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Christie's Frieze Week auctions in London concluded on Saturday 7 October with a record breaking total of £179,609,250, the highest figure ever achieved for a week of Post-War and Contemporary Art auctions in Europe.

The highest figure for an evening of PostWar and Contemporary Art in Europe was reached at Christie's on Friday 6 October, which achieved £134,076,500. Records were set across the week with 17 artist records, including some of the most celebrated and sought-after names in contemporary art including Antony Gormley, Grayson Perry, Howard Hodgkin, Robert Mapplethorpe, Michelangelo Pistoletto and Hurvin Anderson. 

The week was led by Jean-Michel Basquiat's Red Skull (1982) which achieved a figure of £16,546,250 with proceeds of the sale benefitting KIPP New Jersey Schools. The Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Auction achieved a total of £23,548,250 against a pre-sale estimate of £14,847,600 with sell-through rates of 83% by lot and 95% by value. The five top prices of the week, across all auction houses, were realized at Christie's clearly demonstrating the success of the shift in auction calendar dates pioneered by Christie's this year.   

The week launched with an energetic start on Tuesday 3 October with two specially curated sales, ‘Masterpieces of Design and Photography', which achieved £7,452,500 while ‘Up Close' totalled £14,531,750 with strong sell-through rates throughout. Standout results for ‘Masterpieces of Design and Photography' included a new record for Robert Mapplethorpe's Self Portrait, with Christie's now holding the top three prices for his work, while Marc Newson's A Lockheed Lounge was the top work of the evening (£1,568,750 ). More notable results were seen for Andreas Gursky, Carlo Mollino, Helmut Newton and Thomas Struth.  ‘Up Close' was led by a quadruple estimate figure of £3,488,750 for Giacometti's Apollon, from the Tàpies collection, alongside one of Andy Warhol's early silkscreens, with Coke Bottle selling for £1,928,750.  The depth of bidding ably demonstrating the irresistible allure of masterpieces on a small scale.  

 The week continued on Friday 6 October with the ‘Post-War and Contemporary Art' and ‘Thinking Italian' Evening Auctions which realised the second highest figure for an evening of Post-War and Contemporary Art in Europe.  In a highlight of the evening Antony Gormley's monumental, Case for an Angel I was bought for a record breaking figure of £5,296,250 by Yusaku Maezawa.  More stand out moments included Howard Hodgkin's record breaking Goodbye to the Bay of Naples which sold for £1,688,750, more than double its high estimate of £600,000 and Turner Prize nominee Hurvin Anderson's Country Club: Chicken Wire, which realized a world auction record of £2,648,750. Francis Bacon's Head with Raised Arm was unseen in public for 45 years prior to the auction and sold over estimate for £11,483,750. An early painting by Peter Doig, Camp Forestia (£15,421,250) was also a highlight.  The starring work of ‘Thinking Italian' was Fontana's Concetto spaziale, In piazza San Marco di notte con Teresita, which was the highest figure realized for a work of the ‘Venezie' series and saw records for Michelangelo Pistoletto's portrait of Arte Povera artist Alighiero Boetti titled Uomo che guarda un negativo (Man Looking at a Negative) and Franco Angeli.    

The week concluded on Saturday 7 October with the ‘Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Auction', which realized a headline figure of £23,548,250.  Grayson Perry's I Want To Be An Artist (1996) achieved a price of £632,750, tripling the artist record that had only been set the evening before.  Leading the auction Gerhard Richter's Abstraktes Bild (1986) saw a stand out price of £2,648,750 and demonstrated the depth of bidding for artists across each of the auctions throughout this key London season. 

