Collectors were out in force as Sotheby’s recorded sales of £126.8 million in London this week. The enduring appetite of collectors in a resilient global market was noted by Helena Newman, Global Co-Head of Sotheby’s Impressionist & Modern Art Department.
She said: “The outstanding result of today’s ‘Picasso in Private’ auction drew the week of sales to a close on a high note, with prices soaring above high estimate. Looking at the results across our first sale series of 2016, we have seen solid demand and activity at each level of the market across as broad an international spectrum of participants as ever. We saw 5 works selling for over £7 million / $10 million through to 19 works that sold over £1 million / 26 over $1million, and extraordinary strength in sculpture and Surrealist art this week. With a remarkable 543 lots offered over the course of the week at a sell-through rate of 78%, the sale results reflect the enduring appetite of collectors in a resilient global market.”