Christie's, summarized «Week of Russian bid»
ARTinvestment.RU   28 ноября 2008

Auction house Christie's has published the overall results «Russians bid» 24-27 November

Auction house Christie's summed up the week of Russian art. Total sales amounted to 13 753 689 pounds (20 928 755 USD). The figures for the entire year 2008 (37 542 149 lb /67 601 066 USD) are the third largest in this category and only a small amount behind in 2006 (38 000 000 lb /70 000 000 USD). The most expensive lot sold in the week of Russian art, has become «Still life with watermelons» Natalia Goncharova, gone under the hammer for 1 553 250 pounds (2 382 686 dollars).

Alexei Tizengauzen, head of the Department of Russian Art Christie's, commented on the results of past auctions: «On the week, Christie's Russian art of the active involvement of private collectors from all over the world who have shown considerable interest in relation to the rare and outstanding works . The impressive prices were achieved in the sale of products by Faberge, paintings late XIX - early XX century, and Russian books with rich provenansom. The degree of significance of Russian art in the world market does not cease to grow. And despite the fact that prices for some work at the time declined slightly, we expect the flow of new buyers from all over the world ».

Russian decorative art. November 24, 2008

According to the results of the first auction held in the week of Russian art have been achieved strong results in the works of Faberge, and the total sales volume amounted to 3 028 025 lbs /4 523 869 dollars. Also, demand for certain awards and weapons, and one of the most expensive auction's top lot was the star and the symbol of the Order of St. Anne in a frame of diamonds, sold for 265 250 pounds /312 U.S. 465.

Icons and rarity of the Orthodox world. November 24, 2008

Total sales in this category amounted to 1 282 713 lb /1 916 373 dollars. As a result of these trades can be said that the buyers committed balanced and prudent acquisitions, but in general it may be noted the growing interest in this category - auction room was filled to capacity by collectors from the CIS, Europe and the United States. Confident results have been achieved with regard to lots of Byzantine and Russian icons.

Total in 2008 as a result of trades in this category were sold 214 lots, with an annual sales volume amounted to 4 879 001 lbs /8 990 271 USD. Top-fathomable year became a monumental icon of the Novgorod «Apocalypse» XVII century, sold for 361 250 pounds /710 U.S. 579.

Russian painting. November 26, 2008

«Still life with watermelons» painted by Natalia Goncharova, gone under the hammer for £ 1 553 250 /2 382 686 dollars, has become the most expensive lot sold in the week of Russian art. As a result of trades have been sold 59 percent of all lots, with an annual sales volume amounted to 7 929 363 lb /12 163 642 dollars. Portfolio of high quality, as well as works that have only recently appeared on the market, aroused great interest from collectors all over the world and have achieved good results.

summarize performance data with the results of the April bid auction in New York and the June auction in London in this category were sold 566 lots, with an annual sales volume amounted to 28 121 535 lb /51 762 055 dollars. Top-fathomable year became the canvas by Ivan Shishkin «Lesnaya Polyana», spent under the hammer for U.S. $ 3 177 000 /1 612 690 pounds.

Valuable Russian Books and Manuscripts. November 27, 2008

Christie's is the only auction house in the art market, which from 2006 separate bids on the Russian books and manuscripts.

Total sales in this category amounted to 703 463 lb /1 080 519 dollars. Some lots went under the hammer for amounts significantly higher than their initial estimeyty. These figures confirm the leadership position of the auction house in this segment (the share of Christie's is the second year is 75 per cent of the market).

Russian decorative art, paintings and icons. November 27, 2008

These trades have been completed within a week of Russian art. Total sales amounted to 801 125 lb /1 244 352 dollars, and top-lot auction was a canvas by Oscar Rabin «Evening tea», spent under the hammer for £ 56 450 /86 707 dollars.

In 2007, total revenues from sales of houses Christie's is 3.1 billion pounds /6.3 billion dollars. In the first half of 2008, sales amounted to £ 1.8 billion /3.5 billion dollars.

Auction house Christie's was founded in 1766 by James Christie. Auction House conducts over 600 auctions in 80 categories, including all areas of fine and applied art, jewelry, photography, wine, and so on. Prices range from $ 200 up to 80 million dollars. In the auction house 85 offices in 43 countries and 14 trading platforms worldwide, including London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Hong Kong and Zurich. More recently, Christie's actively expanding its activities in countries such as Russia, China, India and UAE, as well as conducting successful auctions and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.

Source: Press Releases Christie's