Dopo Jan Krugier ora è Christie's a fare i conti con un mercato in bilico tra prezzi intrastellari (anche questi aumentano con la stampa di carta) e una qualità che non sempre li giustifica. La domanda dalla Cina e sud-est asiatico resta comunque in aumento.
Le vendite della serata (si trattava di impressionisti di altissimo profilo e arte moderna) sono state molto inferiori alle aspettive, un incasso di $144,2 milioni contro la più bassa delle aspettative iniziali di $188 mln.
Su 46 opere, 12 sono andate invendute.
Link: FT
Sales from the evening totalled $144.2m – excluding the 12 per cent buyer’s premium –a figure well below the low estimate of $188m initially made by the house.
Twelve out of the 46 artworks on offer went unsold.
Observers at the evening said the combination of sky-high valuations and mixed quality had weighed more heavily on the purchasing decisions of dealers and collectors than in previous stellar years.
Christie’s demurred, saying it had seen an encouraging flurry of activity surrounding lots priced at the midpoint range, as well as a sharp increase in interest from bidders in China and Southeast Asia.
The muted results came hot on the heels of disappointing sales on Monday evening for Christie’s, after the collection of the late art dealer Jan Krugier went under the hammer yet failed to dazzle.