ARTIST RECORDS

MASTERPIECES OF DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY Sale number: 15781

Lot 12 ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE (1946-1989) Self-Portrait  platinum print signed by Michael Ward Stout, Executor, the Estate of Robert Mapplethorpe, date of signature, titled, dated, numbered and copyright credit in pencil ‘Michael Ward Stout/Executor the Estate of Robert Mapplethorpe, January 11, 1996 Self Portrait, 1988 3/3 AP-P1860 The Estate of Robert Mapplethorpe' (verso) image: 23 x 19 in. (58.3 x 48.2 cm.) sheet: 26¾ x 22¼ in. (68 x 55.5 cm.) Photographed and printed in 1988, this work is number three from an edition of three plus one artist's proof Other platinum prints from the edition are in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles and the Solomon R. Guggenheim, New York. Estimate: £300,000 – 500,000 Price realised: £548,750 WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST Previous record : Andy Warhol Medium platinum print w/silk panels Year of Work 1987 Size Height 42 in.; Width 42 in. / Height 106.7 cm.; Width 106.7 cm. Edition unique Sale of Christie's New York: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 [Lot 00044] Photographs Estimate 200,000 - 300,000 USD  Sold For 643,200 USD Premium 

 POST WAR & CONTEMPORARY ART EVENING AUCTION Sale no: 14442

Lot 1 GRAYSON PERRY (B. 1960) Saint Claire 37 wanks across Northern Spain glazed earthenware 33 x 22 x 22in. (84 x 56 x 56cm.) Executed in 2003 Estimate: £80,000 – 120,000 Sold for: £200,000 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Previous Record : Map of Truths and Beliefs, 2011 wool and cotton tapestry Sotheby's London: Thursday, March 9, 2017 [Lot 00236] Contemporary Art Day Auction Estimate 80,000 - 120,000 GBP (97,311 - 145,967 USD) Sold For 118,750 GBP Premium (144,447 USD)

Lot 3 HOWARD HODGKIN (1932-2017) Goodbye to the Bay of Naples oil on wood 22 x 26 3/8in. (55.9 x 66.9cm.) Executed in 1980-1982 Estimate: £400,000 – 600,000 Sold for: £1,688,750 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Previous Record   : In the Green Room, 1984-1986 oil on wood Christie's London: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 [Lot 00020] Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction Estimate 550,000 - 750,000 GBP (837,648 - 1,142,248 USD) Sold For 1,202,500 GBP Premium (1,831,404 USD)

 Lot 7  DAVID SALLE (B. 1952) Mingus in Mexico signed, titled and dated ‘David Salle 1990 “Mingus in Mexico”' (on the reverse) oil and acrylic on canvas 95 1/8 x 122 3/8in. (241.5 x 311cm.) Painted in 1990 Estimate: £300,000 – 500,000 Sold for: £608,750.00 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Previous Record   Footmen, 1986 diptych—oil and acrylic with wood bowl on canvas Christie's New York: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 [Lot 0013B] Post-War and Contemporary Evening Sale Estimate 250,000 - 350,000 USD  Sold For 583,500 USD Premium

Lot 14  ANTONY GORMLEY (B. 1950) A Case for an Angel I plaster, fibreglass, lead, steel and air 77½ x 337¾ x 18 1/8in. (197 x 858 x 46cm.) Executed in 1989 Estimate: £5,000,000 – 7,000,000  Sold for: £5,296,250 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Previous Record   Angel of the north (maquette), 1996 cast iron Christie's London: Friday, October 14, 2011 [Lot 00005] Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Auction Estimate 1,500,000 - 2,000,000 GBP (2,371,166 - 3,161,555 USD) Sold For 3,401,250 GBP Premium (5,376,620 USD)

Lot 18  HURVIN ANDERSON (B. 1965) Country Club: Chicken Wire signed, titled and dated 'Hurvin A., Tuesday 4th November 2008, Country Club Series: Chicken Wire' (on the overlap) oil on canvas Painted in 2008 Estimate: £700,000 – 1,000,000 Sold for: £ 2,648,750 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION  Previous Record:   Afrosheen, 2009 oil on canvas Year of Work Christie's London: Tuesday, July 1, 2014 [Lot 00015] Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Auction Estimate 300,000 - 400,000 GBP (514,315 - 685,753 USD) Sold For 1,314,500 GBP Premium (2,253,557 USD)

Lot 54  TONY BEVAN (B. 1951) Corridor  signed twice, numbered and dated 'Bevan PC9710' (on the reverse) acrylic and charcoal on canvas 105¾ x 82in. (268.5 x 208.3cm.) Executed in 1997 Estimate: £70,000 – 100,000  Sold for: £112,500 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION  Previous Record   Horizon Acrylic on Canvas, 1997-1997 Sotheby's London: Thursday, March 30, 2000 [Lot 00008] Contemporary Art Estimate 20,000 - 30,000 GBP (31,746 - 47,619 USD) Sold For 54,300 GBP Premium (86,190 USD)

