Christie’s Becomes First International Auctioneers to Operate Independently in India

Christie's

It was announced yesterday that Christie’s auctioneers will become the only international auction house to hold sales in India. This follows their aggressive move into China and their longstanding commitment to retaining their market leadership in this lucrative part of the world.

Their inaugural Mumbai auction of Indian art is scheduled for December 2013. it will hold it in Mumbai, becoming the only international auction house to conduct sales in India. This development follows the recent announcement that Christie’s will hold a sale in Shanghai in September 2013, becoming the first international auction house to operate independently in mainland China.

Christie’s has had a presence in India for almost 20 years, through its office in Mumbai. More recently, it has supported the India Art Fair in New Delhi this January and partnered with the British Council for Homelands, a touring exhibition of contemporary art, to New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru. The decision to hold auctions at this time is a reflection of the strong momentum in the domestic art marketplace, the increased international appeal of Indian art and the growing participation of Indian collectors across international sale categories. Christie’s auctions in Mumbai will serve as an introduction to the high standards and connoisseurship associated with Christie’s, the global market leader in Indian art and the world’s leading art business.

Steven P. Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Christie’s: says, “We are delighted to announce that we will hold auctions in India, allowing Indian collectors domestic access to works of art sourced by Christie’s, international collectors access to the very best of Indian art, and opening channels to our global network and specialist expertise. Our inaugural Mumbai sale reinforces Christie’s longstanding commitment to the artistic and cultural heritage of India. We are honoured to play a part in the further development of the domestic and international Indian art marketplace.”

Christie’s and India, Christie’s opened its first representative office in Mumbai in 1994. The following year, Christie’s held its first stand-alone Contemporary Indian art sale in London. Christie’s conducts regular sales of Indian art in New York and London, and is the market leader in Classical, Modern, and Contemporary Indian art. In India, this year alone, Christie’s has lent its support and international reach to the India Art Fair and to the Homelands exhibition, organised by the British Council, which was on view in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.

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