yesterday in New York held evening auction Christie's «postwar and contemporary art» . The auction has now been sold collection of modern art of the famous American writer and screenwriter Michael Crichton , and set a world record for a work of Jasper Johns "Flag" (1960-1966), which took the hammer for 28, $ 64 million . Throughout the evening shoppers showed significant activity in the collectible category. They were interested in the canonical works of the most famous American artists, but also the works of young authors. The overall result of the evening trading "Postwar and contemporary art" has made 231.9 million dollars. Sales figures on the basis of trades was 94 per cent in quantity and 98 per cent in money terms.

Art collection of Michael Crichton took the hammer for 93.32 million dollars. The collection was sold at 100 percent and became the most significant collections of contemporary art ever sold at auction. Day trading, which will be exhibited other works from the collection of Michael Crichton, held today, May 12, 2010.

«A few minutes before the doors open auction room, all rooms have been clogged buyers. In the air hung tense expectation. Today's auction is fully confirmed confidence in the art market ", - commented Brett Gorve, director of the International Department of Post-War and Contemporary Art Christie's.

• Jasper Johns flag. Ok. 1960-1966
  paper on canvas, encaustic, collage. 44,5 x 67,9
  Christie's. 05/11/2010. Lot № 7
  estimate: 10-15 million dollars
  Result: 28,642,500 USD

pearl auction was the work of Jasper Johns "Flag", sold for the sum of 28.64 million dollars, thus setting a new world record for a work of the artist. The winner was an art dealer from America. Completed in 1966, executed in the encaustic technique, the work was purchased by Michael Crichton more than 30 years ago directly from the artist. The previous record for a work of Jasper Johns was established in May 2005, when the work is "Figure 4" (1959) went at auction for 17.4 million dollars.

other top lots yesterday's auction Ed began working collapsing "Voltage" (1964), which was sold for 1.65 million dollars at Estima in 0,7-1 million-dollar painting by Robert Rauschenberg's "Studio Work" (1960-1961), who for 11.06 million dollars in the preliminary assessment of 5-7 million, as well as the work of Mark Tansey "Pull-Push" (2003) sold for 3.22 million dollars in Estima 0,8-1,2 million and hit a previous world record for the artist's work , which amounted to 3.04 million dollars.

• SAM FRANCIS Blue middle. 1957
  canvas. 182,9 x 243,8
  Christie's. 05/11/2010. Lot № 38
  estimate: 3.5 million dollars
  Result: 6,354,500 dollars
• Jean-Michel Basquiat
  Self. Pursued. 1982
  canvas, acrylic, oil pencil. 127 x 102
  Christie's. 05/11/2010. Lot № 60
  estimate: 6.4 million dollars
  Result: 5,906,500 dollars

In the second part of the auction "Post-War and Contemporary Art" top-lots were the work of Sam Francis's "Blue middle" (1957) sold for 6.35 million dollars in the evaluation of 3-5 million and set a new record for paintings (previous was 5.19 million dollars), the canvas by Jean-Michel Basquiat "Self-Portrait. Persecuted, pushed for 5.9 million dollars in the Estima 4.6 million, and the work of Christopher Voula Blue Fool (1990) sold for 5.01 million dollars in assessing 1,5-2 million and thus significantly exceeded the previous record for a work of Voula, which stood at 1,874,500 dollars.

prices for works of female artists were also very stable. Thus, the work of Lee Bontecou "Untitled" (1962) sold by auction for the amount of 1,87 million dollars in Estima 1,5-2 million, surpassing the highest price for the work of the artist, which previously stood at 847.5 thousand dollars. Cloth Yayoi Kuusamo № GAWhite reached the point at 3.33 million dollars in assessing 1-1,5 million.

• Yves Klein Anthropometry № 93 (Buffalo) 1960-1961
  paper on canvas, pigment, resin. 178 x 280,4
  Christie's. 05/11/2010. Lot № 35
  estimate: 12.8 million dollars
  Result: 12,402,500 USD

Among European art was the absolute leader of the famous monumental canvas Yves Klein "Anthropometry № 93. Buffalo » (1960-1961), who took the hammer for 12.4 million dollars in evaluating 8-12 million. The canvas is written in tones patented artist "International Klein blue," which brought him world fame. To create this work, Klein covered with paint naked bodies of young girls, and they left fingerprints on pieces of paper spread on the floor, the action was accompanied by the orchestra playing.

During the bidding million mark in 1951 overcame a lot, 13 lots crossed the 5 millionth threshold and 5 lots managed to rise above the 10 millionth strap. Most buyers were Americans (73%) and residents of the Old World (16%). From Asia came to 1%of buyers from other countries - 10%.

Top-10 evening auction "Postwar and contemporary art, including the collection of Michael Crichton

№ Lot	Description	Estimeyt, million dollars	Price, USD	Buyer
7	Jasper Johns flag. 1960-1966 world record for the artist's work	10-15	28642500	Gallery of Avery Galleries
45	Andy Warhol's Silver Liz . 1963	10-15	art dealer from the U.S.
35	Yves Klein Anthropometry № 93. Buffalo. 1960-1961	8-12	12,402,500	anonymous buyer
24	Robert Rauschenberg studio. Collage. 1960-1961	6-9	11,058,500	anonymous buyer
32	Roy Lichtenstein Composition. Untitled. 1973	4,5-6,5	10,162,500	private buyer from the USA
13	Pablo Picasso Woman with children. 1961	5,5-7,5	6,578,500	private buyer from the USA
38	SAM FRANCIS blue middle. 1957 world record for the artist's work	3-5	6,354,500	Gallery John Berggruen Gallery
9	Robert Rauschenberg trapeze. 1964	5-7	Larry Gagosian Gallery
60	Jean-Michel Basquiat self-portrait. Pursued. 1982	4-6	anonymous buyer
42	Andy Warhol self-portrait. 1964	5-7	anonymous buyer

Source: press release Christie's