In the first half of 2008, auction house Christie's sold art at 1.8 billion pounds, a 10 per cent more than last year

According to the agency Bloomberg, auction and private sales of Christie's International in the first half of 2008 grew by 10 percent compared with last year. This year's auction house natorgoval at 1.8 billion pounds (3.6 million dollars), while last year the figure stood at 1.6 billion pounds. These good results are mainly associated with the influx of buyers from Russia, Asia and the Middle East. Profit from the auction, organized in Asia and the Middle East, as compared to last year increased by 81 percent. And auctions of works of art made in Asia, 63 per cent more than in 2007. Sales in Europe and the UK increased by 6 per cent, while in the Americas decreased by percentage.

Thanks paintings by Claude Monet (Claude Monet) «Water lilies» , has brought in June, a record 40.9 million pounds (80.45 million dollars), bidding works of the Impressionists and modernists have been more successful this semester than the auctions of contemporary art. But organizers of the past have much to be proud: in May, sold at Christie's picture Lusiena Freud (Lucien Freud) «Sleep Inspector benefits» was sold for 33.6 million dollars and became the most expensive living artist picture . Works sold in private transactions, have 153 million pounds (in 2007 - 82 million). The calculation takes into account not only sales of Christie's, but the results achieved by its affiliate Haunch of Venison, which is specialized in contemporary art.

Sources: www.artinfo.com , artinvestment.ru