thrilled to sell all Hockney works above their high estimates, setting a new auction record for Untitled No. 1, from The Yosemite Suite. It has been a remarkable season since we expanded our global editions calendar of sales and we look forward to the Summer Editions auction finale which will take place on 25 June in Southampton, New York.
Evening & Day Editions, London
Phillips’ Evening & Day Editions auctions achieve highest-ever total of £5 million, including world auction records for six works
We are thrilled to have started 2022 on such a high. Led by a white glove Evening Sale, Phillips’ Evening & Day Editions auctions on 19 January achieved £5 million, marking the highest ever total in London. An energized saleroom saw the return of bidders to Berkeley Square as well as participants from over 55 countries worldwide bidding on the phone, and online. These results demonstrate our continued strength across the Modern and Contemporary market and show that the combined offering of these works continues to appeal to collectors around the globe. World auction records were achieved for contemporary masters such as Banksy, David Hockney and Andy Warhol, and Warhol’s Queen Elizabeth II brought in the top price in the auction and in the Queen’s Jubilee year. It is set to be another phenomenal year for Phillips Editions, and we look forward to continuing this momentum with our New York Modern & Contemporary Editions auctions on the 11th of March.
Evening & Works on Paper, New York
First Spring Editions Sales Realizes $954K, Selling 99% by Lot and 100% by Value
This year, Phillips expanded its Editions sale calendar to meet an increased international demand, and the results from our inaugural March auction validated our approach. With the focus on contemporary prints, multiples and works on paper, the sale total brought over the high presale estimate and sold 99% by lot and 100% by value. We saw enthusiastic bidding from all corners of the globe, with editions by KAWS, Ed Ruscha, John Baldessari, and Damien Hirst leading the auction, along with drawings by Shahzia Sikander and Kara Walker from a special drawings collection among the works on paper to perform exceptionally well. Kehinde Wiley’s Kid Ike realized ten times its low estimate. With these stellar results, we look forward to a dynamic turnout for the next in the series of Modern and Contemporary Editions and Works on Paper auctions, live from New York April 19-21st.
Design, London
Sale Realizes £4.5 million, with six new auction records set, including Angelo Lelii and Barovier & Toso
The total of £4.5 million far exceeded the pre-sale estimate and saw strong sell-through rates. Celebrating exceptional and rare material that has never appeared on the market before, the sale received widespread interest from collectors worldwide, with over 400 bidders representing 39 countries – a testament to the provenance and high quality craftmanship of the works offered. Led by Jean-Michel Frank’s Unique table lamp, a strong depth of bidding continued throughout the sale. Further standout moments included world auction records achieved for Angelo Lelii, Barovier & Toso, and Elisabeth Joulia, among others. Our international team continues to carefully curate sales that celebrate and promote design in its many varied forms and we look forward to the Design sale in New York on 7 June.
Design, New York
Phillips’ June Design Sales Realize $5.1 Million
The market for rare and important works of 20th century and contemporary design has never been stronger, with the results of our June sales making clear the breadth and depth of the category’s global appeal. Collectors across the world demonstrated particular enthusiasm for studio ceramics, with works from the Estate of Jack R. Bershad soaring past the sale’s low-estimate and setting the new auction record for Jennifer Lee, with four of the works beating her previous world record. Records were also set for Wouter Dam and Jane Hamlyn. Spirited bidding in the room and on the phone in our Design sale also led to a new record for a weed pot by Doyle Lane at $32,760. Results of contemporary design works in the sale also reflected the strength of the category, and we were delighted to set a new record for Shiro Kuramata, with his “Miss Blanche” chair more-than-doubling its low estimate at $516,600.
Photographs, London
Strong global interest for 19th century, classic, and contemporary masters with Gustave Le Gray, Edward Steichen, and Peter Beard leading the auction
With a total sale of £2.2 million, these results reaffirm the global demand for high-caliber works from across the history of photography. The earliest work offered was Gustave Le Gray’s exceptionally rare 1857 Camp de Châlons album which sold for £327,600, over three times the estimate. The most recent work offered in this sale was Raphael Pavarotti’s auction debut, iR€I$, 2020 which sold for almost double the estimate. The 15th edition of ULTIMATE set five world auction records including those for Ihei Kimura, Markus Brunetti, and Tania Franco Klein. We are looking forward to continued success with this momentum into our fall season in New York and London.
Photographs, New York
Phillips' Photographs New York auction realizes $4 million with strong performances by contemporary photographers
Led by high demand for Vik Muniz, Peter Hujar, Gregory Crewdson, and Thomas Ruff, our 6 April Photographs New York auction achieved $4 million. Additionally, the sale saw new auction records for a diverse group of photographers, including Jose Dávila and Marcia Resnick, and we are pleased to introduce their work to new collectors across the globe. We look forward to our next Photographs sale on 25 May in London.
