Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale, London

Christie’s Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale realised £18,973,000 / $29,749,664 / €26,505,281, with strong sell-through rates of 80% by lot and 88% by value. Bidders from 18 countries across 5 continents competed in the room and on the telephone for works by the leading artists of the category, including Dame Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Sir Stanley Spencer.

André Zlattinger, Senior Director, Head of Modern British Art, Christie’s London and Rachel Hidderley, Christie’s International Specialist and Director, Modern British Art: “This evening’s sale of Modern British and Irish Art saw strong demand for works by the leading British and Irish artists of the 20th century, led by Barbara Hepworth’s outstanding ‘Two Forms with White (Greek)’. This auction saw collectors competing from 18 countries across 5 continents, highlighting the increasingly global appeal of this dynamic category. Strong prices were achieved throughout the sale, from the remarkable group of sculpture – illustrated by the record achieved for the rare depiction of ‘St Joan of Arc’ by Eric Gill – to a 1955 masterpiece by Sir Stanley Spencer. A testament to the discerning and passionate eye of Edgar Astaire, the works from the collection in the Evening Sale were well received, led by the new record price at auction established for a work by Mark Gertler, ‘The Violinist’, which realised £542,500. For the second year, this Evening Sale is part of a week of ‘Impressionist & Modern Art’ and ‘Modern British and Irish Art’ auctions at Christie’s London, collectively presenting new and established buyers with opportunities across price levels. We look now forward to ‘The Modern British and Irish Art Day Sale’ on 26 June 2015.”