Overview
- Christie’s, which on Tuesday realized £38.9 million, sold 96 percent by value and set new auction records for Jan van Huysum and Sir Thomas Lawrence.
- Sotheby’s, in what Wednesday’s sale showed, brought £37.8 million and saw the Hamilton Laocoön fetch £13.62 million while ten lots failed to sell.
- Dealers and specialists said rarity, documented provenance, condition, and immediate visual impact drove the strongest results and attracted new buyers from contemporary collecting and Asia.
- Auction houses now face sharper estimating and risk choices—including guarantees and reserves—because concentrated bidding can inflate top prices while leaving many mid‑range lots vulnerable to buy‑ins.
- These two nights build on earlier summer sales and last year’s marquee results by drawing fresh demand for museum‑quality Old Masters and keeping pressure on the lower and middle tiers of the market.