Nicholas Orchard, Head of Modern British and Irish Art, Christie’s: “Barbara Hepworth’s rare sculpture Pierced Form (Toledo) led the sale (£3,522,000) and was presented alongside peers from the influential St Ives Group. We offered collectors the largest group of works by the Vorticists, which saw a new record for Wyndham Lewis, and with records in the medium for works on paper by David Bomberg, William Roberts, and Lawrence Atkinson. From the same collection, John Duncan Fergusson’s Submarines and Camouflaged Battleship set a new world auction record price for the artist of £1,074,000. L.S. Lowry’s enduring appeal continued with a range of subject matter representing the communities the artist documented throughout his oeuvre. In addition, competition was seen for fresh to market, exquisite works on paper by David Hockney and Pauline Boty.”

• The St Ives group resonated with collectors with Barbara Hepworth’s Pierced Form (Toledo) drawing strong bidding in the room and on the phone, to sell for £3,522,000, leading the sale. Paintings by artists from the movement were also represented:
  • Ben Nicholson’s 1945 (painting) selling for £453,600 (estimate: £150,000-250,000)
  • Peter Lanyon’s Sand Bar achieved £441,000
  • Patrick Heron’s Round Table Against the Sea (£315,000)

• Henry Moore’s Mother and Child with Apple was a further highlight, realising £3,402,000

• The selection of works offered in the Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale marked the largest group of Vorticist art presented to the market, delivering record results:
  • Wyndham Lewis, Protraction (£107,100), a world auction record for the artist
  • David Bomberg, The Dancer (£214,200), a record in the medium for a work on paper by the artist
  • William Roberts, St George and the Dragon (£239,400), a record in the medium for a work on paper by the artist (estimate: £40,000-60,000)
  • Lawrence Atkinson, Abstract Composition (£50,400), a record in the medium for a work on paper by the artist

From the same collection as the Vorticist works, John Duncan Fergusson, Submarines and Camouflaged Battleship (£1,074,000) (estimate: £400,000-600,000), also realised a world auction record for the artist 

• A group of paintings by S. Lowry highlighted the enduring appeal of the artist’s evocations of modern life:
  • Glasgow Docks (£1,362,000)
  • The Railway Platform (£1,242,000)
  • Mrs Swindells’ Picture sold online for £403,200
  • A Lancashire Farm (£214,200)

• Works on Paper by David Hockney and Pauline Boty, all of which were presented at auction for the first time, drew competition on the phone and in the room:
  • Pauline Boty, BUM, more than doubled the pre-sale estimate, ultimately selling for £239,400, a record in the medium for a work on paper by the artist
  • David Hockney, A Glass Table with Still Life (£176,400)
  • David Hockney, Celia (£201,600)
  • David Hockney, Los Angeles (£189,000)

• The Modern British and Irish Art Sales continue on 22 March with the Modern British and Irish Art Day Sale