Industry data

SOTHEBY’S have released interim headline sales figures for 2007, which show worldwide auction totals up 44 per cent on 2006 at $5.4bn.

CHRISTIE’S have maintained their lead over their rivals in wine sales thanks mainly to strong totals posted in Europe.

The results of the 2007 LAPADA membership survey broadly suggest a steady market throughout the previous year. Forty per cent of respondents reported a similar turnover to 2006 and 48 per cent expected it to be about the same in 2008.

Inertia characterised the Antiques Collectors’ Club’s annual Antique Furniture Index in 2007, giving weight to the impression that antique furniture prices have now bottomed out.

Christie’s have confirmed their position as the art market’s biggest business, announcing 2007 premium inclusive sales of £3.1bn ($6.3bn).

‘Best ever’ year with $600m global sales

THE size of the world art market all but doubled between 2002 and 2006, according to the latest survey commissioned by The European Fine Art Federation.

Adams of Dublin were once again top of the Irish rooms posting a €19.4m (£14.6m) hammer turnover for 2007.

Prize lots boost smaller salerooms

THE price of gold hit a 28-year high last week as rises in the oil price and inflation fears drove the gold fix to over $850.

For the first time, a trio of auction firms pulled clear of the field in Paris in 2007.

THE value of art and antiques imported to the UK from outside the European Union soared by nearly a half in 2006.

After four consecutive years of falls, the Antiques Collectors’ Club’s annual Antique Furniture Index stabilised in 2006, suggesting a bottoming out of antique furniture prices.

HOTELS, restaurants, insurance, security, shippers and packers, design and print, marketing and promotion. These are just some of the ancillary industries that benefit when the show comes to town.

Sotheby’s have revised employee incentive packages in a move that should help stabilise costs and prevent key staff from being poached by rivals.

MUSEUMS are so strapped for cash when it comes to buying works of art that only one in 50 says adding to their collections is now a top priority.

CONTEMPORARY art has helped the Fine Art Society triple its turnover in the past four years, according to results just released.

eBay have posted a 31 per cent year on year increase in turnover of $1.449bn for the third quarter of 2006.

Lyon and Turnbull have announced a record turnover of almost £9m for their latest year of trading.

Higher charges and a more sophisticated system of auction guarantees have helped Sotheby’s reap record profits for the second quarter of 2006, doubling profits for the first half of the year compared to 2005.