Record Phillips Auction Sets London Records In Hot Sales Week

Before the sale, the pre-1945 Modern content was estimated at 37 percent of the value of the entire sale—an increase on any previous Phillips sale. By the end, it was more like 60 percent. So with only Phillip’s day sale to go, the London Impressionist and Modern sales total has ended with just over £400 million ($551 million) in sales, the second highest for the capital, while the Contemporary bracket is looking at a record in the region of £340 million ($469 million). When the two categories are combined it also marks a new record for London—and there, in the heart of the scrum, Phillips has proved they can mix it with the big boys.