Christie's

File:Peep-at-Christies-Gillray.jpeg caricatured actress Elizabeth Farren and huntsman Lord Derby examining paintings appropriate to their tastes and heights.]]

File:Thomas Gainsborough (English - Portrait of James Christie (1730 - 1803) - Google Art Project.jpg by Thomas Gainsborough, 1778]]

The official company literature states that founder James Christie (1730–1803) conducted the first sale in London on 5 December 1766,{{cite web|url=http://www.christies.com/features/welcome/|title=Christies.com – About Us|quote=James Christie conducted the first sale in London on 5 December 1766.|access-date=3 December 2008|archive-date=1 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201223718/http://www.christies.com/features/welcome/|url-status=dead}} and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766. However, other sources note that James Christie rented auction rooms from 1762, and newspaper advertisements for Christie's sales dating from 1759 have also been traced.Gazetteer and London Daily Advertiser (London, England), 25 September 1762; Issue 10460 After his death, Christie's son, James Christie the Younger (1773–1831) took over the business.M.A. Michael (2019). "[https://www.academia.edu/40805885/_Not_exactly_a_connoisseur_A_new_portrait_of_James_Christie_by_Benjamin_Vandergucht_1752_1794_and_the_auctioneer_s_family_history Not Exactly a Connoisseur A New Portrait of James Christie]". The British Art Journal (London: Robin Simon). 19:76.

File:Microcosm of London Plate 006 - Auction Room, Christie's.jpg

Christie's was a public company, listed on the London Stock Exchange, from 1973 to 1999. In 1974, Jo Floyd was appointed chairman of Christie's. He served as chairman of Christie's International plc from 1976 to 1988, until handing over to Lord Carrington, and later was a non-executive director until 1992.Sarah Lyall (27 February 1998), [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/27/arts/jo-floyd-74-led-growth-and-change-at-christie-s.html Jo Floyd, 74; Led Growth and Change at Christie's] The New York Times. Christie's International Inc. held its first sale in the United States in 1977. Christie's growth was slow but steady since 1989, when it had 42% of the auction market.Carol Vogel (11 February 1997), [https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/11/arts/at-the-wire-auction-fans-it-s-it-s-christie-s.html At the Wire, Auction Fans, It's, It's . . . Christie's!] The New York Times.

File:Clay tablet, record of barley and emmer. Late Uruk period, 3300-3100 BCE. Purchased via Christie's, no provenance.jpg

In 1990, the company reversed a long-standing policy and guaranteed a minimum price for a collection of artworks in its May auctions.Rita Reif (12 March 1990), [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/12/arts/christie-s-reverses-stand-on-price-guarantees.html Christie's Reverses Stand on Price Guarantees] The New York Times. In 1996, sales exceeded those of Sotheby's for the first time since 1954.Carol Vogel (6 May 1998), [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/06/business/international-business-frenchman-gets-big-stake-in-christie-s.html Frenchman Gets Big Stake In Christie's] The New York Times. However, profits did not grow at the same pace;Carol Vogel (19 May 1998), [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/19/business/international-business-frenchman-seeks-the-rest-of-christie-s.html Frenchman Seeks the Rest Of Christie's] The New York Times. from 1993 through 1997, Christie's annual pretax profits were about $60M , whereas Sotheby's annual pretax profits were about $265M for those years.Carol Vogel (19 February 1998), [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/19/arts/christie-s-ends-talks-on-takeover-by-swiss.html Christie's Ends Talks On Takeover By Swiss] The New York Times.

In 1993, Christie's paid $10.9M for the London gallery Spink & Son, which specialised in Oriental art and British paintings; the gallery was run as a separate entity. The company bought Leger Gallery for $3.3M in 1996, and merged it with Spink to become Spink-Leger.Carol Vogel (22 June 2001), [https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/22/arts/inside-art-manager-and-collector.html Re: Real Estate] The New York Times. Spink-Leger closed in 2002. To make itself competitive with Sotheby's in the property market, Christie's bought Great Estates in 1995, then the largest network of independent estate agents in North America, changing its name to Christie's Great Estates Inc.

