When London Nights Turn to Gold: Art Auctions Rewrite the Record Books
Under the glow of London’s evening lights, Christie’s auction house transformed art into headline-making numbers, with two sales totaling a staggering $118 million. The first, a tribute to the late collector Jeffrey Josefowitz, blended rare finds from ancient Assyrian reliefs to a serene 13th-century Japanese Bodhisattva, proving that history’s treasures still command modern awe. Meanwhile, the 20th/21st Century sale spotlighted contemporary icons—Basquiat’s vibrant vision and Doig’s dreamlike landscapes led the charge, each fetching millions.
Notably, several artists shattered their own auction records, from Sahara Longe’s energetic Party Scene to Salvo’s poetic lightning-and-stars canvas. The combined sell-through rate hovered near 90%, underscoring the persistent appetite for both the familiar and the newly discovered. In these rooms, centuries and styles collided, reminding us that the art market is as much about surprise as it is about tradition.
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