PARIS.- The Top lot of the sale was Dovima with elephants, Evening dress by Dior, Cirque d’Hiver, Paris, 1955 which sold for €262,000.

Assembled by Leon Constantiner, this spectacular collection focused on photography as a key shaping force within the media worlds that have, for over half a century, acclaimed fashion, style, celebrity and desire, and featured works by some of the most sought-after artists, including Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Herb Ritts, Peter Lindbergh and Norman Parkinson.

International bidders from 14 countries paid a well-deserved tribute to this personal collection, recognizing the strong eye of Leon Constantiner. The artists who mattered the most for him realised strong prices for iconic images such as Dovima with elephants, by the emblematic Richard Avedon (1923-2004) which achieved €262,000, or the striking image of Laura Hutton, Great Exuma, the Bahamas, October 1968, which was acquired for €93,750 against a pre-sale estimate of €50,000-70,000.

Peter Lindbergh (born in 1944) which celebrated image of the ‘Supermodels’ Biker Girls, Brooklyn sold for €187,500, doubling its presale estimate. The stunning large-format and graphic works by Herb Ritts (1952-2002), Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood, 1989 (ill. above) seduced collectors and was sold for €200,000, against a pre-sale estimate of €80,000-120,000 ; Versace Dress, Back View, El Mirage, 1990 was acquired for €137,500 and Versace, Veiled dress, El Mirage, 1990 was sold 87,500 euros, more than 3 times its estimate.

A great result was also achieved for a composite image by Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Statue of Liberty (1976-1986), which attracted competitive bidders and was sold for 212,500 euros against a pre-sale estimate of €40,000-60,000.

The entire selection of photographs by Helmut Newton (1920-2004) totaled €414,625 and was led by one of his most radical and famous works: the diptych Sie Kommen, Dressed & Sie Kommen Nude, Paris 1981 which was sold for €175,000.

Elodie Morel, Director of the Photographs department, commented: “The strong results achieved today for Leon Constantiner’s collection demonstrate the potential of works bought with true passion and considerable connoisseurship to perform magnificently. The results also confirm the aknowledge the stature of Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Peter Lindbergh, Herb Ritts and other masters of fashion photography”. Philippe Garner, the auctioneer for today’s sale, said: “I’m delighted that this second and final sale of works from the Constantiner Collection was received, once again with great enthusiasm. The success of the sale underscores the importance within our culture and within the history of photography of the achievements of the great masters of fashion and related editorial photography”.