In December 1997, under the chairmanship of Lord Hindlip, Christie's put itself on the auction block, but after two months of negotiations with the consortium-led investment firm SBC Warburg Dillon Read it did not attract a bid high enough to accept. In May 1998, François Pinault's holding company, Groupe Artémis S.A., first bought 29.1 per cent of the company for $243.2M, and subsequently purchased the rest of it in a deal that valued the entire company at $1.2bn. The company has since not been reporting profits, though it gives sale totals twice a year. Its policy, in line with UK accounting standards, is to convert non-UK results using an average exchange rate weighted daily by sales throughout the year.Scott Reyburn (17 July 2012), [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-17/rothko-private-sales-help-boost-christie-s-revenue-13-.html Rothko, Private Sales Help Boost Christie's Revenue 13%] Bloomberg.

In 2002, Christie's France held its first auction in Paris.Souren Melikian (17 January 2004), [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/17/style/17iht-melik_ed3__1.html The battle of Paris: Christie's rising] International Herald Tribune.

Like Sotheby's, Christie's became increasingly involved in high-profile private transactions. In 2006, Christie's offered a reported $21M guarantee to the Donald Judd Foundation and displayed the artist's works for five weeks in an exhibition that later won an AICA award for "Best Installation in an Alternative Space".Souren Melikian (12 January 2007), [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/12/arts/12iht-melik13.html How Christie's kept top spot over Sotheby's in 2006 sales] The New York Times. In 2007 it brokered a $68M deal that transferred Thomas Eakins's The Gross Clinic (1875) from the Jefferson Medical College at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia to joint ownership by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.Judd Tully (24 October 2011), [http://www.blouinartinfo.com/market-news/article/38947-private-sales-go-public-why-christies-and-sothebys-are-embracing-galleries-like-never-before Private Sales Go Public: Why Christie's and Sotheby's Are Embracing Galleries Like Never Before] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023122731/http://www.blouinartinfo.com/market-news/article/38947-private-sales-go-public-why-christies-and-sothebys-are-embracing-galleries-like-never-before |date=23 October 2013 }} The New York Observer. In the same year, the Haunch of Venison galleryColin Gleadell (27 February 2007), [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/3663467/Christies-move-stuns-dealers.html Christie's move stuns dealers] The Daily Telegraph. became a subsidiary of the company.Kate Taylor (16 April 2007), [http://www.nysun.com/arts/auction-houses-vs-dealers/52493/ Auction Houses Vs. Dealers] New York Sun.

On 28 December 2008, The Sunday Times reported that Pinault's debts left him "considering" the sale of Christie's and that a number of "private equity groups" were thought to be interested in its acquisition.{{cite news | url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/consumer_goods/article5404112.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009132201/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/consumer_goods/article5404112.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=9 October 2009 | title=Pinault woes may force Château Latour sell-off | work=(London) Sunday Times | first=Kate | last=Walsh | date=28 December 2008 | access-date=14 January 2009}} In January 2009, the company employed 2,100 people worldwide, though an unspecified number of staff and consultants were soon to be cut due to a worldwide downturn in the art market;{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/business/worldbusiness/13auction.html | title=Christie's Plans Cuts as Auctions Slow | work=The New York Times|first=Julia|last=Werdigier| date=12 January 2009 | access-date=12 January 2009}} later news reports said that 300 jobs would be cut.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/nyregion/08auction.html | title=In World of High-Glamour, Low-Pay Jobs, the Recession Has Its Bright Spots | work=The New York Times|first=Laura M. |last=Holson| date=8 February 2009 | access-date=10 February 2009}} With sales for premier Impressionist, Modern, and contemporary artworks tallying only US$248.8M in comparison to US$739M just a year before, a second round of job cuts began after May 2009.{{cite news|work=Bloomberg News|date=18 June 2009|access-date=30 June 2009|title=Christie's Resumes Cutting Jobs After May N.Y. Auctions Decline|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aqb7SPnwv3RM}}

In 2012, Impressionist works, which dominated the market during the 1980s boom, were replaced by contemporary art as Christie's top category. Asian art was the third most lucrative area. With income from classic auctioneering falling, treaty sales made £413.4 million ($665M) in the first half of 2012, an increase of 53% on the same period last year; they now represent more than 18% of turnover.Georgina Adam (17 October 2012),

[http://theartnewspaper.com/articles/Battle+for+private+selling+shows/27295 Battle for private selling shows]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023000033/http://theartnewspaper.com/articles/Battle%2Bfor%2Bprivate%2Bselling%2Bshows/27295 |date=23 October 2012 }} The Art Newspaper. The company has since promoted curated events, centred on a theme rather than an art classification or time period.{{Cite news|title = 'Curated' auctions and new buyers keep Christie's in the frame|url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/70d74b86-c386-11e5-808f-8231cd71622e,Authorised=false.html?siteedition=uk&_i_location=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.ft.com%252Fcms%252Fs%252F0%252F70d74b86-c386-11e5-808f-8231cd71622e.html%253Fsiteedition%253Duk&_i_referer=&classification=conditional_standard&iab=barrier-app#axzz3z6fCpaCf|newspaper = Financial Times|date = 26 January 2016|access-date = 10 February 2016|issn = 0307-1766|first = Mary|last = Childs}}

