Sothebys French Auctions Surge 62%
Published July 3rd, 2007
Sotheby’s, the second-largest auction house, said its French art sales surged 62 percent in the first half as it reached for more business. No.1-ranked Christie’s totals fell 18 percent.
Sotheby’s, which bought French auctioneer Calmels Cohen in March, sold 38.4 million euros ($52.3 million) of art in France in the first six months, compared with 23.7 million euros a year earlier. Sotheby’s placed third in the Paris leagues, behind Christie’s, which had 100.3 million euros of auctions, and Artcurial, with 56.9 million euros, according to the two houses.
Paris is the fourth-largest auction market for Sotheby’s and Christie’s, having fallen behind Hong Kong in recent years. Yet it remains a storehouse of art for export to the top two markets, New York and London.
