Business · Companies · 13 hrs ago
Christie’s London sales bring in $289.4 million
Christie’s two London evening sales raised £218.6 million, or $289.4 million, on Wednesday.
The sales took place during Frieze London and Frieze Masters, major art events held in the city.
Peter Simon’s collection contributed £107.5 million, making it the highest-value single-owner collection ever sold at Christie’s London.
The collection sold 98 percent of its works by lot, while the two sales together sold 91 percent of lots and 96 percent of their value.
A Kandinsky painting led the evening at £31.6 million, and seven auction records were set, including records for Liubov Popova and Bridget Riley.
The strong total is an encouraging sign for the art market, but many Simon collection works had third-party guarantees, which reduced the financial risk before bidding began.
Attention now turns to New York auctions next month, though the London results alone do not establish the wider market’s direction.
Christie’s London evening sales brought in £218.6 million ($289.4 million), more than double last year’s total.
The two sales achieved a combined sell-through rate of 91 percent by lot and 96 percent by value.
The Peter Simon collection accounted for £107.5 million ($142.3 million), the highest total for a single-owner collection sold at Christie’s London.
Wassily Kandinsky’s Das bunte Leben was the top lot, selling for £31.6 million ($41.8 million).
Seven auction records were set, including records for Liubov Popova and Bridget Riley.
- Who
- Christie’s London and buyers at its evening auctions.
- What
- Two sales brought in £218.6 million ($289.4 million), with seven auction records set.
- When
- Wednesday; the articles were published on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- Christie’s London.
- Why
- The sales coincided with Frieze London and Frieze Masters. The sources do not state a specific reason for the results.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Christie’s held the Peter Simon collection sale, which brought in £107.5 million ($142.3 million).
The subsequent 20th- and 21st-century sale brought in £111.1 million ($147 million).
- Total sales
- £218.6 million ($289.4 million)
- Peter Simon collection
- £107.5 million ($142.3 million)
- Sell-through rate
- 91 percent by lot; 96 percent by value
- Top lot
- Wassily Kandinsky’s Das bunte Leben: £31.6 million ($41.8 million)
- Auction records
- Seven
3 sources
What people are saying
These auctions are staged, managed, and already pumped …