Christie’s Middle East, a branch of Christie’s, the world's leading art business, yesterday (April 29) held its auction of international modern and contemporary art, which totalled Dh17.49 million ($4.76 million).

The sixth of Christie's auction series in the region was organised at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai.

The sale was 77 per cent sold by lot and 85 per cent sold by value. Buyers came from 12 different countries showing the continued international appeal for the Dubai sales, and the buyer breakdown was 72 per cent from the Middle East, 22 per cent from Europe and 6 per cent from America.

The combined total for the jewels & watches and the art sales held this week in Dubai was Dh32.3 million ($8.8 million). A group of six lots by Saudi Arabian artists, sold for a total of Dh233,962 ($63,750).

William Lawrie, specialist in charge of the sale, said: “We continue to see a great appetite from clients from all over the world for our sales in Dubai and the carefully selected works offered this evening appealed to both new and existing collectors.

"The results are a strong sign of the quality of the work from the Middle East which clearly resonates with collectors of great artists, regardless of their geography.”

Michael Jeha, managing director of Christie’s Middle East, said: “Tonight’s sale has re-energised this market. It supports our ongoing commitment to sell works of strong regional interest, as our clients continue to be attracted to lots from their own and neighbouring countries.

"The incredible talent of the artists behind these works, which is increasingly attracting attention from serious international buyers, drove the often furious bidding in the saleroom, on the telephones and online,” he added. 

“The firm results of our jewels and watches sale last night, which witnessed significant bidding for watches in particular, and the strong performance of our international contemporary and modern art sale this evening bode well for our forthcoming Hong Kong and New York sales in May,” said Jussi Pylkkänen, president of Christie’s Middle East and Europe. – TradeArabia News Service