04/12/2001

Christie’s inaugural paintings auction on French ground will be held at its new salesroom at 9, Avenue Matignon, Paris, with a collection of Old Master and 19th century paintings coming from Charles-Otto Zieseniss. Zeiseness was for 30 years, Deputy Chairman of the Fondation Napoleon and sat on the boards of both the Malmaison Museum and the Société de l'Art Français and his paintings will be offered up on December the 5th. On the 30th of November, Sotheby’s hung up a banner bearing the message “The Opening Of The French Art Market”. Only six months ago a French court injunction forced Sotheby’s to move their inaugural auction in Paris from these premises to the smaller auctioneers Maître Hervé Poulain Le Fur, at the Palais des Congrés in the city. With this new opening in the French market, buyers commission rates have been increased from the set standard French rate of 10%. Christie’s have a sliding rate of 20.93% on bids up to $ 80,640 (€ 90,000) and 11.96% thereafter, while Sotheby’s are asking for 17.5% up to $ 13,530 (€ 15,100), 15 % up to $ 81,180 (€ 90,610) and 10% afterwards. (Andrew Moore)