On Wednesday, November 12, Christie’s Postwar and Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York netted a whopping $852.9 million -- the highest-ever total for an auction. Filled with blue-chip works by modern masters, including Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, and Gerhard Richter, the sale soared past its estimate, which hovered around $600 million. Brett Gorvy, Chairman and International Head of Postwar and Contemporary Art at Christie’s, said, “This was a sale of extraordinary quality and range, with every major artist represented by at least one masterwork. The landmark sale result achieved tonight is a reflection of both growing global enthusiasm and demand in this category and a virtuous cycle of confidence in the art market that brings a fresh supply of exciting, high-quality works into the market with each new season.”