As part of a companywide review in 2017, Christie's announced the layoffs of 250 employees, or 12 per cent of the total work force, based mainly in Britain and Europe.Scott Reyburn (8 March 2017), [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/arts/design/christies-to-close-a-london-salesroom-and-scale-back-in-amsterdam.html Christie's to Close a London Salesroom and Scale Back in Amsterdam] The New York Times.

In June 2021, Christie's Paris held its first sale dedicated to women artists, most notably Louise Moillon's Nature morte aux raisins et pêches.{{Cite news|url=https://observer.com/2021/06/christies-france-women-artists-auction-sale/|title=Christie's Paris is Holding Its First Sale Dedicated to Women Artists in June|work=Observer|access-date=8 June 2021|language=en}}

In 2022 Christie's sold $8.4bn in art and luxury goods, an all-time high for any auction house.{{Cite news |last=Crow |first=Kelly |date=19 December 2022 |title=Christie's Sells Record $8.4 Billion in Art, Spurred by Big Estates and Young Bidders |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/christies-sales-record-11671485386 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221220111155/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/christies-sales-record-11671485386 |archive-date=20 December 2022 |url-status=live}}

Christie's agreed to acquire American classic car auction house, Gooding & Company, in September 2024.{{Cite news |last=Elliot |first=Hannah |date=12 September 2024 |title=Merger of Christie's, Gooding Auction Houses Applauded as 'Overdue' |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-12/christie-s-auction-house-buys-gooding-and-even-competitors-are-happy |publisher=Bloomberg News |url-access=subscription}}

From 2008 until 2013, Christie's charged 25 per cent for the first $50,000; 20 per cent on the amount between $50,001 and $1M, and 12 per cent on the rest. From 2013, it charged 25 per cent for the first $75,000; 20 per cent on the next $75,001 to $1.5M and 12 per cent on the rest.Carol Vogel (18 February 2013), [http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/christies-raises-its-commissions-for-first-time-in-five-years/ Christie's Raises Its Commissions for First Time in Five Years]. The New York Times.

As of 2023, Christie's commission (buyer's premium) is 26 per cent of the hammer price of each lot up to £800,000/US$1,000,000, plus 21 per cent of the hammer price from £800,001/US$1,000,001 up to and including £4,500,000/US$6,000,000, and 15 per cent on the rest.{{cite web |title=Buyer's premium |url=https://www.christies.com/en/help/buying-guide-important-information/financial-information |website=Christie's |access-date=22 August 2023}}

As of 2023, Christie's has offices in 46 countries worldwide, with salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

Christie's flagship saleroom is in London on King Street in St. James's, where it has been based since 1823. It had a second London saleroom in South Kensington which opened in 1975 and primarily handled the middle market. Christie's permanently closed the South Kensington saleroom in July 2017 as part of their restructuring plans announced in March 2017. The closure was due in part to a considerable decrease in sales between 2015 and 2016 in addition to the company expanding its online sales presence.{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/7cd9636a-fed0-3aa9-b036-d933e12b270f |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/7cd9636a-fed0-3aa9-b036-d933e12b270f |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Christie's to close South Kensington sale room|first=Josh|last=Spero|date=9 March 2017|website=Financial Times}}{{cite web|url=https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2017/christie-s-south-kensington-to-close-sooner-than-expected/|title=Christie's South Kensington to close sooner than expected|website=Antiquestradegazette.com}}

In early 2017, Christie's also announced plans to scale back its operation in Amsterdam.

In 1977, led by then Chairman Stephen Lash, the company opened its first international branch on Park Avenue in New York City in the Delmonico's Hotel grand ballroom on the second floor;{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/15/archives/the-london-art-market-arrives-the-british-art-auctioneers-are.html|title=The London Art Market Arrives|first=Rita|last=Reif|date=15 May 1977|access-date=22 October 2021|website=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/09/30/archives/new-jersey-pages-christies-will-open-new-york-galleries-christies.html|title=Christie's Will Open New York Galleries|first=Rita|last=Reif|date=30 September 1976|access-date=22 October 2021|website=The New York Times}} in 1997 it took a 30-year lease on a {{convert|300000|sqft|m2|order=flip|-3|abbr=on}} space in Rockefeller Center for $40M.Carol Vogel (25 March 1997), [https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/25/arts/rockefeller-center-lease-is-signed-by-christie-s.html Rockefeller Center Lease Is Signed By Christie's] New York Times.

