Christie’s fall marquee 20th-century evening sales on Monday night generated a combined $690 million across two auctions, far exceeding the pre-sale low estimate of $534.7 million. The first sale featured 18 lots from the collection of the late Robert and Patricia Ross Weis, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, and Rothko, while the second 62-lot sale included pieces by Calder, Hockney, Chagall, and Giacometti. Bidding wars drove 16 lots to sell at or above their high estimates, with adviser Ralph DeLuca winning several high-profile battles, including a Matisse painting for $32.3 million and a Max Ernst sculpture for $20.2 million. The sell-through rate was 97% by value and 96% by lot, with only one withdrawn lot and three unsold works.
The results mark a 41% increase over Christie’s equivalent May 2024 sales, signaling strong demand for top-tier 20th-century art despite a slightly lower total than the pre-sale high estimate. The sale underscores the resilience of the high-end art market, with collectors aggressively competing for blue-chip works from prestigious collections. The Weis collection, with over 60 additional lots still to be sold, highlights the continued importance of single-owner estates in driving auction momentum. The evening also demonstrated the influence of key advisers and specialists in orchestrating competitive bidding, reinforcing Christie’s dominant position in the fall auction season.