NEW YORK.-After an impressive series of evening and day sales of Impressionist and Modern Art and Post-War and Contemporary Art realizing a grand total of $409,389,800 at Christie’s New York, the world’s leading auction house has strongly reaffirmed its supremacy in the international art market. The spectacular results for the fine art sales reflect the same strength that has characterized Christie’s New York’s 2005 season from the start. Christie’s started the year as market leaders with half year sales of $1.7 billion and continued to dominate across the board with record falls sales in New York for Asian Art ($29.9 million), Photography ($14.5 million) and Prints ($13 million).

Christie’s is also leading the way in emerging markets. The alliance with Mainland Chinese auction house Forever made Christie’s the first international auction house to successfully venture into this market. The $12.1 million sale on November 3 of Fine Modern and Contemporary Chinese Paintings was a resounding success, paving the way for future Christie’s business there.

This pioneering role in Mainland China, as well as in other regions such as Dubai, India and Russia, combined with an unbeatable lead in the field of Post-War and Contemporary Art and a dominant position in Impressionist and Modern Art, once again confirm Christie’s as the auctioneer of choice for buyers and sellers of fine and decorative art around the world.

Impressionist and Modern Art - "Christie's …which has been the benchmark lately in sales of impressionist and modern art, mounts an impressive evening sale on November 1.”

New Yorker, October 31, 2005: The evening sale of Impressionist and Modern Art totaled $160,931,200, the highest total for a various owners Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale at Christie’s since May 1990. The sale was 90% sold by value and 92% by lot with a stunning 82% of the lots selling within or above their estimated value. Buyers were 38% American, 47% European, 10% Asian and 5% other and four world auction records were set. The highlight of the night was Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s La blanchisseuse which was acquired by an anonymous buyer for $22,416,000, setting a new world auction record for the artist. The day sales totaled $36,367,400.

Post-War and Contemporary Art: “Prices for postwar and contemporary art rose to new heights last night as works by masters like Rothko and Lichtenstein brought record prices in what Christie’s said was its most successful sale ever in this red-hot category. For weeks the art word had been buzzing about the exceptionally high quality of Christie's auction. So everyone came.”

The New York Times, Sale Sets Records for 18 Artists, and One for Christie's, November 9, 2005

The evening sale of Post-War and Contemporary Art at Rockefeller Center totaled a grand $157,441,600, a record for any sale of Post-War and Contemporary Art worldwide, ever. The sale saw 18 new world auction records and was 99% sold by value and 94% sold by lot. The top lot of the evening was Mark Rothko’s seminal Homage to Matisse which sold for $22,416,000. Thirty-seven works sold for over $1 million, and 92% of the lots fetched prices within or above pre-sale estimates. Buyers were 82% American, 5% European, 3% Asian and 10% other. The Morning and Afternoon sessions totaled a spectacular $54,669,600, further indicating the depth and health of the market.

Looking forward, Christie’s 2005 worldwide success continues with sales such as The Forbes Collection of American Historical Documents Part Three, Important American Paintings, Important 20th Century Decorative Art and Design and A Private Collection of French Mid-Century Design in New York, and in London with an evening sale of Important Old Master Pictures and The Wildenstein Collection, Magnificent French Furniture, Objets d’Art and Tapestries among others.