Christie's London auction sets new world record price at $2,153,633

KOLKATA: Christie’s London auction on March 19 of the James Ensor Prints: The Mira Jacob Collection totalled £1,302,863/$2,153,633 /€1,550,406. The top lot, The Deadly Sins dominated by Death, from: The Seven Deadly Sins realised a price of £134,500/$223,136/€160,055 – setting a new world record price at auction for a print by the artist.

Murray Macaulay, head of print sales London, commented in an email statement, "We are extremely pleased with the success of James Ensor Prints: The Mira Jacob Collection sale held on Wednesday, 19 March 2014. An almost complete survey of the artist’s graphic work with many rarities including beautifully hand-coloured proofs, the sale established a new world record price at auction for a print by the artist with ‘The Deadly Sins dominated by Death’ which realised £134,500.

Drawing Ensor enthusiasts from around the world who competed fiercely to acquire works from this important collection, the sale nearly doubled its pre-sale estimate. Its success is a testament to both the genius of James Ensor as an artist and printmaker, as well as to Mira Jacob as a collector. We look forward to our South Kensington Prints and Multiples sale on 16 April 2014."