LONDON, ENGLAND.- The sale attracted a large number of bidders and, in a room filled to capacity, fierce competition saw numerous works soar above their pre-sale estimates, with new auction records established for works by Georgios Riolos, Theodoros Rallis and many others.

Constantine Frangos and Tessa Kostrzewa, specialists in charge of the sale, said: "We are delighted with the results of today's sale, which saw 67% of the lots offered sell above their high estimate. There was strong international interest in works of all periods, with strong bidding on 19th century works as well as on those created as late as 2000."

Chief among the highlights of today's sale, two striking works by Constantinos Parthenis attracted fierce competition. Both exhibited in the prestigious Venice Beinnale of 1938, the two works ranked among the most important examples of Parthenis' work ever to have appeared at auction. Their significance was not lost on the innumerable bidders who fought to secure them for their collections. After an extended battle, the cover lot, Parthenis' striking Face Lost in the Shadow of a Branch (lot 8) sold for £201,600 (€287,724), more than tripling its pre-sale low estimate. Similarly successful, Parthenis' Still Life (lot 21) made £162,400 (€231,778) against an estimate of £80,000-£120,000.

The top price achieved today was the £218,400 (€311,701 ) paid by an anonymous bidder for Admiring the Ships (lot 12) by Contantinos Volanakis. Depicting numerous ships approaching and entering a harbour just before nightfall, this magnificent work is a clear demonstration of Volonakis' mastery in the representation of marine subjects. The price realised was well in excess of the pre-sale estimate of £100,00-£150,000. Other works by Volanakis also performed well: Collecting the Nets (lot 30) made £207,200 (€295,716) against an estimate of £100,000-£150,000, while Steamship at Sea made £162,400 (est: £80,000-£120,000), The Morning Catch (lot 34) made £145,600 (€207,801) and Boats at Sunset (lot 17) made £72,000.

New auction records were established for works by Polychronis Lembessis (whose A Young Girl Seated made £43,200/€61,655), Georgios Riolos (whose Corn Sellers Below the Acropolis made £97,440/€139,067), Theodoros Rallis (whose Praying Before the Communion, Megara made £134,400/€191,816), Nikos Kessanlis (whose Pittura made £15,600/€22,264), and Albert Rieger (whose View of the Olmpieum and the Acropolis made £84,000/€119,885).

Among other works that handsomely exceded their pre-sale estimates, Nikolas Lytras' Portrait of a Little Girl (lot 7) doubled its pre-sale estimate, realising £58,800 (€83,920). Nicos Hadjikiriakos Ghika's cubist masterpiece Hydra: Synthesis in White also exceeded expectations, making £104,160 against an estimate of £50,000-£70,000.

Other notable prices achieved today included the £13,200 (€18,839) paid for Apostolis Geralis' Working the Field (est: £5,000-£7,000); the £66,000 (€94,195) paid for Nikos Engonopoulos' surrealist work Solomos (est: £30,000-£50,000); and the £21,600 (€30,828) paid for Spryos Vassilious' A Sunny Street.