Sotheby's held its inaugural evening sale at the Breuer building, featuring the Contemporary and the Now sale. Auctioneer Oliver Barker achieved $527.5 million in sales, surpassing the pre-sale low estimate of $379 million. The highlight was Gustav Klimt's portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, which sold for $236.4 million, setting an auction record for Klimt and becoming the second most expensive work ever sold at auction. During the sale, auctioneer Phyllis Kao wore a David Webb necklace from the mid-1980s, featuring carved emeralds, rubies, and cabochon sapphires, which was on view and available for private sale at Sotheby's retail salon in the Breuer lobby.
This practice of dressing auctioneers in jewelry from upcoming sales represents a strategic cross-marketing effort that began during the pandemic, when live-streamed auctions became a form of entertainment. Frank Everett, Sotheby's Vice Chairman of Jewelry, noted that the approach started with COVID and has evolved to make auctioneers part of the show. The trend broadens the auction house's audience and consumer base while enhancing the visual appeal of broadcasts, reflecting how streaming has transformed auction participation and viewing habits.