One-day-only catalog phone sales hit $491 million

Better than Macy's customer appreciation day.

My two favorite materials exchanged hands at Christie's two nights ago - modern art and money. It was a record auction, earning almost a half billion dollars. The winner was of course a painting by Klimt - "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II"

Four telephone bidders went crazy for the portrait as the bids increased in only $500,000 increments.

The winning bid was for $87.9 milion by an anonymous phone bidder who joined the game after the painting hit $74 million. I wonder if he/she were wearing a baggy sweatshirt and comfy fleece pants like I am right now.