Studie zu Improvisation 3 by Wassily Kandinsky is estimated at £12.18 million. CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2013
Wassily Kandinsy’s Expressionist masterpiece Studie zu Improvisation 3, 1909 was the top lot at Christie’s sale of Impressionist and Modern art in London on June 18. It made £13,501, 875 in a sale with an overall total of £64,076,575 over a pre-sale estimate of £52.8-75.8 million. The auction was 84% sold by lot and 87% by value and 18 works sold for over £1 million. Modigliani’s 1916 portrait of his dealer Paul Guillaume made £6,781,875. Picasso’s Femme Assise dans un fauteuil made £6,109,875 and Paul Signac’s Sainte Anne (St. Tropez) sold for £3,533,875.
Jay Vincze, head of Impressionist and Modern Art at Christie’s London said: “This evening’s auction saw solid results and the continuing strength of selling rates in the category at Christie’s in 2013. There was great depth of bidding on works of high quality at all price levels, with strong participation from many new and existing collectors from both traditional and growth markets, including Greater China and India. The global appeal and accessibility of Impressionist and Modern Art at Christie’s was further highlighted by the auction of ‘Picasso Ceramics’ at South Kensington which was 100% sold by lot and also attracted new bidders from around the world.”