The 77th Modern Legacy auction by SBI Art Auction recorded significant results, confirming the strong interest of the market for masters of the 20th and 21st centuries.
How did the 77th SBI Art Auction Modern Legacy conclude?
The sale titled “The 77th SBI Art Auction | Modern Legacy: An Important Japanese Collection of 20th & 21st Century Masters”, held on March 14, closed with a total hammer price of 1,306,503,500 JPY. All offered lots were sold, achieving a sale rate of 100.0%, indicating particularly strong demand from collectors and investors.
The overall result includes the buyer’s premium, as specified in the terms of sale of the auction house SBI Art Auction. Additionally, the performance reflects the positioning of this Japanese collection in the international context of modern and contemporary art.
Which works led the auction results?
The top lot of the session was the painting by Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita, “Portrait d’Helene Franck” (Lot 043), presented with an estimate of 200,000,000 – 400,000,000 JPY. The work far exceeded expectations, reaching a hammer price of 506,000,000 JPY, a result that highlights the strength of the market for the artist.
Among the most contested lots was also “Female Nude” (Lot 037) by Egon Schiele, offered with an estimate of 30,000,000 – 50,000,000 JPY. However, the competition among bidders drove the final price to 92,000,000 JPY, almost doubling the high end of the initial estimate.
Additionally, great interest was sparked by the sculpture “Thin Reclining Figure (BownessⅡ 334)” (Lot 051) by Henry Moore, estimated at 4,000,000 – 7,000,000 JPY and sold for 15,525,000 JPY. The result confirms the resilience of demand for modern British sculpture.
Which other international lots stood out?
A key presence was “La Victoire de Samothrace (Wember S9; Ledeur S9)” (Lot 022) by Yves Klein, valued at 12,000,000 – 18,000,000 JPY. The work closed at 25,300,000 JPY, underscoring the solidity of the market for the French artist’s post-war production.
That said, international contemporary art also showed robust results. The work “Untitled” (Lot 024) by Anish Kapoor, proposed with an estimate of 50,000,000 – 100,000,000 JPY, was sold for 57,500,000 JPY, indicating a steady interest in his sculptural exploration.
In the realm of ceramics, the cylindrical vase “Cylindrical vase decorated with lines (blue)” (Lot 052) by Lucie Rie stood out beyond expectations. Estimated at 2,000,000 – 3,000,000 JPY, it reached 7,705,000 JPY, highlighting how author ceramics are consolidating their position in the collectible market.
How did Japanese artists in the catalog perform?
Within the collection, Japanese artists recorded particularly significant results. The work “Work 1” (Lot 072) by Saito Yoshishige, presented with an estimate of 20,000,000 – 30,000,000 JPY, was sold for 72,450,000 JPY, more than double the high end of the estimate.
Another noteworthy result concerns Arakawa Shusaku with “That in which” (Lot 056), proposed at 4,000,000 – 7,000,000 JPY. The work reached a final price of 24,150,000 JPY, confirming the growing international recognition of the artist.
Compared to other sections, these sales underline the central role of Japanese production in the context of this auction, in line with the declared focus on the national collection.
What other notable results were there in the 77th Modern Legacy auction?
In the segment of post-war European painting, “Nature morte aux bouteilles” (Lot 035) by Bernard Buffet was estimated at 4,000,000 – 7,000,000 JPY. The work found a buyer at 12,075,000 JPY, demonstrating a steady demand for the French artist.
Among the lots of graphics and artist projects, “SAVARIN (ULAE 183)” (Lot 009) by Jasper Johns exceeded the estimate of 12,000,000 – 18,000,000 JPY, closing at 24,150,000 JPY. Additionally, “The Pont Neuf, Wrapped (Project for Paris)” (Lot 028) by Christo, estimated at 8,000,000 – 14,000,000 JPY, was hammered at 20,125,000 JPY.
In the field of contemporary sculpture, “Tokyo’s soul” (Lot 025) by Jaume Plensa was proposed with an estimate of 15,000,000 – 30,000,000 JPY. The work reached 48,300,000 JPY, confirming the interest in his installations with strong visual and symbolic impact.
What is the schedule for upcoming SBI Art Auction sales?
Following the success of the 77th SBI Art Auction Modern Legacy, the auction house has announced the upcoming sales schedule. “The 79th SBI Art Auction | LIVE STREAM AUCTION” will be held from Friday, April 10 to Saturday, April 11, 2026. For this session, the deadline for submitting works is already indicated as closed.
Subsequently, “The 80th SBI Art Auction | Modern and Contemporary Art” is scheduled from Friday, May 22 to Saturday, May 23, 2026. In this case, the deadline for submitting lots for viewing is set for mid-March 2026, still offering an operational window for potential consignors.
Overall, the results of this session confirm the positioning of SBI Art Auction as a relevant player in the Asian market for modern and contemporary art, with a proposal capable of attracting both local and international interest.
IMAGE: Egon Schiele, Female Nude. Courtesy art auction SBI
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
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