Christie's is a world-leading art and luxury business. Renowned and trusted for its expert live and online auctions, as well as its bespoke private sales. Christie’s offers a full portfolio of services to its clients, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education. Christie’s has a physical presence in 46 countries, throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific.
Before auctions, most of the time, there’s exhibitions that opens to the public. It was actually really amazingly curated with collective masterpieces from different artists. Can you tell me more about it?
An exhibition or view will take place in the galleries of the sale location for all live sales, this can comprise the entire sale or highlights in advance of the live auction taking place. In the instance of online sales there may also be an exhibition or view held before the online sale closes for bids. In each case all details of a view will be found online via the Christie’s website which lists all auctions and their opening times for the public to be able to view.
In addition, on occasion Christie’s also hosts an exhibition to support a specific themed private sale which was the instance with ‘The Art of Literature’ on view in London during June and July 2022, which also included works on loan from private collections. showcasing a selection of artistic masterpieces inspired by literature throughout three millennia. These works were sourced specifically to illustrate the narrative between the visual and the written word and to showcase how both have greatly influenced the other throughout the ages.
After Beeple's work 'EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS' fetched $69 million at auction, there's a growing hype around digital art. Can you provide some insights into the current market situation?
Nicole Sales, Business Director, Digital Art Sales, comments, ‘Christie’s New York, “Since the landmark Beeple sale in March 2021, the market has gone through significant change. At the moment, the market is going through a period of maturation”.
Christie's has its unique approach to both digital and physical artwork. How does Christie's selection differ from other auction houses, and what is Christie's overall approach in handling both digital and physical art?
Nicole Sales, Business Director, Digital Art Sales, comments, “At Christie’s, our specialists seek out the best of the best – whether it be a digital or physical work of art or luxury item. Our approach to every consignment is bespoke – we holistically consider all aspects of each and every lot we sell, making it a priority to ensure that what we are selling resonates with the current demands of the market”.
With the current trend of people investing in not only digital artworks but also digital wearables and even digital real estate, what's your take on this? Are there any key considerations people should be aware of before making such investments?
Nicole Sales, Business Director, Digital Art Sales, comments, “NFT technology has far reaching impacts for nearly all industries. We are only just scratching the surface right now with digital art and collectibles. Anyone interested in investing in digital assets should do their own research on the technology, creators, community following, and utility”.
I understand that, aside from auctions, you also offer additional services such as private sales and sourcing items like watches and bags. Could you provide more details about these services and how they complement the auction aspect of your business?
Adrien Meyer, Global Head, Private Sales comments, “Yes, and this business is on fire. Some clients who can't find what they are looking for at auction come to us more and more with specific requests that we then try to fulfil. This applies to all categories, from Luxury to Fine Art. Our network of 500+ specialists has access to what is probably one of the largest databases in the world. Whether it's a purple Birkin handbag, a vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava or a Basquiat self-portrait, we will find it for you. We are in essence the match makers of the art market!".
The intersection of fashion and art is undeniable, and it seems Christie's has made significant investments in the fashion industry. I noticed you concluded the auction of Hubert de Givenchy in Paris and 'Inside the Orange Box: A Lifetime of Collecting' in Milan. Could you share more about Christie's involvement in the fashion realm, or perhaps highlight some key moments in the fashion auctions that you find noteworthy?
Rachel Koffsky, Christie’s International Head of Department, Handbags & Accessories comments, “The Inside the Orange Box: A Lifetime of Collecting was just part one of an incredible private collection of all things Hermès – including handbags, small leather goods, jewellery, homewares, porcelain, textiles and more. There is much more to come from this collection which will arrive on the auction market soon. Fashion and Art have a long and intertwined history. One of my favourite artist and fashion collaborations was Schiaparelli and Dali. Marc Jacobs catapulted Handbags into the ‘must-have’ stratosphere while creative director of Louis Vuitton with partnerships with artists such as Richard Price, Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami. Artists and designers such as Virgil Abloh have blurred the distinctions between these disciplines completely”.
Collecting artworks or watches is increasingly seen as an investment, and many from the younger generation (Gen Y and Gen Z) have already started doing so. For those venturing into this, is there anything they should keep in mind when acquiring artworks or watches?
Isabel Millar, Specialist, Post War and Contemporary Art, Christie’s London comments, “You can learn a lot by looking, so try and see as much art as you can in museums, galleries and fairs. When buying at auction, look at online and day sales where the price points are more accessible and where you might discover works by artists who are earlier in their careers or have been historically overlooked. Be open and look internationally – there are many incredibly talented artists around the world and I am particularly interested in looking at artists from Africa and the Middle East, and it is still possible to find affordable works. Most importantly, buy what you like and what resonates with you – by buying contemporary art by living artists you can invest in their future”.
For those interested in participating in an auction but unsure of the process, could you provide a guide on how to go about bidding?
Arlene Blankers, Auctioneer at Christie’s London comments, “Christie's regularly hosts both live and online sales. A live sale takes place at a specific date and time. Throughout a live sale, the auctioneer accepts telephone bids, online bids via Christie's Live, live bids in the saleroom and absentee bids, to determine the final hammer price and buyer of each item offered for sale”.
Arlene continues, “Due to the advances of technology and the acceleration of digitisation, it is now possible to bid from anywhere in the world, in any time zone so long as you have a internet connection but in my opinion nothing compares with the adrenalin of being in the sale room for a live sale and being part of the action”.
An online sale is open for bidding over the course of several days. When an online sale is live, you can bid online either by placing a one time quick bid or setting a maximum bid.
Before you can register to bid in a sale, you will need to create a My Christie's account. Once you have a Christie's account, complete with relevant identification information, you can register to bid in any sale.