Christie's total revenue in the first six months of 2013 amounted to 2.4 billion pounds (3.68 billion dollars), up 9%more than in the first half of last year (the figures include commissions ). A member of this result proceeds from private sales increased by 13%to 465.2 million pounds (711.8 million dollars), the third consecutive year, setting a record for both the auction house and the whole art market as a whole.

increased demand for art, as well as online auction house initiatives and investments in emerging markets has led to an influx of new collectors from around the world in all price segments. In the first half of the auctions in 2013 was attended by buyers from 128 countries, of which 10%were new customers.

The past six months, it was noted increased activity of both new and regular clients from Asia - their number has increased by 15%. In April, Christie's announced that it was the first international auction house in the world to receive the right to conduct trade in China. The first auction will be held in Shanghai in September 2013.

Besides Christie's in December 2013 to hold the first auction in Mumbai.

Auctions

In total at Christie's 422 works were sold for an amount in excess of 1 million dollars (399 in the first half of 2012) and 34 of the cost of which exceeded the level of 10 million (30 in the first half of 2012). Average percentage of sales (number of items) was 80%(1%more than in the first half of 2012). Most (4%) increased the percentage of sales of works costing between 5 to 30 thousand dollars and 1 million dollars. 76%of all registered bidders were customers from mainland Europe and America. The number of customers from Asia increased by 15%to 23%of the total number of participants. Increase in the number of buyers from mainland China who participated in tenders organized in Hong Kong (32%), and in the London auction (21%).

postwar and contemporary art has become the most profitable of all categories, setting a record for sales and collected 665.4 million pounds ($ 1 billion), up 16%compared to the same period last year. The growth in demand for this category of art works were recorded in all price segments, 52%of new customers attracted in the price range up to 100,000 lbs. Held on May 15 in New York evening sale of postwar and contemporary art collected 495 million dollars (326.7 million pounds), becoming the most lucrative auction in history. Also of note is the growth of profitability of Asian art, whose sales totaled 284.5 million pounds (435.3 million dollars, 28%, and the art of the old masters and paintings of the XIX century, for which could help in the amount of 78.4 million pounds ($ 120 million, 9%). most expensive piece of the first half of 2013 was the work of Jackson Pollock's "Number 19," pushed under the hammer for 58.36 million dollars during New York trading on May 15.

Internet

first auction Christie's, who have been exclusively online, held in December 2011 in a series of auctions dedicated to the collection of Elizabeth Taylor, and in 2012 there were already seven, and 39%- of new customers. During the first half of the 2013 Christie's held 11 online auctions, the participants of which the number of new clients was already 46%. Moreover, 73%of visitors to the page www.christies.com /onlineonly , dedicated to online auctions, had never visited the site Christie's. second half started with online trading under the name "First byte: the revolutionary technology of the twentieth century", which ended July 9 selling for 387,750 dollars first computer Apple, became the most expensive lot sold in this format. web page of the online auction attended by representatives of 96 countries.

Website www.christies.com attended by representatives of 190 countries, the number of visitors has increased by 22%, and visitors from mobile phones - by 96%. Out of the total number of people registered to participate in the auction, 26%used a system of Christie's LIVE ™, allows you to bet online. should also noted increase in the number of registered customers from China (19%), as well as from Russia and the CIS (20%).

plans for the future - Shanghai and Mumbai

In the second half of Christie's plans to hold its first auction in Shanghai (September 2013) and Mumbai (December 2013).

Representative Christie's opened in Shanghai in 1994. A first auction in Shanghai will be held at the end of September this year. Thus, Christie's will be the first international auction house Licensees of independent activities in the territory of mainland China.

In December 2013 the first auction will be held in Mumbai, by securing for Christie's reputation as the only auction house conducting the auction in India. history of the presence of Christie's in India has been 20 years since the office was established in Mumbai. in January of this year with the support of Christie's in New Delhi hosted an art fair, and after that, together with the British Council in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore, an exhibition of "homeland." decision to hold the auction in India was caused by a variety of factors, including a confident state of local art market, the increased interest of the international community in Indian art and the active participation of collectors from India in the international market (in the last decade, the number of buyers from India at Christie's auction quadrupled.) At the auction will be exhibited works of Indian art.

Source : Press Release Christie's