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Prices for fine art, decorative arts and jewels, have risen steadily in Europe, America and Asia since the beginning of the year, continuing a trend that started in the fall of 2003. Paris was no exception. Eighteen sales during the first half of 2004 realised over €46 million. This represents an increase of 13% over the same period in 2003.
Christie's Paris achieved 24 world auction records, including €275,000 for a Mayan painted plate, tripling its estimate; and €350,000 for the first copy of Blaise Cendrars' La Prose du Transsibérien et de la petite Jehanne de France illustrated by Sonia Delaunay.
The inaugural Paris sale of Latin American pictures on 10 June, normally held in New York, celebrated the strong ties between France and Latin American art and was met with great success—Claustrofobia by Rufino Tamayo (1899-1991), Mexico's most popular artist, reached close to €1 million; and La Cantina by Jose Clemente Orozco (1883-1949) achieved over €800,000.
The spring Tribal and Asian Art sales saw equally high bidding. Two Fang reliquary figures realised €371,250 and €327,250, respectively, far exceeding their estimates. A carved bamboo snuff bottle from the Qianlong period (1735-1796), valued at €5,000-7,000, fetched a world auction record of €88,000.
The Jewellery Department had a record auction, which realised a total of €2.6 million, with 90% sold by value. This is the highest result for a jewellery sale at Christie's Paris since our inaugural auction in 2001.
As always, single-owner sales attracted enthusiastic bidding. An 18th century Royal Vincennes porcelain mustard pot, from the Bernheim collection, was purchased by the Museum of the Château de Versailles for €65,000. The sale of the contents of Château de Gallerande, organised to benefit the charitable works of the Order of Malta, was 100% sold.
Our 31 specialists are currently working on fall sales. Please feel free to contact them directly. They will be delighted to provide you with a free auction estimate and advise you on the best location to sell your property -- be it Paris, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, New York or Rome. This will be done confidentially and without any obligation on your part whatsoever.
Agrément 01/003
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François Curiel
Chairman, Christie's Europe
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