The auctioneers have combined this category with Old Masters since 2008, but while it was hoped this would generate more crossover interest, not all buyers and sellers in both camps were in favour of these joint sales.
The current changes are thought to be vendor-driven, meaning that Christie's were concerned about losing consignments to Sotheby's who have maintained specialist sales.
However, the two departments will be staying together and the Old Master sales will still include 19th century works, although the bulk of them will now appear in these new separate auctions.
The initial 19th Century & Orientalist Art sale at King Street in June will be followed by sales in New York in October and then London again in November.
By Alex Capon
