NEW YORK.-This afternoon at Sotheby’s, Session II of the sale of Property from the Collections of Lily and Edmond J. Safra, Magnificent European Furniture, brought a spectacular total of $25,782,400 (est. $17/25 million). Bidding was furious at times, resulting in more than half of the lots offered exceeding their high estimates. Highlighting the session was the Louis XVI Ebony Bureau Plat and Cartonnier, attributed to Joseph Baumhauer, which sold to a bidder over the telephone for $4,720,000. One of the most exciting moments of the afternoon came when a pair of Important Pair of Regency Terrestrial & Celestial Globes came on the block. A determined telephone bidder jumped the bidding in $100,000 increments, driving the final sale price to $632,000, more than three times the high estimate of $180,000. The sale was 97% sold by value and 94% sold by lot.

Among the other spectacular highlights of the afternoon was a stunning Safavid Animal and Tree Carpet from the 16th Century which was the subject of a lengthy battle between three telephone bidders, finally selling for an extraordinary $2,032,000, nearly three times the high estimate of $700,000. An exceptionally important Pair of Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Chinese Crackle-Glaze Celadon Porcelain Ewers was also among the top ten lots today - doubling their high estimate of $600,000 to sell for $1,248,000. The rare and sumptuous examples of Anglo Indian Furniture included in the auction also commanded strong prices – a Highly Important and Rare 18th Century Anglo-Indian Teak and Ebony Bureau Cabinet brought $1,472,000, above a high estimate of $800,000, and a Highly Important and Rare Anglo-Indian Engraved Ivory-Inlaid Padouk Writing and Dressing Table and Dressing Glass sold for $828,000 (est. $500/700,000).

The sale of Property from the Collections of Lily and Edmond J. Safra continues tomorrow at 10 am and 2 pm with European Furniture and Fine & Decorative Works of Art.