2016: A Record Year for Sotheby's Paris

A total of 220 million euros in auctions - representing a 4.3% increase from 2015 - made 2016 a truly exceptional year for Sotheby’s Paris. 17 collections obtained over 1 million euros, with 8 auctions topping 10 million euros and 26 bids of over 1 million euros.

With 88% of lots sold, 30.5% new buyers and 13% online buyers, Sotheby’s further established itself as an active participant in Paris’ ascendance on the landscape of international auctions. The French capital is today at the forefront of African and Oceanic art and is a major force in contemporary art, the decorative arts and design.

2016 was the year of major collections, with 7 exceptional sales originating from different domains, including the collections of Boutet de Monvel, Patricia Mante-Proust, Robert de Balkany, Henri Chwast, and Viviane Jutheau, the Comtesse de Witt.

33% of Sotheby’s Paris buyers were based in France, 36% in the rest of Europe, 16% in North America and 10% in Asia.