FEATURES ARCHIVE

In 2009, Christie’s achieved 56.4% global auction sales market share against its main competitor and sold 61% of the works sold over £10 million and 60% of the lots sold over £5 million. Christie’s sold 4 of the top 5 and 7 of the top 10 works of art sold during the year. For the year, Christie’s sold a total of 381 works of art at auction for more than £1 million. The market clearly demonstrated sustained demand for genuinely rare masterpieces, works fresh to the market and works of great provenance.

A Closer Look at…Impressionist & Modern Art

• Auction Sales for 2009 totalled £500.9 million/$786.4 million

• The New York Impressionist/Modern Art 2009 Evening Sale totalled $65.7 million. Highlights included Edgar Degas’ Danseuses, a richly-textured pastel drawing from 1896, which sold for $10.7 million (£6.5 million).

• The London February 2010 sales realized £76,834,650 / $122,167,093.

A Closer Look at…Post-War & Contemporary Art

• Auction Sales for 2009 totalled £244.3 million/$386.6 million

• The New York Post War & Contemporary Art 2009 Evening sale totalled $74.2 million (£44.7 million). The top lot was Peter Doig’s Reflection (What does your soul look like), which realised $10.1 million (£6.1 million).

• The London October 2009 sales exceeded estimates and totalled £14.7 million ($24.0 million). The top price was paid for Martin Kippenberger’s Paris Bar, 1991, which sold for £2.3 million ($3.7 million).

• The London February 2010 sales realized £50,858,625. The top price was paid for Relief éponge or (RE47II) by Yves Klein (1928-1962) which sold for £5,865,250 / $9,149,790.