Moore Sculpture Shatters Record at £26M
A regal bronze couple just crowned a new king of the London auction scene. Henry Moore’s majestic King and Queen (1952–53) shattered the artist’s previous auction record when it sold for £26.3 million ($35.2 million) at Christie’s 20th/21st Century Evening Sale on March 5 in London.
The monumental sculpture, the last cast from the edition still in private hands and acquired directly from Moore in 1954, carried a presale estimate of £10–15 million. After an intense eight-minute battle involving six determined bidders that opened at £6 million and climbed in large increments, it hammered at £22.5 million to a phone bidder represented by Christie’s EMEA president Anthea Peers. The piece anchored Christie’s marathon evening that totaled £197.5 million across three sales, up 52% year-on-year, with a stellar 96% sell-through by lot.
This standout result underscores a selective yet confident market rebound, where fresh-to-market museum-quality works from blue-chip names continue to draw deep-pocketed international collectors hungry for rarity. “Masterpieces like this don’t come around often, and the price reflects true scarcity and enduring appeal in a post-slump environment,” noted one leading specialist after the gavel fell. British modern masters and Surrealist highlights performed strongly too, signaling renewed appetite for established 20th-century heavyweights amid broader reports of U.S. and global auction growth.
Next up, eyes turn to New York’s May marquee sales featuring major consignments from the S.I. Newhouse and Robert Mnuchin collections, plus spring fairs in Asia and Europe that will test whether this early-season momentum carries forward. Watch for fresh data from the full Art Basel & UBS report to gauge sector health.
The room erupted in spontaneous applause as the regal figures finally found their new home, their solemn bronze forms glowing under the lights like timeless monarchs reclaiming their throne.
Christie’s London evening sales soared 52% year-on-year to £197.5 million.
