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trending_up market calendar_today Wednesday, May 20, 2026

How Did Phillips Pull Off a $115.2 Million ‘White Glove’ Sale? Here’s What the Numbers Say

Phillips achieved a $115.2 million 'white glove' evening sale in New York on Tuesday night, with 41 of 43 lots sold and a 100% sell-through rate after withdrawals. The auction more than doubled last year's $52 million total, led by Andy Warhol's *Sixteen Jackies* (1964) at $16.2 million. Only three records were set—for P.S. Krøyer, Pat Passlof, and Joseph Yaeger—but the sale's success was driven by third-party guarantees on 21 lots and newly launched priority bids.

The result signals renewed confidence in the art market after a period of contraction, with Phillips posting its strongest New York spring sale since 2022. The heavy use of guarantees and priority bids, along with auctioneer Henry Highley's deft handling, suggests that auction houses are adapting to a more selective market by offering consignors financial security. As Phillips chairman Robert Manley noted, the sale demonstrated 'strength, enthusiasm, and depth of the collecting community at every level.'