Kicking off the fall season, art sales got off to a swift start. The most expensive lot sold, Amrita Sher-Gil’s The Story Teller is now also the most expensive work by an Indian artist ever sold at auction, bringing in $7.45 million, nearly double its high estimate. Other highlights from around the world include Robert Colescott‘s 1919, a colorful rendition of race and culture in the United States of America through the lens of the artist’s distinct style. After serving as a set piece of the artist’s retrospective at the New Museum, the work was the star of a single-lot sale that coincided with the Armory Show at New York Art Week, where it hammered just below estimate to bring in $3.45 million.
Works by perennial favorites Yayoi Kusama and Zao Wou-Ki figured multiple times into this months list, and just weeks after his death, Fernando Botero’s En la plaza (1987) fetched $1.33 million at Christie’s.
Below, see the full list of the top 15 most-expensive lots sold around the world last month.
1. Amrita Sher-Gil, The Story Teller (1937)
Amrita Sher-Gil, The Story Teller (1937). Courtesy of Saffronart.
Estimate: $3.4 million to $4.6 million
Final Price: $7.45 million
Where & When: Saffronart New York, September 16, 2023
2. Robert Colescott, 1919 (1980)
Robert Colescott, 1919 (1980). Courtesy of Bonham’s.
Estimate: $3 million to $5 million
Final Price: $3.45 million
Where & When: Bonham’s New York, September 8, 2023
3. Bulgari, Colored Diamond and Diamond Ring
Bulgari, Colored Diamond and Diamond Ring. Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: CNY$7.4 million to CNY$8.5 million ($1 million to $1.2 million)
Final Price: CNY$20.3 million ($2.8 million)
Where & When: Christie’s Shanghai, September 2023
4. Sayed Haider Raza, Earth (1986)
Sayed Haider Raza, Earth (1986). Courtesy of Saffronart.
Estimate: $2.2 million to $3.2 million
Final Price: $2.3 million
Where & When: Saffronart, New York, September 16, 2023
5. Yayoi Kusama, INFINITY NETS (GGF) (2017)
Yayoi Kusama, INFINITY NETS (GGF) (2017). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: HK$13.8 million to HK$18.8 million ($1.8 million to $2.4 million)
Final Price: HK$16.7 million ($2.13 million)
Where & When: Christie’s Hong Kong, September 24, 2023
6. Lee Bontecou, Untitled (1959–60)
Lee Bontecou, Untitled (1959–60). Courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Estimate: $1.2 million to $1.8 million
Final Price: $2.17 million
Where & When: sotheby’s New York, September 28, 2023
7. Zao Wou-Ki, 16.02.64 (1964)
Zao Wou-Ki, 16.02.64 (1964). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: CNY8.5 million to CNY12 million ($1.16 million to $1.6 million)
Final Price: CNY12.4 million ($1.7 million)
Where & When: Christie’s Shanghai, September 23, 2023
8. Rufino Tamayo, Los tres amigos (1987)
Rufino Tamayo, Los tres amigos (1987). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: $1 million to $1.5 million
Final Price: $1.6 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, September 28, 2023
9. Liu Ye, Wind (2004)
Liu Ye, Wind (2004). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: HK$9 million to HK$15 million ($1.2 million to $1.9 million)
Final Price: HK$11.9 million ($1.52 million)
Where & When: Christie’s Hong Kong, September 24, 2023
10. Zao Wou-Ki, Lotus Flowers (1952)
Zao Wou-Ki, Lotus Flowers (1952). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: CNY3.5 million to CNY5.5 million ($480,736 to $755,443)
Final Price: CNY10.9 million (1.50 million)
Where & When: Christie’s Shanghai, September 23, 2023
11. Yayoi Kusama, Field (1989)
Yayoi Kusama, Field (1989). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: CNY5.5 million to CNY8.5 million ($755,443 to $1.2 million)
Final Price: CNY9.9 million ($1.37 million)
Where & When: Christie’s Shanghai, September 23, 2023
12. Fernando Botero, En la plaza (1987)
Fernando Botero, En la plaza (1987). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: $800,000 to $1.2 million
Final Price: $1.33 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, September 28, 2023
13. Hokusai, Kanagawa oki nami ura (Under the well of the Great Wave off Kanagawa) [“Great Wave”]
Hokusai, Kanagawa oki nami ura (Under the well of the Great Wave off Kanagawa) [“Great Wave”]. Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Final Price: $1.26 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, September 19, 2023
14. M.F. Husain, Untitled (Naga) (ca. 1971)
M.F. Husain, Untitled (Naga) (ca. 1971). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: $700,000 to $1 million
Final Price: $1.26 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, September 20, 2023
15. Frank Stella, Abra I (1968)
Frank Stella, Abra I (1968). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: $1.2 million to $1.8 million
Final Price: $1.26 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, September 29, 2023
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