'Difficult' sale pays off

Christie's brave decision to offer 'difficult' works to buyers in its contemporary art sale during a recession paid off yesterday, writes Dalya Alberge.

A torn pullover, stuck down on a piece of stained board by Antoni Tapies, one of Spain's leading artists, sold for pounds 27,500.

A baked potato, modelled in urethane, by Claes Oldenburg, the pop artist, fetched pounds 6,160. According to Oldenburg there are 'no other potato works of this type in existence'.

A 1971 dismantled vacuum, in a polyester and plexiglass case (right) by Arman, the French sculptor, made pounds 11,500. Only 22 of 134 lots failed to sell, with the main buyers from Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

(Photograph omitted)