Yesterday in New York held an auction of Contemporary Art Phillips de Pury. Like other big November auction, it brought less than expected, but the only guaranteed the lot was sold

November 13 in New York was a regular auction of works of modern art, this time arranged the house Phillips de Pury & Co. Recall that on 11 November held a similar auction Sotheby's , and November 12 - Christie's . The two auction should bring at least 429 million dollars, but the results were much smaller - 238.7 million, a 44 per cent below the expected amount. At the Phillips, too, a miracle did not happen. Estimeyt trades at 23-32 million dollars, but the crisis has taken its: auction brought 9.6 million. Of the 51 lots found buyers 21 lot. Five of expensive pieces, including works by Richard Prince (Richard Prince) and John Karrina (John Currin), have been withdrawn from auction.

The only lot that has a note in one million dollars, was the product of an outstanding minimalist Donald Judd (Donald Judd) «Untitled (77/23-Bernshtayn)». It is a wall relief of ten shelves. The work has brought 3.2 million dollars, with estimeyte at 4-6 million. Another top lot, a picture depicting the four skulls of the Demiena Hurst (Damien Hirst), found no buyers. The work was estimated at 3-4 million. Interestingly, for how long it was able to sell at solo Hirst auction ?..

«It was the same as in the previous two auctions - said collector Stefan Edlis (Stefan Edlis) from Chicago. - All sold with 40 per cent discount, as in [the store. - Ed . ] Barney's ».

In fact, at first glance it looks mrachnenko. But Phillips is quite a significant occasion for joy: to assure the auction house did not lose anything. Guaranteed was only one job, and even then not of the most expensive: «The Fall» Kendella Girsu (Kendell Geers). This installation with neon letters forming in obscene expression, went for 56 thousand dollars when estimeyte 60-80 thousand. They say that Sotheby's and Christie's have lost millions of dollars in guarantees. The New York Times says that one picture «Gender-face with the collar» Roy Lichtenstein (Roy Lichtenstein), did not find a buyer at Sotheby's, was given a guarantee of 15 million.

Situation Phillips is against this background that looks like more fun. «Our auction house at all the only one who managed to earn this week, some money», - said chairman of Phillips, Simon de Piura (Simon de Pury). «[The outcome of the November auction. - Ed. ] have shown that not to give guarantees - the best solution in the current economic situation», - develops the theme of the head of Phillips Contemporary Michael McGinnis (Michael McGinnis). On the question of how will continue to settle trades, he says: «We need sbavit speed and to reduce estimeytov and reserve price». McGinnis said that estimeyty should be at 40-50 per cent lower today.

Some of the lots in the Phillips sold fairly well. The most expensive lot after shelves Judd became another relief, this time of the outstanding British sculptor of Indian origin Anisha Kapoor (Anish Kapoor). Work «Untitled (Mirror)» went for 782.5 thousand dollars when estimeyte at 500-700 thousand. A provocative bronze sculpture by Terence Co (Terence Koh), estimated at 80-120 thousand, has 122 thousand. A print «Kremaster 3: Imperial destruction» Matthew Barney (Matthew Barney) was sold for 86.5 thousand, with thousands of estimeyte 50-70. He bought the New York dealer Christophe van de Vege (Christophe van de Weghe). «I think it's a good price - he said. - I am happy that now I have this work. Phillips, it was difficult to sell expensive items, but that they were able to sell products that are offered at the right price ».

Despite a rather sad the amount that had bid at the end of the auction hall applauded. Collectors and dealers see that the auction house is trying to adapt to today's economic realities and is not going to give up.

At an auction attended by Leonid Fridlyand, chapter Russian group of companies, Mercury Group, has recently become Phillips . However, their comments about the bid, he refused to give.

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Sources: artinfo.com , bloomberg.com , nytimes.com , artinvestment.ru