Christie's London Russian art sale fetches over 20 million euros

Kolkata: Christie's London sale titled 'The Russian Art' has realised £24,012,200/$40,196,423/€29,510,994. The Top Lot, The Pearl Mosque at Agra by Vasily Vereshchagin (1842-1904) swung £3,666,500.

Evelyn Heathcoat Amory and Helen Culver Smith, co-heads of the Russian Art sale, London said in an email statement, "A record-breaking blockbuster, the Russian Art sale fetched over £20 million, the highest summer sale total ever achieved in the category at Christie's. The sale was 94% sold by value and international bidding was frenetic with clients shouting out prices well above the current bid. Six paintings broke the £1 million barrier and a pair of Vases by the Imperial Porcelain Factory achieved £662,500, over twice their estimate.

"The depth of bidding for magnificent portraits by Borovikovsky, works by Nicholas Roerich, rare Russian porcelain, Vereshchagin's The Pearl Mosque at Agra and early silver demonstrates the consistent strength of this diverse market. Emerging and established collectors fought for works fresh at auction, including Prince Ivan Obolensky's collection, which realised over £8 million, and a collection of porcelain from an Important European Collection that sold for over £1 million. Christie's reputation for selling high quality Russian Art from private collections continues to drive this buoyant and dynamic market."