That amounts to less than half the top estimate for what was taken by Marcos alone.
Only on a few lots was the bidding brisk; for most of the evening, the auctioneer, Oliver Barker, worked hard to squeeze one bid after another from potential buyers.An exception to this was the mystery purchaser who bought ten lots, paying well above the top estimate for eight.
On December 3rd, with the recession in full swing, three bidders in Sotheby's Paris saleroom put their hands up against 12 bidders on the telephone for Georges Seurat's "Au Divan Japonais", the winner paying €5m ($7.2m), five times the top estimate for a once-in-a-generation opportunity to buy one of the Impressionist master's finest works.
At this moment, its most up-to-date top estimate for civilian deaths since that invasion is 156,000 (211,000, including the deaths of combatants).
Macy's was one of the lonely bright spots Wednesday, adding 6% after booking profits that topped estimates for the second quarter and raising its full-year guidance.
The index was down 326 points, or 3.5%, to 8,985, but Coke shares gained $2.17, or 5.0%, to $45.90, after the soft-drink peddler topped estimates for its third quarter, thanks in part to its strong international presence.
Twitter Inc. topped estimates for earnings and revenue in the third quarter amid higher spending from advertisers, marking a much-needed boost for the social-networking site after months of scrutiny from lawmakers and criticism about fake or offensive accounts.
The stunningly successful event at Sotheby's auction house totaled $78.6 million in sales, well above the top estimate of $62 million for the evening sale and a record for a contemporary art auction.
Sotheby's found ten collectors who were prepared to bid above the top estimate of £18m for Alberto Giacometti's "l'Homme Qui Marche I" (pictured), which had been consigned by Commerzbank following its takeover by Dresdner Bank a year ago.
The price range for such art is wide; at this show, the pieces go from $3,500 to $500,000 (the top estimate is for an Italian majolica Apollo plate, circa 1545, that the Blumka Gallery previously sold at Sotheby's in 1995).
