Auctioneers Figures

Despite the challenges of a tough 2020, private and online sales have boosted the major auction houses

Auction sales at the top of the sector have slowed in the first half of this year.

Auction firms in France have been releasing their ‘Bilans’ or sales figures for the first half of 2019.

Sotheby’s held its very first auction on March 11, 1744, and today it is celebrating this 275-year milestone with the opening of an exhibition detailing its history in pictures.

The UK’s art market reclaimed its second position in the global league table as China’s rapid growth slowed during 2018.

Sotheby’s reported a 16% jump in sales last year to $6.4bn (£4.8bn).

Despite economic concerns such as Brexit and the possibility of global trade wars, the UK’s top contemporary art auction houses posted the highest growth for Modern and contemporary art sales in 2018.

Christie’s reported total sales for 2018 at £5.3bn, up 3% on the previous year – led by the Rockefeller collection which set a record for any private collection at auction.

Sotheby’s France was the top performer in the country last year, boosted by the sale of a Qianlong mark and period vase that became the most expensive lot sold in France in 2018.

Auction house Sotheby’s reported its third-quarter results for the three months to September 30 revealing a net loss of $27.8m (£21.43bn) - down 19% on the $23.5m posted a year ago.

Sotheby’s made more sales but at lower margins in the first half of 2018 according to its latest financial results.