Phillips London auction results: Fontana and Baselitz top lots, but 18 works unsold

Phillips concluded London sales week on June 30 with its 20th Century to Now auction, originally offering 116 lots but withdrawing four before the sale, including a Lucio Fontana Concetto Spaziale, Attese estimated at £1.8–2.5 million. The final total was £9.08 million, with 18 lots unsold, including works by Andy Warhol and Banksy. Top lots were a Lucio Fontana Concetto Spaziale (1966-1967) and a Georg Baselitz painting from 2013, both hammering at £450,000 (£571,500 with fees). The Fontana sold below its low estimate of £550,000, with proceeds benefiting the Museo Vassouras in Rio de Janeiro. Elizabeth Peyton's Prince Harry, September 1998 sold for £488,950 (hammer £385,000), below its £400,000–600,000 estimate. Caroline Walker had three works all selling above high estimates. New auction records were set for Ellen Berkenblit, Duncan McCormick, Ludovic Nkoth, and Sayre Gomez. The sale included works from the Lemann Collection of American lawyer Thomas Lemann, who died in February 2023 at age 97. The high number of unsold lots and prices below estimates suggest market uncertainty after two years of strong growth.