Abramovich at Sotheby's, forth from right

Press previews are usually fairly staid and staged events. Yesterday morning, however, at Sotheby’s London branch on New Bond Street, Russian collector Roman Abramovich made a surprise appearance.

Looking rugged and unshaven, he circulated the contemporary and impressionist preview, studying the Warhols and Basquiats, trailed by a coterie of advisers and acolytes.

Grayson Perry at Sotheby's with a cup of joe

The cross-dressing artist Grayson Perry, of the wonderful and weird ceramic vessels,  also attended the preview. He had donated a vase to a benefit auction.

The event provided a sneak peek of highlights –a term loosely applied in these slim pickings days– of material slated for sale in November in New York as well as the London wares to be sold later this week.

Warhol's "200 One Dollar Bills," est. $8-$12 million

De Kooning bronze "Large Torso" (1974) est. $4-$6 mil, painting "Untitled XV (1977) est. $5-$7 million from Meyer estate

Warhol's "Untitled (Self-Portrait) 1965, inscribed to Factory receptionist and seller, "To Cathy (2 years late), est. $1-$1.5 million

Picasso's "Buste d'Homme," $8-$12 million