London, England: a woman poses with Jasper Johns's Flag, and Femme et Filettes (woman and Children) by Pablo Picasso, both part of late-author Michael Crichton's collection on display at Christie's.

"They had no idea what they had," said Helen Porter, a spokeswoman for Bainbridge's. "they were hopeful, but they didn't dare believe until the hammer went down."

The first, an elderly English collector in Monaco, was persuaded to use Mr Axford’s firm by an agent who had seen the success Woolley & Wallis had with Lady Diana’s buffalo.