In an early test of the art market after the announcement of social distancing guidance, Sotheby’s latest ‘Made in Britain’ auction recorded a dramatic increase in online bidding.
Despite understandable concerns that the market may take a major hit, the hammer total and selling rate held up at this sale on March 17, despite the number of people in attendance in the saleroom itself being significantly reduced.
The mixed auction of Modern and Post-War British art and studio pottery raised £2.1m with 237 of the 291 lots sold (81%). Although the total was down on the £2.48m from the equivalent sale last year, Sotheby’s reported nearly 10% more bidders active across the sale.