Live-blogging the Sotheby’s Hirst auction webcast. (I’m not taking the time now to convert to dollars.)
“Thank you SO-O-O-O much!” the auctioneer exclaimed at the £8.5 million bid on the newly hatched Hirst shark, “Kingdom,” that had been estimated at £4-6 million.
The Black Sheep was less coveted, at £2.3 million (est. £2-3 million).
The highest-estimated work and likely top lot in the ongoing sale, The Golden Calf (Lot 13 of 56) was knocked down at £9.2 million, within its £8-12 million estimate. The auction record for Hirst going into this sale was £9.65 million. I’ll let Sotheby’s do the math to tell us if today’s final price, with buyer’s premium, bests “Lullaby Spring,” a medicine-cabinet work.
It sure looks like Hirst fatigue has not set in yet. Maybe tomorrow…or maybe not!
UPDATE: Sotheby’s has now done the math: Its publicity machine has already e-mailed, while the sale is still in progress, to inform me that “The Golden Calf,” with buyer’s premium, made £10.35 million ($18.66 million), a new auction record for Hirst.