Sotheby's £50.6m - Christie's £80.5m

February 16 2012

Ouch! The Sotheby's press release may say that their Post-war & Contemporary result last night 'surpassed pre-sale estimates'. But it didn't. The total raised was £50.6m, including buyer's premium. The pre-sale estimate was £35.8-£49.7m, but this does not include the premium, which starts at 25%. And however you dress it up, Christie's won the battle of the week.