Alberto Giacometti's Pointing Man is expected to make around $130m in Christie's May 11 Looking Forward to the Past sale in New York.

This is 24.6% higher than the current auction record for a sculpture, which was set at $104.3m for Giacometti's L'Homme qui marche I in 2010.

Giacometti's Pointing Man was made in an edition of six (and one artist's proof) in 1947

Jussi Pylkkanen, Christie's global president, commented: "Pointing Man is unquestionably Giacometti's greatest sculpture. Executed after the War in one incredible night of creative fervour, this noble figure points mankind towards a brighter future beyond our limited horizons…

"This example stands apart from all others because it is unique -- it was hand-painted by the artist himself.

"It is quite simply one of the finest works of art I have had the honour to handle in my long career at Christie's. The auction event on May 11 promises to be an extraordinary night for the global art market."

Loic Gouzer, international specialist and curator of the auction, echoed Pylkkanen's sentiments: "Since I've been in the auction business, I've always heard that Giacometti's Pointing Man was the ultimate masterpiece of sculpture from a collector's point of view.

"Being able to offer it in the same night alongside with Picasso's 'Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O)' is more than just a dream come true - because I would have never dared to dream it."

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