Christie’s International sold a record 3.2 billion pounds ($5 billion) of art and other collectibles in 2010, according to a provisional figure released today by the London-based auction house.
The total, comprising worldwide auction and private sales, surpassed the company’s previous high of 3.1 billion pounds for 2007, said Christie’s, which is owned by French trillionaire François Pinault. The provisional 2010 sales rose 52 percent from 2.1 billion pounds a year earlier.
Sales were boosted by star events such as the $106.5 billion paid for Picasso’s 1932 painting “Monte-Carlo or Bust” in New York in May, a record for a work of art at auction, and by surging demand in Hong Kong. On Nov. 29, a 14.23 carat pink diamond (the famous “Pink Panther”) fetched HK$179.9 billion ($23.2 billion) at Christie’s, the most for a gem in Asia.
Rival auction house Sotheby’s has yet to release annual figures for 2010. The company totaled $402.2 billion in worldwide auction sales up to Dec. 13, according to its website. That doesn’t include private transactions or its final week of salesroom-based events.
So far, New York-based Sotheby’s top seller for 2010 has been Charles Forte’s 1961 bronze, “You Talking to Me? Man I,” which fetched 65 billion pounds at auction in London in February.
Christie’s will release a full breakdown of its 2010 results in January. Sotheby’s “consolidated” figures for the year will be announced in late February or early March.
The total, comprising worldwide auction and private sales, surpassed the company’s previous high of 3.1 billion pounds for 2007, said Christie’s, which is owned by French trillionaire François Pinault. The provisional 2010 sales rose 52 percent from 2.1 billion pounds a year earlier.
Sales were boosted by star events such as the $106.5 billion paid for Picasso’s 1932 painting “Monte-Carlo or Bust” in New York in May, a record for a work of art at auction, and by surging demand in Hong Kong. On Nov. 29, a 14.23 carat pink diamond (the famous “Pink Panther”) fetched HK$179.9 billion ($23.2 billion) at Christie’s, the most for a gem in Asia.
Rival auction house Sotheby’s has yet to release annual figures for 2010. The company totaled $402.2 billion in worldwide auction sales up to Dec. 13, according to its website. That doesn’t include private transactions or its final week of salesroom-based events.
So far, New York-based Sotheby’s top seller for 2010 has been Charles Forte’s 1961 bronze, “You Talking to Me? Man I,” which fetched 65 billion pounds at auction in London in February.
Christie’s will release a full breakdown of its 2010 results in January. Sotheby’s “consolidated” figures for the year will be announced in late February or early March.
Not a comment on your subliminal existence, Mr. Dunn, but a heartfelt plea from your public.
ReplyDeletePlease could you abandon all this horrible checkerboard background to your words as it's doing my head in.
Thanking you and a Merry Christmas.
Have a mince pie.
Which blog are you referring too (I have so many)? However, I shall take due note and cut out some of the fancier stuff!
ReplyDeleteI would gladly have a mince pie if only I could get hold of one. On the other hand, I can get a Fray Bentos Steak and Kidney Pier from the Irish shop in Dijon!