ABOVE: Brancusi’s Bird In Space (1922-23), knocked sideways by its wild selling price at Christie’s New York on Wednesday night. Or perhaps that’s the only way we could fit it on the page.

So that rock-paper-scissors battle that Christie’s Auctioneers won earlier in the week—it’s a long story—turned out to be worth the effort, minimal as it was. Christie’s broke a record with its sale of Brancusi’s Bird In Space, which fetched $24.5 million, the highest price ever paid at auction for a sculpture. The New York Times has tossed out some possible names for the anonymous deep-pocketed bidder, but it seems pointless.

The piece which had been the subject of the most excitement leading up to the auction, Cézanne’s Les grands arbres au Jas de Bouffan, sold for a comparatively anemic $10.5 million, less than its lowest estimate of $12 million. Bird In Space, meanwhile had been estimated to sell for $12 million at most, but more than doubled it.

The Times burbled about how the sale has singlehandedly revitalized the market for high-end art, quoting dealers—who of course never, ever exaggerate—saying that it has “restored confidence overnight.” Also, apparently sculpture is “in” again. Newsflash, everyone.

LINK: New York Times > Art Market Bounces Back in 2nd Night of Spring Sales