Lot 58  AMY SILLMAN (B. 1966) The New Land signed, titled and dated 'Amy Sillman 2005 "THE NEW LAND" oil/canvas' (on the overlap); signed and dated 'Amy Sillman '05' (on the reverse) oil on canvas 78 x 66in. (198 x 167.8cm.) Painted in 2005 Estimate: £100,000 – 150,000  Sold for: £440,750  WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION  Previous Record   P Medium oil on canvas Year of Work 2007 Size Height 45 in.; Width 39 in. / Height 114.3 cm.; Width 99.1 cm. Misc. Signed, Inscribed Sale of Sotheby's New York: Friday, November 18, 2016 [Lot 00407] Contemporary Art Day Auction Estimate 70,000 - 100,000 USD   Sold For 504,500 USD Premium   

Lot 44 THOMAS SCHÜTTE (B. 1954) Study For 'Die Fremden' (The Strangers) signed 'Th. Schutte' (lower left); dated '26.4.92' (lower right) gouache and crayon on paper 43 3/8 x 78in. (110 x 198cm.) Executed in 1992 Estimate: £200,000 – 300,000 Sold for: £236,750 RECORD FOR THE MEDIUM Current Artist Record   Untitled (Große Geist Nr. 6) Medium bronze w/green patina Year of Work 1996 Sale of Christie's New York: Monday, May 12, 2014 [Lot 00026] If I Live I‘ll See You Tuesday: Contemporary Art Auction Estimate 3,500,000 - 4,500,000 USD Sold For 5,317,000 USD Premium  Previous Works on paper Record  Untitled (Portraits of Women)  Year of work 1991 Height 23 in, ; Width 19,1 in. / Height 58.4 cm, Width48.6 cm. Inscribed, Stamped, Christie's London Wednesday, July 1, 2015 [ Lot 00155] Post War and Contemporary Art Day Sale Estimate 150,000 – 200,000 EUR (234,265 – 312, 353 USD)  Sold For 182,500 GBP Premium (285,022 USD) 

THINKING ITALIAN Sale no: 14441

Lot 102 FRANCO ANGELI (1935-1988) Fiore Partigiano (Partisan Flower) signed, titled and dated 'Fiore Partigiano Angeli 1962' (on the reverse) enamel, acrylic and plaster on canvas and toile 47 3/8 x 55 1/8in. (120.3 x 140cm.) Executed in 1962 Estimate: £55,000 – 75,000 Sold for: £ 206,250 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Previous Record Tunisia Medium oil, gauze, plaster and glue on canvas Year of Work 1961 Size Height 63.8 in.; Width 55.5 in. / Height 162 cm.; Width 141 cm. Misc. Signed, Inscribed Sale of Sotheby's London: Friday, October 7, 2016 [Lot 00019] The Italian Sale Estimate 40,000 - 60,000 GBP (49,695 - 74,543 USD) Sold For 100,000 GBP Premium (124,239 USD)

Lot 108 MICHELANGELO PISTOLETTO (B. 1933) Uomo che guarda un negativo (Man Looking at a Negative) signed, titled and dated 'Pistoletto 1967 -UOMO CHE GUARDA UN NEGATIVO-' (on the reverse) painted tissue paper on polished stainless steel 90½ x 47¼in. (230 x 120cm.) Executed in 1967 Estimate: £2,500,000 – 3,500,000 Sold for: £ 3,721,250 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Previous Record: Amanti (Lovers), 1962-1966 Medium painted tissue-paper on stainless steel Christie's London: Tuesday, July 1, 2014 [Lot 00004] Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Auction Estimate 1,000,000 - 1,500,000 GBP (1,714,383 - 2,571,575 USD) Sold For 2,322,500 GBP Premium (3,981,656 USD)

POST-WAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART DAY AUCTION Sale number: 14443

