NEW YORK, NY.- Phillips de Pury & Company’s The Estate of Mrs. Harry N. Abrams sale totaled $6,051,912 selling 100% of the total 318 lots.

At Phillips de Pury in New York today, the much anticipated sale from The Estate of Mrs. Harry N. Abrams generated much excitement amongst global collectors, which culminated in a packed saleroom, an electric atmosphere and spectacular results.

The Estate of Mrs. Harry N. Abrams sale offered a unique collection of 20TH Century American and European art with a focus on Post-War and Pop Art from a range of significant artists, attracting over 1000 registered bidders.

“There was amazing energy throughout the sale. It demonstrates that the market loves nothing more than a group of works of great provenance assembled and collected with love over a number of decades. I am thrilled with the results and in particular with the amazing results for the works by Burliuk. In terms of auctioneering it was a record in itself being on the podium non-stop for seven hours and forty minutes.” Simon de Pury, Chairman.

“Overwhelming interest and attention has been paid to the remainder of this extraordinarily diverse collection, reflected by the record number of in-person, telephone and absentee bidders participating during the sale. Offered as single owner sale this unique auction has generated interest from all over the world and proved the tremendous buoyancy of the market. We were thrilled to have been able to create a catalogue and exhibition that highlighted and gave tribute to this important history.” Sarah Mudge, Kelly Troester, and Cary Leibowitz, Specialists in charge of the sale.

Five works by David Burliuk headline in the Top Ten Lots alongside other significant results including Alberto Giacometti, Self-Portrait, 1956, which sold for $254,500; Arman, Bach 2 Violin Concerto, 1963, which sold for $206,500.

Other noteworthy results include the record prices set for works by prolific contemporary artists including: Alexander Calder, Tom Wesselmann, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Ben Shahn, Norman Rockwell, Alberto Giacometti and Robert Rauschenberg.

Top Ten Lots

• David Burliuk, Song of Harvest, 1936, $422,500

• David Burliuk, Man with Dog, circa 1949, $290,500

• Alberto Giacometti, Self-Portrait, 1956, $254,500

• David Burliuk, Couple by a Fence, $218,500

• Robert Indiana, LOVE, 1966, $215,000 (sold immediately after the auction)

• Arman, Bach 2 Violin Concerto, 1963, $206,500

• David Burliuk, Peasants at a Table (Russian Tea Party), 1933, $194,500

• Andy Warhol, Mike and Bob Abrams, 1964, $170,500

• David Burliuk, Van Gogh Still Life, 1949, $134,500

• Ram Kumar, Ghats at Varanasi, 1963, $120,100