London – Natura Morta by the Italian artist Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964) was the top selling lot at Bonhams' Impressionist & Modern Art sale today (Tuesday 23 November) at New Bond Street, London, achieving an impressive £2,902,750, more than double its pre-sale estimate of £800,000 - 1,200,000. The work was sold to an online bidder.

The 63-lot sale made a total of £6,024,768 with 72% sold by value and 71% sold by lot.

India Phillips, Bonhams Global Head of Impressionist and Modern Art, commented: "Natura morta, painted in 1954, is a sublime example of Morandi's finest work from his crowning decade. A work of contemplative minimalism, Natura morta combined Metaphysical art's quest to capture the unsettling and enigmatic, and the elevation of the everyday found in Arte Povera. It also came with exceptional provenance – having been acquired directly from Morandi by the Italian writer and poet Danilo Lebrecht (better known by his pseudonym Lorenzo Montano). No wonder it captured the attention of collectors and achieved such a fantastic result."

Other highlights of the sale included:

• Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita (1886-1968), Nu Allongé. Sold for £982,750.

• Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), Paysage Aux Collettes. Sold for £212,750.

• Francis Picabia (1879-1953), Tête De Femme. Sold for £212,750.

• Vittorio Zecchin (1878-1947), Matrone. Sold for £162,750.

• Raoul Dufy (1877-1953), L'entrée Du Jardin. Sold for £150,250.

23 November 2021