By Scott Reyburn

Feb. 23, 2009 ( found at Bloomberg) — A wooden sculpture by Constantin Brancusi sold tonight in Paris for 29.2 million euros ($37.2 million) with fees, a record for the artist’s works at auction, as Christie’s International started its three-day sale of the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge.

Inspired by African tribal sculpture, the 3-foot, 11-inch high modernist work, entitled “Madame L.R. (Portrait de Mme L.R.),” dated 1914-17, is a three-dimensional portrait of the Parisian art enthusiast Leonie Ricou.