In New York's Opening Fall Sales, Bidders Saved Their Paddles for the Pieces That Mattered

The fall auction season's first major sales are in the books, and New York's salesrooms told a story of discipline rather than abandon. Bidders held back until a lot they truly wanted came up, then went after it with real intent. Selectivity, not spending for its own sake, set the tone, and the strongest contests gathered around a narrow band of works. By ARTnews' account, the liveliest bidding of the opening round took place well east of Manhattan, which leaves New York's own buyers looking deliberate and sure of what they came for.

With reporting from ARTnews.