Sotheby's Results
December 10 2020
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Tonight's Sotheby's December Old Master Paintings Evening Sale realised £10,634,700 (inc. commission) in total. 85.2% of lots sold, excluding four lots that were withdrawn from the sale.
Most of the top lots hammered down around their low estimates, including the Teniers that was hammered down at £3m over its £3m - £5m estimate. Their superb Ruisdael also hammered down at its low estimate of £800,000.
Lots that did particularly well include Hans Eworth's striking portrait of Joan Thornbury which made £983,000 (inc. commission) over its £400k - £600k estimate; a Frans Francken mythological scene made £277,200 (inc. commission) over its £60k - £80k estimate; a Jan Brueghel the Younger flower piece made £252,000 (inc. commission) over its 80k - 120k estimate; and a sturdy Jupiter by Heinrich Friedrich Fuger made £163,800 (inc. commission) over its £40k - £60k estimate.
It's quite clear that Sotheby's New York Old Masters sale will be the one to watch in January (!). Let's hope someone swoops in to save the Countess of Carnarvon with a post-sale offer.
