PHILADELPHIA, PA.- It was an exciting week at Freeman’s, with two back-to-back sales that saw a combined 91 percent sell-through rate and totaled $4.14 million.

On Tuesday, May 8, the Modern & Contemporary Art auction offered collectors 115 paintings, works on paper, prints and sculpture from artists such as Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Emil Nolde. The sale totaled $2.1 million, including Buyer’s Premium, and had a 90 percent sell-through overall; fine art within the sale achieved a 96 percent sell-through rate. Of the day’s buyers, 12 percent were new.

The marquee lot of the sale was a three-panel painting by Chinese/French artist Zao Wou-Ki, “15.04.80 – Triptych” (Lot 44), which sold for $862,000, exceeding its presale estimate of $600,000-800,000 after a prolonged and intense bidding war between two phone bidders. A small-scale work painted in the delicate colors of spring, the piece bears a dedication to the original, and only owners to date, Ambassador Arthur Hartman & Mrs. Donna Hartman. Lot 15, “Portrait de Jacqueline au Chapeau de Paille” (Tête de Femme) by Pablo Picasso sold for $112,500, against an estimate of $50,000-80,000. The linocut features a colorful depiction of Picasso’s second wife Jacqueline, the muse and prime inspiration for his prolific output in his later years.

Two color screenprints by Pop artist Andy Warhol soared past their estimates: Lot 58 “The Star,” depicting the actress Greta Garbo as the Mata Hari sold for $75,000 against an estimate of $40,000-60,000, while Lot 60, “San Francisco Silverspot” from the “Endangered Species” series, sold for $100,000, doubling its presale high estimate of $30,000-50,000. Lot 9, an oil on canvas by Polish artist Maria-Mela Muter entitled “Waldspaziergang (A Walk In The Woods),” sold for $68,750 against an estimate of $30,000-50,000. This painting was executed circa 1920 in Paris, where the artist lived for most of her life. A painting by French artist Paul Aizpiri, “Fleurs, Fond Orange Pot Italien” (Lot 28), almost tripled its low estimate of $12,000, eventually selling for $31,250. A portrait by Alex Katz (Lot 68), “Blue Blouse,” sold for $50,000, against an estimate of $20,000-30,000.

Another remarkable result was a photograph by Terry O’Neill entitled, “Paul McCartney at Ringo Starr’s Wedding, London,” (Lot 102), which soared past its estimate of $1,500-2,500, selling for $11,250. The photograph, along with almost three dozen others by esteemed British photographers, came from the collection of Jeffrey M. Kaplan.

The following day brought Fine Jewelry to the auction block, including a generous offering of jewels and accessories from the Collection of Dorrance “Dodo” H. Hamilton. The 147 lot sale enjoyed a 91 percent sell-through rate, and totaled $2.04 million.

Diamonds dominated the day’s events. Highlights from the first 123 lots included Lot 120, a diamond and 18 karat gold pendant necklace, centered by a 4.16 carat modern round brilliant-cut diamond, which sold for $87,500, as well as Lot 123, a diamond and platinum solitaire set with a pear-shaped diamond. The 5.30 carat diamond was flanked by tapered baguettes and sold for $81,250.

Diamond successes continued with a fancy intense yellow 5.12 carat diamond ring including two cut cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut diamonds, achieving $62,500. Of note, Lot 70, a 6.23 carat European-cut diamond solitaire ring, sold for $32,500.

A platinum, diamond, moonstone and enamel pendant watch by Patek Philippe, circa 1910, (Lot 119) sold for $27,500, against an estimate of $12,000-15,000. The watch caseback featured a reverse carved moonstone depicting a cherub, and was decorated with inlaid enamel and set with rose-cut diamonds.

Gemstones also performed well, with a burma sapphire and diamond ring, centered by a 5.12 carat cabochon sapphire (Lot 112), far surpassed its presale estimate of $6,000-8,000, eventually selling for $23,750. Lot 41, a diamond, ruby and fourteen karat gold ring realized $18,750, against an estimate of $12,000-15,000. Lot 62A, an emerald, diamond and 18 karat gold bib-style necklace sold for $15,000, while a Colombian heart-shaped emerald, weighing 5.30 carats (Lot 62), sold for $5,625.

Jewelry from the Hamilton Collection enjoyed a 100 percent sell-through rate, making it a ‘white-glove’ sale. The undoubted highlight of the sale was the impressive 16.56 carat diamond solitaire ring (Lot 1016), which sold for $802,000, after a round of bidding which saw over a dozen phone bidders vying for the lot. The ring had toured London, Paris, Hong Kong, New York and Beverly Hills before making its way to the auction block on Wednesday.

An Art Deco diamond covered bracelet-watch by Cartier, France, more than doubled its high estimate, selling for $112,500 against an estimate of $30,000-50,000. Lot 1012, an 18 karat while gold and diamond necklace set with pavé-set round brilliant-cut diamonds doubled its low estimate, selling for $50,000. The first of the 17 lots from The Collection of Dorrance “Dodo” H. Hamilton, Lot 1000, sold for almost nine times its estimate. The a gold and silver threaded beaded bag was set with cabochon emeralds and sold for $6,250 against a $500-700 estimate.

The Hamilton Collection as a whole—including fine art, decorative art and furniture, and jewelry—totaled over $6 million, and set numerous auction records for American artists Horace Carpenter (Lot 30), Carl Johan David Nordell (Lot 29), Walter King Stone (Lot 27), Adolphe Borie (Lot 31), Paulette van Roekens (Lot 35) and Edgar Hewitt Nye (Lot 28). Both sales drew international interest from collectors who competed in the room, on the phone and online for works, with many of the lots doubling and tripling their estimates.