Until 2001, Christie's East, a division that sold lower-priced art and objects, was located at 219 East 67th Street. In 1996, Christie's bought a townhouse on East 59th Street in Manhattan as a separate gallery where experts could show clients art in complete privacy to conduct private treaty sales.

Christie's opened a Beverly Hills saleroom in 1997.Irene Lacher (2 August 1996), [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-02-ca-30352-story.html Christie's Ups the Ante With Beverly Hills Space] Los Angeles Times. In April 2017, in moved to a {{convert|4500|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} two-story flagship space in Beverly Hills, designed by wHY.Gabriella Angeleti (9 February 2017), [http://theartnewspaper.com/market/art-market-news/christie-s-to-open-new-flagship-location-in-los-angeles/ Christie's to open new flagship location in Los Angeles] The Art Newspaper.

Christie's has been operating a space in Hong Kong's Alexandra House since 2014. In 2021, the company announced plans to move its Hong Kong headquarters to the Zaha Hadid-designed luxury tower The Henderson in 2024, where it will launch year-round auctions. Measuring more than {{convert|50000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} over four storeys, the new space, which incorporates a permanent saleroom and galleries, is comparable in size to Christie's London headquarters.Annie Shaw (27 July 2021), [https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/christie-s-to-open-year-round-saleroom-and-galleries-in-luxury-tower-in-central-hong-kong Follow the money: Christie's bets on Hong Kong with vast new headquarters as clients in Asia spend over $1bn so far this year] The Art Newspaper.

File:Pontormo (Jacopo Carucci) (Italian, Florentine) - Portrait of a Halberdier (Francesco Guardi?) - Google Art Project.jpg, Portrait of a Halberdier, 1528–1530. Sold by Christie's for US$35.2 million in 1989. (J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles)]]

