Sotheby’s auctions in London, in June, the modern collection of Joe Lewis and his daughter Vivienne, estimated at over 150 million pounds.
Why can this sale set a record?
The amount is equivalent to about 204 million dollars and could turn the event into a new benchmark for the city. Moreover, if added to other sales scheduled for the same period, the auction house could close the strongest week ever in London.
The lot brings together central names of modernism: Egon Schiele, Amedeo Modigliani, Francis Bacon, Chaim Soutine, Gustave Caillebotte, Gustav Klimt, Henri Matisse, and Lucian Freud. These are artists who, together, strengthen the museum profile of the offer.
However, the true distinctive element is not just the quality of the names. According to Sotheby’s, many works have not appeared on the market for decades. This rarity remains one of the main attractions for collectors.
What did Sotheby’s say about the Lewis collection auction?
Oliver Barker, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, described the core as a rare group of museum-quality works, especially modern figurative paintings. He added that many works have not been seen on the market for decades, and perhaps ever.
That said, Barker also insisted on the historical weight of the collection. The selection, he explained, combines coherence, uniqueness, and cultural importance, three qualities that matter greatly in high-end auctions today.
What is the precedent that weighs on the sale?
The sale follows the auction of Pauline Karpidas‘ collection, held in September and capable of raising 101 million pounds, equivalent to about 137 million dollars. That result set the London record for a single collector’s collection.
Moreover, Barker said that success helped restore confidence in the international art market. The point, he observed, is the strength of a collection built from a single vision.
Which works from the Lewis auction will drive collectors’ interest?
The main works of the collection will be shown first in New York and London, before the sale. Among these stands out the full-length portrait by Gustav Klimt from 1902, Bildnis Gertrud Loew (Gerta Felsovanyi).
The work is estimated between 20 million and 30 million pounds, that is, between 27 million and 40 million dollars. It also has a complex history: it was owned by a patron of Klimt, then looted by the Nazis in Vienna, and later exhibited at the Neue Galerie.
Overall, the June sale presents itself as one of the most watched of the season. Barker described the return to London as a moment of coming full circle, emphasizing that the works will be displayed with particular attention to their cultural value. For further references on the market, you can consult Sotheby’s, Tate, and British Museum.
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.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
