Growing demand for art, as well as auction sales Christie's: in the first half of 2012 revenues increased by 13 percent, of the ten top lots went from seven to record their results the authors

Results I half of 2012

growing demand for art, as well as auction sales Christie's, which in the first half of 2012 amounted to 2.2 billion pounds /$ 3.5 billion, an increase of 13 percent in pounds sterling (11 per cent in U.S. dollars) over the same period last year (including the buyer's premium). , including revenues from private sales amounted to 413.4 million pounds /661.5 million, an increase of 53 percent in pounds (50 percent in dollars) as compared to the same period in 2011 - the highest figure the history of the art market.

Christie's CEO Stephen P. Murphy: « As can be seen on the results, sales at Christie's auction grow, fueled by three main factors: the growth of demand for the arts on an international scale, the quality of exhibited works and the curatorial approach to their selection, as well as a consistently high level of service and breadth of choice, provided our customers ».

most successful result among all the categories was demonstrated department of postwar and contemporary art, who collected a total of 576.1 million pounds /921.8 million, up 34 percent in pounds (31 percent in dollars) compared to the same period in 2011. Total revenue for the past 8 May in New York evening auction "Post-War and Contemporary Art" made 388.5 million dollars (240.9 million pounds), which is the best indicator for this type of auction in the history of auctions. Last June 27 the same auction in London brought 132.8 million pounds (207.3 million dollars), which in turn is the best indicator for this type of trading conducted in Europe.

The most expensive lot was half of the canvas Mark Rothko under the name "Orange, Red, Yellow", gone under the hammer for a record for contemporary art 86,882,500 USD /53,867,150 pounds in the New York auction, held on May 8.

the first six months of 2012 at auction at Christie's sold a total of 340 works, the price of which exceeded $ 1 million dollars (in the first half of last year amounted to 376), and 26 lots at a price of over $ 10 million (18 works in the first six months of 2011). The average sold, as the last two years was 79 percent. No less confident and the results showed a lower-price segment of the market: sales department at Christie's South Kensington, which has traditionally offered for sale with an estimate of between 1 and 000 pounds, has reached record levels.

Christie's auction continue to attract new collectors. The total number of bets made by registered bidders, 19 percent were made by new customers. International coverage of Christie's client base also continues to expand. During the reporting period for participation in international auctions registered customers from 124 countries. Despite the decline in total revenue of the regional offices of Christie's Hong Kong and Asian countries, compared with record results in 2011, the total number of customers in the region, actively participating in the London and New York trading rose by 31 percent.

Christie's continues to invest in new technologies, making the art market more accessible. In the first six months of 2012 the number of unique visitors to the site www.christies.com increased by 20 percent over the same period in 2011. 15 per cent increase in the number of customers participating in the auction system by Christie's LIVE ™. Christie's has announced the first of its kind on-line auctions in the category of "rare and fine wines," which will be held only on the Internet since August of this year.

Christie's CEO Stephen P. Murphy : « first six months of this year showed us that the market continues to respond with confidence to the emergence of the outstanding works of art, valued at its true worth. We look forward to continuing the year and plan to promote the art market, following the traditional principles of the auction business. In addition to direct trade, we also plan to develop a line of private sales, as this area enjoys growing interest from customers, showing good results. Given the significant impact of the Internet, beginning in August we plan to launch the first of its kind online wine auctions. Thus, the second half of the year promises to be no less interesting than the first ».

II semester began ...

The second half began with the July 3 record the results of an evening auction "Art Old Master and British paintings," which resulted in revenues of 85.1 million pounds /133.5 million dollars. undisputed top-lot auction was the picture of "gateway" by John Constable, sold for 22.4 million lb /35.2 million dollars , and thus, won first place in the list of most expensive works of the artist. July 5 in London were "outstanding trades," which exhibited the best examples of subjects of European furniture and decorative arts, in the amount they offered 18.1 million pounds /28.2 million dollars.

plans for the coming months

Along with the London Olympics July 27 in the department at Christie's South Kensington will begin pre-auction exhibition, anticipating scheduled for September 3," London bid » in which will be put up for sale more than 150 works of art relevant to the British capital. The number of lots included paintings, antique maps, objects of historical significance, as well as London's true dabldeker (double decker bus) model "Rutmaster».

Since August 6 will take place in the first a kind of online auction at Christie's in the category of "rare and fine wines" called "The outstanding cellar," which will be held only on the Internet. In the future the whole serieya online auctions. Wagering in the auction "Outstanding cellar" will be from 6 August to 20 August 2012. The participants of this auction does not require any additional action, but a few mouse clicks.

in September 2012 coinciding with the opening of the Paris Biennale Christie's will hold two landmark events. From September 11 to October 3, 2012 will be an exhibition of sculptures and works of decorative art from the private collection of Hubert de Givenchy. September 27th, 2012 at the Paris auction will be a collection of Mrs. Ellen Roche. Pre-auction exhibition will be held from 11 to 26 September.

This year's Asian Art Week will be held in Christie's New York from September 11 to 14. On sale will be on display examples of art in China, Japan, Korea, India and other countries. As in previous years, the attention of collectors will offer works from private collections. Go to the top auction lots include a selection of porcelain that are created in the era of the Ming and Qing dynasties, from the private collection of New Jersey to (estimate 50-60 thousand dollars) for a bowl of green jade brush the reign of Emperor Qianlong era (1736-1795) estimated at 500-800 thousand dollars, written in 1962, Park Soo Gun painting (1914-1965), entitled "Tree and three figures" (estimate 600-800 thousand dollars), the work "Untitled" by Subodh Gupta (b. 1964) , estimated at 200-300 thousand dollars, a pair of bronze vases Meiji period (end of XIX century) with an estimate of 70-90 thousand dollars.

top 10 trading lots Christie's I half of 2012

Price	Author and work	Place and date of sale
Dollars	Pounds
86882500	53,867,150	Mark Rothko Orange, red, yellow . 1961 world record price works by contemporary artists	New York, May 8, 2012
36779111	23561250	Yves Klein blue pink . 1960 world record of the artist's value	London, June 27, 2012
36,482,500	22619150	Yves Klein Fire-color FC 1. 1962	New York, May 8, 2012
33632135	21,545,250	Francis Bacon self-portrait sketch to. 1964	London, June 27, 2012
30148375	19081250	Henry Moore Reclining figure. Festival. 1951 world record price of works by sculptor	London, February 7, 2012
26609175	16 841 250	Joan Miró painting, a poem. 1925	London, February 7, 2012
23042500	14286350	Jackson Pollock Number 28, 1951. 1951 world record price of the artist's	New York, May 8, 2012
22482500	13,939,150	Barnett Newman Onement V. 1952 world record price of his works	New York, May 8, 2012
21810500	13522510	Gerhard Richter abstract painting (798-3). 1993 world record price of the artist's	New York, May 8, 2012
20170071	12,921,250	Jean-Michel Basquiat Untitled. 1981 world record price of the artist's	London, June 27, 2012

Source : Press Release Christie's