• In 1848 the sale of the contents of Stowe House after the bankruptcy of the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos was one of the first and most publicised British country house contents auctions. The sale raised £75,400 and included the Chandos portrait of William Shakespeare.{{cite news |last1=Country Life |title=1848: the Stowe sale |url=https://www.countrylife.co.uk/luxury/art-and-antiques/5-sales-which-made-christies-no-2-the-stowe-sale-144150 |access-date=26 July 2018 |date=27 December 2016}}
• The 1882 sale of the Hamilton Palace collection raised £332,000.{{cite news |last1=Country Life |title=1882: the Hamilton Palace sale |url=https://www.countrylife.co.uk/luxury/art-and-antiques/5-sales-made-christies-no-3-hamilton-palace-sale-144167 |access-date=26 July 2018 |date=28 December 2016}}
• In March 1987, Vincent van Gogh's Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers fetched an auction record of $39.9M at Christie's, making it the most expensive painting in the world at the time, at more than three times the price of the previous worldwide record for the highest paid for any painting.{{cite news |last1=Clines |first1=Francis X. |title=Van Gogh Sets Auction Record: $39.9 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/31/arts/van-gogh-sets-auction-record-39.9-million.html |access-date=12 August 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=31 March 1987}}
• In November 1987, during the Royal Albert Hall auction, Christie's auctioned a Bugatti Royale automobile for a world record price of £5.5M.{{cite news |title=The most expensive car in the world |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2716929/The-most-expensive-car-in-the-world.html |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=The Telegraph |date=23 March 2002}}
• In May 1989, Pontormo's Portrait of a Halberdier was sold to the J. Paul Getty Museum for $35.2M, more than tripling the previous auction record for an Old Master painting.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/03/arts/the-getty-fills-a-role-for-itself-and-the-public.html | title=The Getty Fills a Role, for Itself and the Public |first=Michael|last=Kimmelman|date=3 June 1989|access-date=10 February 2009|work=The New York Times}}
• On 11 November 1994, the Codex Leicester was sold to Bill Gates for {{currency|30,802,500|USD}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/the-leonardo-da-vinci-codex-hammer-2465002-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=2465002&sid=5e1d02d9-a507-4a1e-9754-562094d8cea2 |title=Christie, Manson and Woods, sale 8030, 11 November 1994 |publisher=Christies.com |date=11 November 1994 |access-date=23 July 2013}}
• In 1998, Christie's in New York sold the famous Archimedes Palimpsest after the conclusion of a lawsuit in which its ownership was disputed.{{cite news |last1=Michaud |first1=Christopher |title=Eueka!: Archimedes Text Fetches $2.2 Million |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1998/10/30/eureka-archimedes-text-fetches-22-million/04d87fcb-47f0-48ab-8112-5b436d50a8ce/ |access-date=7 June 2023 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=30 October 1998}}
• In November 1999, a single strand necklace of 41 natural and graduated pearls, which belonged to Barbara Hutton, was auctioned by Christie's Geneva for $1,476,000.{{cite news |last1=Moonan |first1=Wendy |title=Rare Books, New Worlds |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/20/arts/design/20anti.html |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=20 April 2007}}
• In June 2001, Elton John sold 20 of his cars at Christie's, saying he didn't drive them often because he was frequently out of the country. The sale, which included a 1993 Jaguar XJ220, the most expensive at £234,750, and several Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys, raised nearly £2M.{{cite news |title=Car auction 'thrills' Elton John |url=http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/06/05/elton.auction.02/ |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=CNN |date=6 June 2001}}
• In 2006, a single Imperial Qing dynasty porcelain bowl, another item which belonged to Barbara Hutton, was auctioned by Christie's Hong Kong for a price of US$19.5M.{{cite news |title=Qing Dynasty bowl smashes record auction price |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-11/28/content_744960.htm |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=China Daily |agency=Reuters |date=28 November 2006}}{{cite news |last1=Watts |first1=Jonathan |title=Woman pays Asian record £10m to keep Qing bowl in family |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/nov/28/arts.china |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=28 November 2006}}
• On 16 May 2006, Christie's auctioned a Stradivarius called The Hammer for a record US$3,544,000. It was, at that time, the most paid at public auction for any musical instrument.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4988838.stm | title=Stradivarius tops auction record |work=BBC News | date=17 May 2006 | access-date=7 April 2007}}
• In November 2006, four celebrated paintings by Gustav Klimt were sold for a total of $192M, after being restituted by Austria to Jewish heirs after a lengthy legal battle.{{cite news|work=The New York Times|first=Carol|last=Vogel|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/arts/design/09christies.html|title=$491 Million Sale at Christie's Shatters Art Auction Record|date=9 November 2006|access-date=13 March 2009}}
