Sotheby’s sets record at New York auction

Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Evening Sale exceeded expectations, bringing in over 665 million euros in a single night, reaffirming the strength of the global art market.

The standout lot was Gustav Klimt’s “Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer”, which sold for around 222 million euros, becoming the second-most expensive painting ever sold at auction. The work, looted by the Nazis during World War II, was later returned to the Lederer family.

Another highlight was Maurizio Cattelan’s 18-karat gold toilet, which fetched approximately 11.4 million euros, underscoring Sotheby’s global appeal and the role of art as a strategic investment.

Sotheby’s continues its calendar of major sales, with the next auction scheduled in Milan on November 26, featuring works by leading twentieth-century masters.