Brancusi’s “Danaïde” sells for record $107.6 million as Christie’s tops $1 billion

Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957), Danaïde, conceived and cast circa 1913. Bronze with gold leaf and black patina. Height (excluding base): 10⅞ in (27.1 cm). Sold for $107,585,000 MASTERPIECES: The Private Collection of S.I. Newhouse on 18 May 2026 at Christie’s in New York

NEW YORK, May 19 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Christie’s surpassed $1 billion in sales during the opening night of its 20th and 21st Century Art sales week in New York, driven by strong bidding for works by Jackson Pollock, Constantin Brancusi and Mark Rothko.

The auctions generated a combined total of more than $1.12 billion, selling 97% by lot and 99% by value.

The evening set eight new auction records, including records for Brancusi, Joan Miró, Alice Neel, Pollock and Rothko.

Brancusi’s Danaïde sold for $107.6 million, setting a new auction record for the artist, while Pollock’s Number 7A, 1948 achieved $181.2 million after nearly seven minutes of bidding.

Rothko’s No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe) sold for $98.4 million, establishing a new record for the artist at auction.

The sales also featured works from the private collection of publishing magnate S.I. Newhouse, with the collection reaching a cumulative total of $1.05 billion across multiple Christie’s sales.

Christie’s said nearly 20,000 visitors attended the exhibition preview at Rockefeller Center ahead of the auctions.