LONDON.- Representing excellence and technical brilliance, the wealth of works of Classic Beauty: Celebrating the Contemporary Art of the Past offered at Christie’s from 7 to 10 July, have realised a combined total to date of £48,451,788/ $74,664,729/ €64,054,602. Already offered across The Exceptional Sale , the Old Master & British Paintings Evening Sale , the Taste of the Royal Court: Important French Furniture and Works o f Art from a Private Collection , The Collection of a Distinguished Swiss Gentleman and the sale of Old Master & British Drawings & Watercolours , this is the third week of Christie’s internationally anticipated summer auctions, presenting works by many of the most revered artists and craftsmen in history, who have stood the test of time and were ground-breaking and innovative in their day. 14 works of art have sold for over £1 million/20 for over $1 million, to date, with highlights including the stellar results realised for a series of record breaking lots: a unique last of its kind Mark 1 Spitfire which sold for £3,106,500/ $4,784,010/ €4,302,503, setting a world record price for a Spitfire at auction; a 19th century Luba female figure for a bowstand, which realised £6,130,500/ $9,440,970/ €8,490,743, setting the second highest price at auction for an African work of art and the world record price at auction for a Luba figure; the most important oil by Richard Parkes Bonington to come to the market in a generation which sold for £2,490,500/ $3,835,370/ €3,449,343, setting a world record price for the artist at auction; and the only surviving armchair from the most expensive suite made for the French queen Marie Antoinette which sold for £1,762,500/ $2,714,250/ €2,441,063, setting a new world record price at auction for an 18th century chair (estimate: £300,000-500,000). The Old Master & British Paintings Day Sale will take place on Friday 10 July.

The Exceptional Sale – 9 July
The Exceptional Sale realised £18,036,375/ $27,776,018/ €24,980,379. On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the Battle of France, the star of the sale was a unique and remarkable piece of British history – an authentic and immaculately restored Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1A – P9374/GMk.1A which sold for £3,106,500/$4,784,010/€4,302,503, setting a world record price for a Spitfire at auction (estimate: £1,500,000-2,500,000). As part of a hugely generous gift from American philanthropist and art collector Thomas Kaplan, Spitfire P9374 was sold to benefit the RAF Benevolent Fund, leading wildlife conservation charity Panthera, WildCRU and Stop Ivory. P9374 is one of only two remaining Mk.1 models restored to the original specification and still flying; the other model, Spitfire N3200, also belonging to Thomas Kaplan, was gifted to the Imperial War Museum Duxford on 9 July 2015.

Robert Copley, Deputy Chairman Christie’s UK and Head of The Exceptional Sale: “The Exceptional Sale saw notable demand for individual masterpieces, led by an authentic Mark 1 Spitfire, which reached new heights as the unique sound of the Merlin engine roared across the sale room, establishing a new world record price for a Spitfire at auction. Christie’s pioneering sales platform, inaugurated in 2008, continued to welcome international bidding for works united by the common themes of rarity, provenance, craftsmanship and beauty. Strong prices were also realised for: a group of works representing differing visions of humanity, from Antiquity and Africa, which were led by a 19th century Luba female figure for a bowstand, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which set the second highest price at auction for an African work of art and the world record price at auction for a Luba figure; a sinuous and curvaceous pair of George III silver candelabra which set a new world record price at auction for a pair of silver, English candelabra; and a group of four Napoleonic relics.”

The Old Master & British Paintings Evening Sale – 9 July
The Old Master & British Paintings Evening Sale realised £18,993,500/ $29,249,990/ €26,305,998. The auction was led by A coastal landscape with fisherfolk, the most important oil by Richard Parkes Bonington to come to the market in a generation and one of the last on this scale to remain in private hands, sold for £2,490,500/ $3,835,370/ €3,449,343, setting a new world record price for the artist at auction (estimate: £2-3 million). This painting was executed at the height of the artist’s career.

Henry Pettifer, International Director, Head of Old Master & British Paintings Christie’s London: “This sale welcomed registered bidders from 31 countries across 4 continents, reflecting the excellent selection of pictures presented from private collections, with emphasis on rarity, importance and provenance. The market’s appetite for rare opportunities presented by the most appealing and important works to appear fresh to the market at auction, many for generations and offered with attractive estimates, is highlighted by the top prices realised for the most significant oil by Richard Parkes Bonington to come to the market in a generation which set a new world record price at auction for the artist; a previously unrecorded view of Venice by Francesco Guardi; and a striking work by El Greco and studio which has passed by descent since 1772 to the present owners. This week of sales presents opportunities for news and established collectors at different price levels and we now look forward to Christie’s ‘Old Master & British Paintings Day Sale’ on Friday 10 July.”

Taste of the Royal Court: Important French Furniture and Works of Art from a Private Collection – 9 July
The sale Taste of the Royal Court: Important French Furniture and Works of Art from a Private Collection was well received, realising £6,676,250 /$10,281,425/€9,246,606. The star of the sale was Marie Antoinette’s exquisite armchair from one of her most personal retreats, the Pavillon Belvédère in the ‘Jardin Anglais’ of the Petit Trianon, which sold for £1,762,500/ $2,714,250/ €2,441,063, setting a new world record price at auction for an 18th century chair (estimate: £300,000-500,000). It is the only surviving armchair from the most expensive suite made for the French queen.

Will Strafford, Senior International Specialist and Amelia Walker, Head of Sale: “We are very pleased with the results of this sale, in particular the magnificent Royal fauteuil en bergère made for Marie Antoinette, the only surviving armchair from the most expensive suite of seat furniture ever ordered by the queen, which achieved a world record price for a single 18th-century chair. The results are a testament to the discerning and refined taste of the collector, whose focus on rare furniture and works of art of the highest quality, superlative craftsmanship and with distinguished provenance was reflected in fierce competition in the saleroom for pieces such as the extraordinary Hamilton Palace agate ewer and basin.”

OTHER SALES THIS WEEK
• The Old Master and British Drawings and Watercolours sale realised £2,499,375/ $3,889,027/ €3,521,619, on 7 July 2015.

• The Collection of a Distinguished Swiss Gentleman realised £2,246,288/$3,468,269/€3,147,049, on 8 July 2015.

• The Old Master & British Paintings Day Sale will take place on Friday 10 July.