Year on year the benchmark sum also represents a 36 per cent increase on sales in 2005.
In total, the Impressionist & Modern art department had sales of £664m (up 80.9% on 2005) while the post-War and Contemporary art had sales of £442m (up 46.8%). Close to one fifth of Christie’s total sales were focused upon a remarkable week in November when £457m ($866m) worth of blue-chip art crossed the block.
This helped New York post sales of £1.13bn (up 49.5%) but it was also a good year for the London operation with sales of £742m (up 23.9%). While, as a privately owned company, Christie’s do not publish accounts, CEO Edward Dolman described 2006 as “a phenomenal year in terms of sales, profitability and the works entrusted to us”.
Christie’s total – the highest in history
Helped by their stunning November series of New York art sales, Christie’s announced 2006 sales of £2.51bn including auction premiums. The figure – that includes more than £137m in private sales – is the highest in art auction history.
