Due to its past popularity, it didn't come as much of a surprise when Wengen, a c.1925 3ft 41/2in by 2ft 1/2in (1.03m x 63cm) lithographic poster by an anonymous artist, became the top lot, fetching £19,000.
It sold to a private buyer who battled against another bidder in the room, commission bids, and a telephone to secure it. Wengen was also the star turn in last year's sale, but this year's hammer price was up £5000 on the 2006 level. Christie's sold 269 of the 303 lots for a hammer total of £465,430, the highest-ever total for one of their vintage poster sales.
The buyer's premium was 20/12%.
By Stephanie Harris
From £14,000 to £19,000 in just one season
Snowfall may be sparse across the Alps this season, but it didn’t stop the storm of buyers at the tenth annual ski poster sale at Christie’s South Kensington on January 18 from raising their paddles.