Jewels, New York
Spirted interest internationally with robust bidding on classic and contemporary jewels with the Old European brilliant-cut fancy yellow diamond of 43.15 carats leading the auction.
We were pleased to see such spirited international participation in our live and online-only sales in New York. We saw strong demand for colored and colorless diamonds across the board, with the Old European brilliant-cut fancy yellow diamond of 43.15 carats leading the auctions at $816,500. Signed pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels and Lacloche also performed exceptionally well, soaring past their estimates. We now turn our attention to Phillips’ final jewels sale of the season, taking place on 23 June in Hong Kong.
Watches, New York
Phillips Continues as the Global Market Leader for Watches, With its Inaugural Spring Sale in New York Realizing $30.3 Million, The Second Highest Total for a U.S. Watch Auction in History
Concluding a white glove season for Phillips Watches, The New York Watch Auction: SIX realized $30.3 million – more than tripling its pre-sale total low estimate of $9.8 million. Bringing the Spring season total for the category to $127.2 million, the results reaffirm Phillips’ place as the global market leader. Multiple records for individual models in the fields of vintage, contemporary, and independents were achieved during the live auction at Phillips’ New York headquarters at 432 Park Avenue. Bidders from the international community, across nearly 70 countries, vied for rare and historic timepieces, participating in the room, online, and over the phone.
Leading the auction was the very first platinum George Daniels Anniversary Watch ever made, bearing the unique serial number “00.” Realizing $2,389,500, it set a record for any George Daniels wristwatch – and any British-made wristwatch - sold at auction. Following its launch in 2010, a total of 47 watches were made to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the co-axial escapement, with just four examples produced in platinum, like the present lot. George Daniels wanted the Anniversary model to also be a celebration of his life’s work, and the platinum “00” is a wonderful representation of the best in handmade, traditional English watchmaking. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit The George Daniels Educational Trust, The Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers, and the Horological Society of New York.
Watches, Hong Kong
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo Achieves the Most Successful Various Owner Watches Auction in Asia with 100% Sell-Through Rates
Held over two days on 27 and 28 May at the JW Marriott Hotel, the 100% sold sale far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of HK$105,256,000 to HK$192,004,000, marking the highest ever total for a various owner watches sale in Asia and the highest ever total for the category at Phillips Asia. Patek Philippe once again demonstrated its supremacy with an impressive selection of collectible models, led by the cover lot, a possibly unique Patek Philippe Ref. 3974 in a yellow gold case made by the legendary casemaker Jaen-Pierre Hagmann and features the black lacquer dial embellished with the Calatrava Cross logo. One of the most outstanding examples for discerned collectors of important Patek Philippe timepieces, the watch captivated 20 bidders across the world, eventually selling for HK$19.6 million/ US$2.5 million, more than three times its pre-sale high estimate and achieved the new world record for the reference.
The Patek Philippe Nautilus is one of the most desirable watch models on the market today. Following the world record set for Nautilus when the very first Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711 with Tiffany Blue® dial sold at Phillips New York last December, the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5723 with the prestigious double stamp by Tiffany & Co. and ruby-set bezel and indexes sold for HK$11.4 million/ US$1.45 million, setting the second highest price ever paid for any Nautilus and the world record for a Nautilus in gold.
Watches, Geneva
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo Realizes CHF 61.2 Million During a White Glove Watch Auction Weekend in Geneva
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo achieves CHF 38,938,400 / $39,374,510 / € 37,711,840 during The Geneva Watch Auction: XV. Held over two days on 7 and 8 May, the white glove sale far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of CHF 14.6 to 27.1 million. This followed the extraordinary results of The Royal Oak 50th sale on 6 May, which achieved CHF 22.3 million, bringing the weekend total to CHF 61,242,180.
The Geneva Watch Auction: XV presented 196 exceptional watches of the highest and most desirable quality. The global watch community participated from across 67 countries, with more than 600 collectors heading to the saleroom at La Réserve Hotel to participate in person, alongside 1,800 bidders competing online. The star lot of the weekend was the early Patek Philippe perpetual calendar ref. 1518 in pink gold with pink dial, selling to a phone bidder for CHF 3,297,000. The “Pink on Pink” is a watch that only be found at the highest echelons of fine watch collecting. The second star lot of the sale was a most probably unique Rolex ref. 6239, nicknamed "The Crazy Doc", which achieved CHF 1,740,000. This watch is the only known yellow gold reference 6239 with pulsations dial.
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