Results for the Modern British Art Evening Sale at Christie’s London, 10 July 2013 achieved strong results for works by Hepworth, Lowry Nicholson and Elizabeth Frink going well over their estimates. The Evening Sale realised a total of £9,870,725/ $14,697,510/ €11,469,782 and was sold 84% by lot and 85% by value, with world auction records for both Dames Elizabeth Frink and Barbara Hepworth
Christie’s International Specialist and Director, Modern British Art: “The strong results achieved in the ‘Modern British Art Evening Sale’ indicate the continuing appeal for works by for British post-war artists such as Moore, Nicholson, Chadwick and Hepworth. The auction was rich in British sculpture and we are particularly pleased with the prices achieved for Hepworth’s ‘Curved Form: Bryher II’ which was the top lot of the sale at £2.4 million, and Frink’s ‘Seated Man II,’ both of which set world record prices for the artists at auction. This auction sees the continuation of Christie’s leadership in the market for works by Laurence Stephen Lowry; the seven works offered were highly sought-after and there was competitive bidding for his ‘Street Scene’ which fetched £421,875 against a pre-sale estimate of £120,000 – 180,000. As well as British clients, we welcomed collectors from around the world including the US and Asia, bidding on the telephones, in the room and via Christie’s LIVE. We were honoured to offer works from the collection of Tony Reichardt, one of the most pioneering London art dealers of the 1960s and 1970s. Reichardt was integral in the careers of some of Britain’s most respected artists and we look forward to offering further works from his collection in the ‘Modern British and Irish Art’ sales at King Street and South Kensington on 11 July 2013.”
Highlights included: Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975), Curved Form (Bryher II) realising a world record at £2,413,875 / $3,594,260
Laurence Stephen Lowry, R.A. (1887-1976), Industrial Landscape £935,475 / $1,392,922 and Dame Elizabeth Frink R.A. (1930-1993), Seated Man II, 1986 £817,875 / $1,217,816