The year 2016 with €244,6M, realising the second best year since 2009 (Yves Saint Laurent – Pierre Bergé Collection), with an average sell through rate of 75% by lot and 90% by value. These great results reflect Christie’s strategy to offer high quality pieces coming from prestigious provenances. The 12 collections presented this year, such as the Zeineb and Jean-Pierre Marcie-Rivière collection, the Claude Berri collection or the selection of 12 Rembrandt Bugatti bronzes coming from the collection of Alain Delon, have all attracted French and international collectors.
The high quality of the pieces offered was shown by very rare objects such as a magnificent figure of a Buddha Vairocana from the Liao dynasty which sold for an impressive €13.3M, a superb 13th century wood Guanyin which sold for €5.1M, an important painting by Francis Bacon Man in Blue VII which realised €6M and a Roman Torso from circa 1st century B.C, which established a new world record with €2.9M. The rarity of the pieces was illustrated by the 14 preemptions registered throughout the year. Two lots were preempted by the Musée du Louvre including the two mourners from the Duc de Berry tomb, sold last June for €5M.
Edouard Boccon-Gibod, Christie’s France General Manager: “We are very satisfied with the results achieved this year at Christie’s France. The French art market remains strong and collectors have responded positively to the quality of the pieces offered, especially during Parisian fairs such as the Salon du Dessin and FIAC. Consequently, we have launched a new concept of sale during FIAC, which combined modern and contemporary art. The auction, titled Paris Avant-Garde, resulted in 20.5 million Euros and demonstrates our wish to offer the best possible works of art in a beneficial context”.
Auctions: €244 .6M
A sell through rate of 75% by lot and 90% by value
42 world auction records established
42 sales organised in 2016 including 12 collections
27 lots sold above €1 million and 72 lots sold above €500,000
14 preemptions including the two mourners from the Duc de Berry tomb
5,890 lots sold
More than 25,000 visitors registered throughout the year
François de Ricqlès, President of Christie’s France: “This year has been highlighted by 12 collections including that of Zeineb and Jean-Pierre Marcie-Rivière, which successfully achieved €32.5M, comparend to a presale estimate of €18M. 100% of the lots were acquired, led by Francis Bacon’s Man in Blue VII (1954) which sold for €6M.
These results fall in line with Christie’s success in achieving the best results for its house sales, as we have proudly been holding the five most important collections* in France for the last ten years.
We are also honored to have made possible the joint acquisition of the Rembrandt portraits by the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum in February 2016 (Maerten Soolmans and his wife Oopjen Coppit).
Finally, another successful auction was the sale of the Duc de Berry’s mourners that achieved €5M and were preempted by the Louvre Museum for its Sculpture department”.
* Yves Saint Laurent-Pierre Bergé in 2009 (€351,4M), Claude and Simone Dray in 2006 (€59.7M), Gourdon in 2011 (€44.6M) and Gaston Lévy in 2010 (€43.6M).
Christie’s LIVETM
Christie’s real-time bidding engine welcomed 3,109 registered bidders throughout 2016, an increase of 8% compared to 2015.
The Top Lot sold on Christie’s Live this year:
Joan Miró (1893-1983)
Graphisme concret
Estimation: €280.000-350.000
Prix réalisé: €457.500