• In December 2006, one of the three versions of the Givenchy black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's was sold for £467,200 at Christie's South Kensington.{{cite news |last1=Collett-White |first1=Mike |title=Breakfast at Tiffany's dress fetches $800,000 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hepburn-dress/breakfast-at-tiffanys-dress-fetches-800000-idUSL0565235720061206 |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=Reuters |date=20 January 2007}}
• In 2006, controversy arose after Christie's auctioned artefacts known to be looted from Bulgaria.{{cite news|title=Bulgaria, Christie's Face Off Over Looted Artifact|url=http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/24278/bulgaria-christies-face-off-over-looted-artifact/|access-date=18 July 2011|newspaper=Art Info|date=7 November 2006}}{{cite news|last=Kodzhabasheva|first=Ani|title=Rogue excavators routinely steal and destroy Bulgaria's archaeological treasures|url=http://toglobalist.org/2011/06/antiques-roadshow/|access-date=18 July 2011|newspaper=The Oxonian Globalist|date=7 June 2011}}
• In November 2007, an album of eight leaves, ink on paper, by China's Ming dynasty court painter Dong Qichang was sold at the Christie's Hong Kong Chinese Paintings Auction for US$6,235,500, a world auction record for the artist.{{cite web |url=http://www.studiospecial.com/cl/aus/ |title=Christie's |publisher=Studiospecial.com |access-date=28 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225141940/http://www.studiospecial.com/cl/aus/ |archive-date=25 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}
• In 2008, the ink wash painting of Gundam painted by Tenmyouya Hisashi in 2005 was sold in the Christie's auction held in Hong Kong at a price of US$600,000.{{cite web|url=http://game.people.com.cn/BIG5/48602/48968/7304425.html |title=Most expensive Gundam picture sold in history |work=People's Daily |access-date=28 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005153659/http://game.people.com.cn/BIG5/48602/48968/7304425.html |archive-date=5 October 2013 }}{{cite news|author=Lim, Le-Min |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aDjnvF2yaye4 |title=Gun-Slinging Robot, Wooden Beams Mark Quiet Hong Kong Art Sale |publisher=Bloomberg |date=25 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805072911/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aDjnvF2yaye4 |archive-date=5 August 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-05-26/gundam-painting-auctioned-for-us$600000+in-hong-kong |title=Gundam Painting Auctioned for US$600,000+ in Hong Kong |publisher=Animenewsnetwork.com |date=24 February 2012 |access-date=28 February 2012}}
• In June 2008, Le Bassin Aux Nymphéas by Claude Monet was sold for a price of $80.4M, the highest price ever for a Monet.{{cite news |last1=Vogel |first1=Carol |title=A Monet Sets a Record: $80.4 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/arts/design/25auct.html |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=25 June 2008}}
• Over a three-day sale in Paris in February 2009, Christie's auctioned the monumental private collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé for a record-breaking 370M euros.{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/stageNews/idUKTRE51J5QU20090225|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228072115/http://uk.reuters.com/article/stageNews/idUKTRE51J5QU20090225|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 February 2009|work=Reuters|title=Record-breaking YSL auction shrugs off crisis|date=25 February 2009|access-date=25 February 2009}} It was the most expensive private collection ever sold at auction,{{cite news|title=Yves Saint Laurent Art Sale Brings In $264 Million|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/arts/design/24auction.html|date=23 February 2009|access-date=25 February 2009|first=Steve|last=Erlanger|work=The New York Times}} breaking auction records for Brâncuși, Matisse, and Mondrian. The "Dragons" armchair by Irish furniture designer Eileen Gray sold for 21.9M euros, setting an auction record for a piece of 20th century decorative art.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/artsales/4805374/Small-brown-armchair-sells-for-19-million.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/artsales/4805374/Small-brown-armchair-sells-for-19-million.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Small brown armchair sells for £19 million|date=25 February 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=12 April 2016}}{{cbignore}}
• In 2009, controversy arose again after the auction of two imperial bronze zodiac sculptures (for US$36M) collected by Yves Saint Laurent, as the items had been looted in 1860 from the Old Summer Palace of Beijing by French and British forces at the close of the Second Opium War.{{cite news|first=George|last=Harris|title=China demands return of Christie's 'looted relics'|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20090226-china-demands-return-christies-looted-relics-yves-saint-laurent-auction-paris|publisher=France 24|agency=Agence France-Presse (AFP)|date=2 March 2009|access-date=3 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105011244/http://www.france24.com/en/20090226-china-demands-return-christies-looted-relics-yves-saint-laurent-auction-paris|archive-date=5 January 2010|url-status=dead}}
• Christie's Hong Kong, November 2009 sale of Fine Modern Chinese Paintings, sold a work by Fu Baoshi titled Landscape inspired by Dufu's Poetic Sentiments, for HK$60M (US$7.7M) – a world record for the artist.{{cite news |last1=Pomfret |first1=James |title=Classical paintings shine at Christie's in Hong Kong |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-art-christies/classical-paintings-shine-at-christies-in-hong-kong-idUSTRE5AT1PN20091130 |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=Reuters |date=30 November 2009}}
