Phillips’ London Photographs Auction Achieves £2.4 Million, With Strong Prices Achieved for Helmut Newton: Provocateur Photographs from the Collection of Simon de Pury

Vanessa Hallett, Deputy Chairwoman, Americas, and Worldwide Head of Photographs, and Peter Sumner, Deputy Chairman, Europe, and Senior International Specialist, Modern & Contemporary Art, said, “We were thrilled by the enthusiastic response to Helmut Newton: Provocateur: Photographs from the Collection of Simon de Pury, which was 96% sold and marked a celebration of de Pury’s remarkable collection and enduring friendship with Helmut Newton. An unparalleled tribute to Newton’s legacy, this was the most exceptional collection of Newton photographs to grace the market. We saw great demand from the international collecting community for works including Celia, Miami, which sold for £107,950, Leaving Las Vegas, which sold for £88,900, and Saddle II, Paris, which sold for £73,660. Our journey with Simon has been truly inspiring and it has been an honour for Phillips to present these extraordinary works at auction.”

Yuka Yamaji, Head of Photographs, Europe, and Rachel Peart, Head of Department, London, said, “We are pleased with the result of £2.4 million achieved today. During the sale we saw great strength of bidding in the room, on the phone and online from over 300 collectors taking part in the sale from over 30 countries worldwide. Leading our top ten is Irving Penn’s remarkable The Palm of Miles Davis, New York which soared to £152,400, over three times the low estimate. Also featured in the top ten is Mario Testino’s celebrated 2001 portrait of Kate Moss which sold for £114,300, almost double the pre-sale low estimate, and Seiji Kurata’s 1975 Tattooed Man, which sold for £69,850, more than three times the pre-sale low estimate and a world auction record. The 19th edition of ULTIMATE saw Sangbin IM’s Times Square achieve a world auction record, testament to the demand for unique fresh-to-market works by exceptionally talented visual artists. We look forward to continuing this momentum as we prepare for our inaugural Editions, Photographs and Design auction in Hong Kong on 14 June.”