The marquee November auctions in New York were smaller than in recent years, amid ongoing concerns about the state of the art market and the broader economy. However, Christie’s was at least able to boast a nine-figure sale, and some prized blue-chip works still sold well. Read on to see the priciest auction lots for November, according to the Artnet Price Database. Interestingly, the same Magritte subject managed to make the top 10 twice!
Rene Magritte, L’Empire des Lumières (1954)
Rene Magritte, L’Empire des Lumières (1954). Photo: Courtesy Christie’s
Estimate: $95 million
Final Price: $121.2 million
Where & When: Christie’s, November 19, 2024
Ed Ruscha, Standard Station, Ten-Cent Western Being Torn in Half (1964)
Ed Ruscha’s Standard Station, Ten-Cent Western Being Torn in Half (1964), which will be offered with an on-request estimate of around $50 million. Photo: Courtesy Christie’s
Estimate: $50 million
Final Price: $68.3 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 19, 2024
Claude Monet, Nympheas (1914–17)
Claude Monet, Nymphéas (1914–17) from the collection of Sydell Miller. Photo: Courtesy Sotheby’s
Estimate: $60 million
Final Price: $65.5 million
Where & When: Sotheby’s New York, November 18, 2024
Mark Rothko, Untitled (Yellow and Blue), 1954
Mark Rothko’s Untitled (Yellow and Blue), 1954. Photo: Courtesy Sotheby’s
Estimate: $ 29 million to $35 million ($HK 225 million to HK$275 million)
Final Price: $32.5 million
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, November 11, 2024
Alberto Giacometti, Femme qui marche II (1932–36)
Alberto Giacometti, Femme qui marche II (1932–36). Photo: Courtesy Christie’s
Estimate: $20 million to $30 million
Final Price: $26.6 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 19, 2024
Pablo Picasso, La Statuaire (1925)
Pablo Picasso, La Statuaire (1925). Photo: Courtesy Sotheby’s.
Estimate: $7 million to $10 million
Final Price: $24.8 million
Where & When: Sotheby’s New York, November 18, 2024
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (1982)
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (1982) Photo: Courtesy Christie’s
Estimate: $20 million to $30 million
Final Price: $22.95 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 21, 2024
Wassily Kandinsky, Weisses Oval (White Oval) , 1921
Wassily Kandinsky, Weisses Oval (White Oval), 1921. Photo: Courtesy Sotheby’s.
Estimate: $15 million to $20 million
Final Price: $21.6 million
Where & When: Sotheby’s New York, November 18, 2024
David Hockney, Still Life On Glass (1971)
David Hockney, Still Life On Glass, 1971. Photo: Courtesy Christie’s
Estimate: $15 million to $20 million
Final Price: $19 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 19, 2024
René Magritte, L’Empire de Lumières (1956)
René Magritte, L’Empire de Lumières (1956). Photo: Courtesy Christie’s
Estimate: $6 million to $8 million
Final Price: $18.8 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 19, 2024