• Christie's auctioned Pablo Picasso's Nude, Green Leaves and Bust on 4 May 2010. The piece sold for US$106.5M, making the sale among the most expensive paintings ever sold.{{cite news |last1=Vogel |first1=Carol |title=At $106.5 Million, a Picasso Sets an Auction Record |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/arts/design/05auction.html |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=4 May 2010}}
• On 14 June 2010 Amedeo Modigliani's Tête, a limestone sculpture of a woman's head, sold for $52.6M, making it one of the most expensive sculpture ever sold, and at the time the most expensive work of art sold in France.{{cite news |last1=Crow |first1=Kelly |title=Christie's Sells Modigliani for $52.6 Million |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704324304575307202294422036 |access-date=7 June 2023 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=14 June 2010}}
• On 18 April 2012, the silver cup given to the marathon winner, Greek athlete Spyridon Louis, at the first modern Olympic Games staged in Athens in 1896 sold for £541,250, breaking the auction record for Olympic memorabilia.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-auction-idUSBRE83H0T320120418 | title=Marathon cup from 1896 sets Olympics auction record |access-date=18 April 2012|work=Reuters|date=18 April 2012}}
• On 22 June 2012, George Washington's personal annotated copy of the Acts Passed at a Congress of the United States of America from 1789, which includes The Constitution of the United States and a draft of the Bill of Rights, was sold at Christie's for a record $9,826,500, with fees the final cost, to The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. This was the record for a document sold at auction.{{cite web|title=NYC Auction of George Washington Document Sets Record|date=22 June 2012 |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/06/22/nyc-auction-of-george-washington-document-sets-record/|publisher=CBS News New York|access-date=22 June 2012}}
• On 12 November 2013, Francis Bacon's Three Studies of Lucian Freud sold for {{USD|link=yes}}142.4M(including the buyer's premium) to an unnamed buyer, nominally becoming the most expensive work of art ever to be sold at auction.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/13/arts/design/bacons-study-of-freud-sells-for-more-than-142-million.html?hp&_r=0|title=At $142.4 Million, Triptych Is the Most Expensive Artwork Ever Sold at an Auction|last=Vogel|first=Carol|newspaper=The New York Times|date=12 November 2013|access-date=13 November 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/when-lucian-met-francis-relationship-that-spawned-most-expensive-painting-ever-sold-8937613.html|title=When Lucian met Francis: Relationship that spawned most expensive painting ever sold|last=Sherwin|first=Adam|author-link=Adam Sherwin|newspaper=The Independent|date=13 November 2013|access-date=14 November 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24922106|title=Bacon painting fetches record price|publisher=BBC|date=12 November 2013|access-date=13 November 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/10445612/Francis-Bacon-triptych-smashes-art-auction-record.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/10445612/Francis-Bacon-triptych-smashes-art-auction-record.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Francis Bacon triptych smashes art auction record|last=Swaine|first=Jon|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=13 November 2013|access-date=14 November 2013}}{{cbignore}}
• On 11 May 2015, Pablo Picasso's Les Femmes d'Alger ("Version O") sold for {{USD|link=yes}}179.3M to an unnamed buyer, becoming the most expensive work of art ever to be sold at auction at Christie's New York. In November of the same year, Amedeo Modigliani's Nu Couché (1917–18) sold at Christie's in New York for $170.4M, making it the second most expensive work sold at auction.{{Cite web|title = Contemporary art market cools, but Modern sector heats up at Christie's in 2015|url = http://theartnewspaper.com/market/art-market-news/contemporary-art-market-cools-but-modern-sector-heats-up-at-christie-s-in-2015/|website = theartnewspaper.com|access-date = 3 February 2016}}
• In May 2016, the Oppenheimer Blue diamond sold for CHF56,837,000, a record price for a jewel at auction.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/18/oppenheimer-blue-diamond-most-expensive-ever-sold-at-auction|title=Oppenheimer Blue diamond sells for world record at auction|date=18 May 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 May 2016}}
• On 7 July 2016, the highest price ever sold for an old master painting at Christie's was achieved with £44,882,500 for Rubens' Lot and his Daughters.[http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2016/07/08/34061511.html Alain Truong] art blog[http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/paintings/sir-peter-paul-rubens-lot-and-his-6010107-details.aspx 6010107] Christie's sale record
• On 11 November 2017, a Patek Philippe Titanium wristwatch Ref. 5208T-010 was sold for $6.226M (CHF6,200,000) in Geneva, making it one of the most expensive watches ever sold at auction.{{Cite web|url=https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/patek-philippereference-5208t-010reference-5208t-010-was-created-specially-6095468-details.aspx|title=PATEK PHILIPPE (REFERENCE 5208T-010 REFERENCE 5208T-010 WAS CREATED SPECIALLY FOR ONLY WATCH 2017)|website=Christies.com|language=en|access-date=24 November 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolbesler/2017/11/11/christies-only-watch-charity-auction-totals-10-8-million-including-a-6-million-patek-philippe/#775fbb881557|title=Christie's ONLY Watch Charity Auction Totals $10.8-Million, Including A $6-Million Patek Philippe|last=Besler|first=Carol|work=Forbes|access-date=24 November 2018|language=en}}
