NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s announces strong sales results for the inaugural cross-category marquee event Classic Week—spanning Antiquities, Decorative Arts, Old Master Paintings, Sculpture and Classical Japanese and Korean Art. Combined, the seven auctions realized $70,142,751, with 70% sold by lot and substantial online participation. Throughout the week Christie’s hosted specialist-led tours and previews, receiving over 3,000 visitors, both new collectors and seasoned buyers.

Jussi Pylkkänen, Global President of Christie’s, comments, “Classic Week provided an exceptional opportunity for the world’s collectors to see the very best in each field as Rockefeller Center transformed itself into an exhibition of classical art. There was great energy throughout the week with strong attendance across all levels of buyers. Our specialists collaborated and created innovative sales of a high caliber, which is reflected in the week’s impressive results in every field. I particularly enjoyed coming to New York to auctioneer both the Exceptional and Old Master sales which achieved such strong results for our clients. I look forward to being part of Classic Art week here in New York next April. We have established a winning formula for both owners and collectors."

President of Christie’s Americas, Brook Hazelton, remarks, “Moving our sales into a combined Classic Art week in April was a welcome change for Christie’s clients. This was evidenced by an overall increase in sales [in terms of sold-by-lot percentages], with a notable 16% increase for the overall category of Old Master Paintings. We were also pleased to see a 32% increase comparing the main sale of Old Masters, Part I, against the results of the same auction from January 2015. We also witnessed growth in attendance to our previews by 29%, as compared to last January’s Old Masters Week. The cross-category strategy, first pioneered by Christie’s 20th Century Week, presented works in a context true to the way collectors live with art, offering an innovative mix of decorative objects with old master paintings, antiquities, and classical sculpture.”

The week’s sales set eight new world auction records across European Sculpture, Decorative Arts, Korean Works of Art, and Old Master Paintings and featured many works that greatly exceeded initial estimates.

Classic Week by Numbers

• $70,142,751 realized
• 482 works sold
• 70% sold by lot
• Registered bidders from 48 countries across 5 continents
• Over 3000 visitors to the Classic Week preview
• 8 new world auction records
• 14 lots sold over one-million USD