Henry Moore’s ‘King and Queen’ Shatters Auction Record at Christie’s London, Leading £197 Million Sales Week

London, United Kingdom — Christie’s London delivered a powerhouse performance during its March 2026 20th/21st Century Evening Sales on March 5, setting a new world auction record for Henry Moore with his iconic bronze sculpture King and Queen (conceived and cast 1952–53), which sold for £26,345,000 ($35.2 million, including buyer’s premium).

The monumental work—a poignant double portrait of seated regal figures symbolizing authority, vulnerability, and enduring human presence—sparked an intense eight-minute bidding battle among six collectors, hammering at £22.5 million before fees. This result more than doubled the low estimate of £10 million and surpassed Moore’s prior auction high of £24.7 million (set in 2016 for Reclining Figure: Festival). As the final private cast from the edition (others reside in the Tate and the Henry Moore Foundation), its fresh-to-market status and exceptional provenance—acquired directly from the artist in 1954—drove fierce demand.

The triumph headlined a marathon evening across three sales: the 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale, The Art of the Surreal Evening Sale, and Modern Visionaries — The Roger and Josette Vanthournout Collection — Evening Sale. Together, they achieved a combined total of £197,472,600 ($263.8 million / €226.1 million), marking a 52% increase year-over-year. Sell-through rates stood at an impressive 96% by lot and 98% by value, affirming strong collector appetite for museum-quality masterpieces despite broader market caution.

In the flagship 20th/21st Century sale alone, totals reached £114,175,900 ($152.5 million), up 39% from the prior year. Other highlights included Wassily Kandinsky’s Le rong rouge (1939) at £12.5 million and robust results for Pablo Picasso, Gerhard Richter, and Surrealist works. The evening featured heightened third-party guarantees (up 52% year-over-year), providing bidding stability and underscoring confidence in blue-chip icons.

The Moore sale not only claimed the highest individual lot of the London March season across Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips but also signaled renewed vigor at the top end of the market. Experts highlight how rare, institutionally significant sculptures like King and Queen—unseen at auction for decades—continue to attract global buyers seeking proven, timeless works amid economic uncertainties.

This standout result cements the March 2026 London auctions as a key indicator of resilience and selectivity in the high-end art market, with masterpieces continuing to outperform expectations.