Lot 202 KATHARINA GROSSE (B. 1961) Untitled signed and dated 'Katharina 2000' (on the reverse) acrylic on canvas 85 ¼ x 123 5/8in. (216 x 314cm.) Painted in 2000 Estimate: £60,000-80,000 Price realised: £308,750 WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST Previous Record: Untitled Medium Acrylic and soil on canvas Sale of Grisebach GmbH: Friday, June 2, 2017 [Lot 00837] 276 - Contemporary Art Estimate 25,000 - 35,000 EUR (28,178 - 39,449 USD) Sold For 137,500 EUR Premium (154,981 USD)

Lot 207 HENRY TAYLOR (B. 1958) Untitled (Symbol) oil on canvas 95 1/8 x 76 1/8in. (241.6 x 193.2cm.) Painted in 2007 Estimate: £30,000-50,000 Price realised: £230,750WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST Previous Record: Miss Kelley Medium acrylic on canvas Sale of Sotheby's New York: Friday, May 19, 2017 [Lot 00416] Contemporary Art Day Auction Estimate 50,000 - 70,000 USD  Sold For 231,250 USD Premium

Lot 208 IBRAHIM MAHAMA (B. 1987) Untitled  ink, found fabric collage, thread and banana tree leaf on six joined coal sacks 79 7/8 x 85in. (203 x 216cm.) Executed in 2014 Estimate: £20,000-30,000 Price realized: £40,000 WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST Previous Record: Untitled Medium jute coal sacks Sale of Phillips London: Tuesday, June 30, 2015 [Lot 00107] Contemporary Art Day Sale Estimate 10,000 - 15,000 GBP (15,725 - 23,588 USD) Sold For 12,500 GBP Premium (19,657 USD)

Lot 222 SHUSAKU ARAKAWA (1936-2010) Vertical Thought oil, mirror, latex, graphite, string, plastic and pacifier on canvas 76 ¾ x 107 1/8in. (195 x 272cm.) Executed in 1973 Estimate: £60,000-80,000 Price realised: £137,500 WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST Previous Record: Marx's Desire (From The Mechanism Of Meaning) Medium Oil on Canvas Sale of Sotheby's New York: Wednesday, May 9, 1990 [Lot 00168] CONTEMPORARY ART, PART II Estimate 150,000 - 200,000 USD  Sold For 176,000 USD Premium

Lot 233 YOSHITOMO NARA (B. 1959) & HIROSHI SUGITO (B. 1970) Deeper than a puddle signed and dated 'Nara 2004 Sugito' (on the reverse) acrylic on canvas 102 3/8 x 110 ¼ in. (260 x 280cm.) Painted in 2004 Estimate: £250,000-350,000 Price realized: £656,750 WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE COLLABORATION Previous Record: Marianne Medium acrylic on canvas Sale of Sotheby's Hong Kong: Sunday, October 5, 2014 [Lot 01054] Modern and Contemporary Asian Art - Evening Sale Estimate 3,000,000 - 4,000,000 HKD (386,592 - 515,457 USD) Sold For 5,080,000 HKD Premium (654,630 USD)

Lot 257 GRAYSON PERRY (B. 1960) I Want To Be An Artist glazed earthenware 22 7/8 x 18 7/8 x 18 7/8in. (58 x 48 x 48cm.) Executed in 1996 Estimate 60,000 – 80,000 GBP (79,000 – 100,000 USD) Sold for £ 632,750 WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST Previous Record: Saint Claire 37 wanks across Northern Spain glazed earthenware Christie's London: Friday 6 October 2017 Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction [Lot 1] Estimate: £80,000 – 120,000 Sold for: £200,000

Lot 409 ANSEL KRUT (B. 1959) Arse Flowers in Bloom Oil on canvas 47 ¼ x 43 ¼ in. (120 x 110 cm) Painted in 2010 Estimate: £12,000-18,000 Price realized: £12,500 Previous Record: Clockwork hearts Medium oil on canvas Sale of Christie's South Kensington: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 [Lot 00240] Twentieth Century British Art Estimate 300 - 500 GBP (608 - 1,013 USD) Sold For 1,250 GBP Premium (2,534 USD)