Christie's continues to lead Middle East art sales market, announces fourth series of auctions

Christie's is now accepting consignment of pieces for its forthcoming sales to be staged at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel; Contemporary Jewels & Watches on 29 April and International Modern & Contemporary Art on 30 April 2008.

"Christie's has now fully established our twice-annual sales seasons in the UAE, reflecting the growth and prominence of the Middle East's arts sector and the leadership role that Christie's continues to take in creating an international platform for contemporary Arab and Iranian artists," said Michael Jeha, Managing Director, Middle East

"2007 has seen a significant growth in the number of fine art initiatives taking place in the Middle East. The success of our autumn sales earlier this year and the continued support of our increasing client base have given Christie's increased confidence in our regional growth strategy, which will include focus on additional Christie's activities in other regions throughout the Gulf," continued Jeha.

This fourth series of sales follow Christie's recent third auction of International Modern and Contemporary Art held in Dubai on 31 October 2007, which far eclipsed pre-sale expectations, selling for a total of $15,235,725/Dhs 55,915,111.

The sale also establishing 62 new world records, including for any work of art by an Arab artist, with Ahmed Moustafa's Qur'anic Polyptych of Nine Panel, which sold for $657,000/Dhs 2,411,190 and for a work of art by any Iranian artist, for Farhad Moshiri's One World - Yek Donia , a depiction of a map of the world executed in thousands of crystals on canvas on board in 2007, which sold for $601,000 /Dhs2,205,670.

Christie's second auction of Contemporary Jewels and Watches held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai sold for a total of $16,504,350/Dhs 60,570,964.

"Once again, the Spring 2008 sales will benefit from online bidding via Christie's LIVE™, which for the third sale series saw registrants from 20 different countries compete with buyers in the packed to capacity saleroom and on the telephones," concluded Jeha.