Phillips to Sell Rare Modigliani Sculpture in New York

Phillips plans to sell a rare sculpture by Amedeo Modigliani in New York.

The plan was reported on 13 October 2026. Phillips, the auction house, will hold the sale in New York, according to that report ARTnews.

That is the core news. No title, date or estimate for the upcoming lot has been confirmed in the published material so far.

Modigliani is better known to most readers for paintings. His market numbers explain why any sale draws attention.

A reclining nude by the artist fetched US$170.4 million in New York, a price reported as a record at the time CBS News. Three years later, another Modigliani sold at Sotheby's for US$157 million and was described as the fourth most expensive work ever sold at auction at that point Artnet.

What makes this stand out is the medium. Sculptures by Modigliani come to auction far less often than his paintings, which is why the word rare carries weight here.

There is recent auction history for his three-dimensional work. Christie's in New York offered a limestone sculpture titled Tête, carved circa 1911–1912, in its Evening Sale of Impressionist and Modern Art — the organised prime-time slot houses use for top lots Christie's.

Phillips has also handled Modigliani sculpture before. Its listing for Tête de jeune fille (Louise) gives an estimate, the expected price range set before a sale, of US$4 million to US$6 million, with a sold price of US$5,868,000 Phillips.

For anyone following along, the next detail to watch is the catalogue entry. That will confirm which work Phillips is offering, its size and material, and its provenance, the documented chain of ownership.