Sotheby’s Auction Led by $101 Million Sale of Giacometti’s ‘Chariot’

Wall Street Journal ^ | November 4, 2014 | Kelly Crow

[C19fan]

Sotheby’s got New York’s fall auctions off to a rollicking start with a sale of Impressionist and modern art on Tuesday that totaled $422.1 million, the highest in the 270-year-old company’s history.

Leading the charge was Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti’s 1951-52 bronze “Chariot”—depicting a finger-thin woman riding atop a chariot—that sold to a telephone bidder for $101 million.

[C19fan]

The Giacometti 'Chariot' just fell short of the highest amount for a sculpture held by another Giacometti.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

What did the ‘64 GTO go for?

[Slyfox]

[Albion Wilde]

Giacometti’s ‘Chariot’, with two of Sotheby's employees flanking it. WTF?

Another view:

[DarkSavant]

That’s actually pretty neat. Just not 101 million neat.

[sheana]

Looks like something Hubby would’ve/could’ve hammered out here at home.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I’ll take the GTO, y’all keep the “artwork” : )

[atomic_dog]

I'll stick with Charlton Heston thanks.

[stephenjohnbanker]

OK : )

[HMS Surprise]

The Emperor wears not a stitch.

[Hugin]

That's not a chariot statue. This is chariot statue.

[Cicero]

It’s good to have a hundred million to spare for junk art. It should provide something to talk about for a cocktail party or two.

[iowamark]

[trisham]

I like it. I don’t think I’d pay quite that much for it, though.

[minnesota_bound]

Is this some sort of tax dodge?
This is $101 million too much.