Article | In Search Of The Eternal Amedeo Modigliani Tete New York Auction November 2026
IN SEARCH OF THE ETERNAL: AMEDEO MODIGLIANI’S 'TÊTE'
One of the largest examples from the artist's defining sculpture series comes to auction for the first time ever, after more than five decades in an esteemed private collection.
AMEDEO MODIGLIANI, Tête, 1911–1912. Estimate: $28,000,000–$35,000,000. Modern & Contemporary Art Evening Sale, New York.
Phillips is honored to present Tête by Amedeo Modigliani as the centerpiece of the New York Evening Sale of Modern & Contemporary Art on 18 November. The sculpture has remained in the same important private collection for over half a century and Phillips will bring the work to auction for the first time in its history. Carved from a single block of limestone between 1911 and 1912, Tête belongs to Modigliani's celebrated series of heads, a group widely recognized as the pinnacle of his sculptural achievement and among the defining monuments of early Modernism.
Of the approximately 28 stone sculptures created by the artist during his lifetime, the vast majority are now housed in museum collections, including The Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Tate, London; and the Musée National d'Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris. Tête is among the most significant from the series and, at nearly 30 inches tall, it is among the largest of the few remaining examples in private hands. Following a tour to London (13–15 October) and Paris (17–21 October), it will be on view at 432 Park Avenue from 7–18 November ahead of the auction, where it will be offered with an estimate of $28–35 million.
Jeremiah Evarts, Deputy Chairman, Americas, Senior International Specialist, Modern & Contemporary Art, said: “It is an extraordinary privilege to bring this masterpiece to auction. Fresh to the market after almost half a century in the same important private collection, Tête embodies everything that makes Modigliani's sculpture so revered, including its profound art historical importance. Drawing on influences ranging from ancient Egyptian, Cycladic, and African art to the radical innovations of early 20th-century Modernism, the work bridges millennia of artistic tradition while remaining unmistakably Modigliani. As one of only a handful of examples still outside museum collections, it represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for collectors.”
AMEDEO MODIGLIANI, Tête, 1911–1912. Estimate: $28,000,000–$35,000,000. Modern & Contemporary Art Evening Sale, New York.
Tête was created during a brief but transformative period in Modigliani's career, when he dedicated himself almost exclusively to direct carving, freeing the image out of the stone in the manner of Michaelangelo and inspired by his close friendship with Constantin Brancusi. As one of the most significant artists to be influenced by the true breadth of artistic creation, Modigliani developed a radically new sculptural language defined by elongated forms, restrained geometry, and spiritual intensity. Tête is among the earliest and most fully realized expressions of this vision.
The offering arrives amid sustained international demand for Modigliani's sculptural works, which are universally regarded as among the artist's rarest and most important creations. Conceived as part of Modigliani's unrealized vision for what he described as a “temple of beauty,” the sculpted heads were to serve as columns of caryatids and occupy a central place within the artist's oeuvre, bridging the ancient traditions that inspired him and the revolutionary artistic language of Modernism. More than a century after its creation, Tête remains one of the foundational achievements of 20th-century sculpture and an enduring testament to Modigliani's singular artistic ambition.
Phillips looks forward to continuing the momentum gained by bringing such an important work to the global collecting community on the heels of the strength of the spring season. The house’s Spring 2026 sales season saw total auction results increase by more than 60% year-over-year, while the May Evening Sale of Modern & Contemporary Art achieved more-than-doubled the total realized by its equivalent sale the previous year. The offering of Tête — distinguished by its remarkable state of preservation, commanding presence, and exceptional provenance — represents an extraordinarily rare collecting opportunity, continuing Phillips' commitment to presenting works of the highest caliber.
VIEWING DETAILS
London
13–15 October
30 Berkeley Square
Paris
17–21 October
94 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
New York
7–18 November
432 Park Avenue
CONTACT
Jeremiah Evarts
Deputy Chairman, Americas, Senior International Specialist, Modern & Contemporary Art
Email: jevarts@phillips.com
Phone: +1 917 304 4329