• File:Leonardo da Vinci, Salvator Mundi, c.1500, oil on walnut, 45.4 × 65.6 cm.jpg is the most expensive painting ever sold at auction.]]On 15 November 2017, Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi sold for a record $450.3M (including buyer's premium).{{Cite web|title = Leonardo da Vinci painting 'Salvator Mundi' sold for record $450.3 million|url = https://www.foxnews.com/world/leonardo-da-vinci-painting-salvator-mundi-sold-for-record-450-3-million|website=Foxnews.com| date=15 November 2017 }}
• On 4 July 2019, a bust fragment of Tutankhamun was sold for £4.7M.{{cite news |title='Stolen' Tutankhamun bust sells for £4.7m |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-48865336 |work=BBC News |date=4 July 2019}} The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities had tried to stop the auction, citing concerns that the bust had been looted from a temple and illegally taken from Egypt in the 1970s.{{cite news |last1=Michaelson |first1=Ruth |title=Egypt tries to stop sale of Tutankhamun statue in London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/10/egypt-tries-to-stop-sale-tutankhamun-statue-london |work=The Guardian |date=10 June 2019}}
• On 25 June 2020, Christie's sold a Timurid Quran manuscript, described as "rare and breathtaking", for £7M (with fees), ten times its estimate.{{Cite web|last=Rice|first=Stephennie Mulder and Yael|title=The mystery of the Timurid Qur'an|url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and-books/the-mystery-of-the-timurid-quran|access-date=24 July 2020|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Quran quietly sells for record £7m despite questions over its provenance|url=http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/quran-sells-for-record-price|access-date=24 July 2020|website=Theartnewspaper.com|date=6 July 2020 }} The price was the highest price ever paid for a Quran manuscript. Probably created at a Timurid prince's court, the manuscript comprised 534 folios of Arabic calligraphy on "gold-flecked, coloured paper from Ming China". The sale was criticized that since the "object apparently has no provenance prior to the 1980s, we can't know anything about the context in which it was removed from its country of origin."
• In October 2020, Christie's sold Stan, one of the world's most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons for US$31.8M, setting a new world record for any dinosaur skeleton or fossil ever sold at auction at the time.{{Cite web|last=Guy|first=Jack|title=T. rex skeleton sells for $31.8 million setting new world record|website=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/stan-t-rex-skeleton-auction-scli-intl-scn/index.html|date=11 October 2020|language=en-US}}
• In May 2022, Andy Warhol's silkscreen painting Shot Sage Blue Marilyn sold at Christie's New York for $195M, making it the most expensive work of American art sold at auction and the most expensive work of 20th-century art sold at auction.{{cite web |last1=Ulaby |first1=Neda |title=A Warhol 'Marilyn' brings a record auction price, $195 million |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/05/09/1096617152/a-warhol-marilyn-brings-a-record-auction-price-195-million |website=NPR |access-date=27 August 2023 |date=9 May 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Tarmy |first1=James |title=Warhol Marilyn Sells for $195 Million, Most Ever for U.S. Artist |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-10/warhol-shot-sage-blue-marilyn-sells-for-195-million-most-ever-for-u-s-artist |access-date=27 August 2023 |work=Bloomberg News |date=9 May 2022}}
• In September and October 2022 at Christie's, the James Bond film franchise auctioned 61 lots of vehicles, watches, costumes, props, posters, and memorabilia from the 25 Bond films. The auction raised nearly £7M from 28 countries, and proceeds went to over 45 charities.{{cite news |last1=Bedigan |first1=Mike |title=James Bond 60th anniversary charity auction raises nearly £7m |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/bond-tom-ford-trust-swarovski-spectre-b2196593.html |access-date=12 August 2023 |work=The Independent |date=6 October 2022}}
• In November 2022, the art collection of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen was auctioned at Christie's New York.{{Cite news |last=Shetty |first=Bhavya |date=12 November 2022 |title=Art from Microsoft founder Paul Allen sells for $1.6 billion |pages=storyik.com |work=Storyik |url=https://storyik.com/art-from-microsoft-founder-paul-allen-sells-for-1-6-billion/ |access-date=12 November 2022 |archive-date=12 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112191558/https://storyik.com/art-from-microsoft-founder-paul-allen-sells-for-1-6-billion/ |url-status=dead }} It was the biggest sale in art auction history, surpassing $1.5bn in sales. Six works sold for more than $100M: Seurat's Les Poseuses Ensemble (Petite version), ($149M, with fees); Paul Cézanne's 1888–90 La Montagne Sainte-Victoire ($138M); van Gogh's Verger avec cyprès ($117M); and Gustav Klimt's 1903 Birch Forest ($105M). The auction also included paintings by Botticelli, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, Edward Hopper, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns and Jan Brueghel the Younger. Proceeds from the auction benefitted undisclosed philanthropies.{{Cite news |last=Pogrebin |first=Robin |date=26 August 2022 |title=Christie's to Sell Paul G. Allen's $1 Billion Art Collection |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/25/arts/design/christies-auction-paul-allen-art-collection.html |access-date=26 August 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last=Pogrebin |first=Robin |date=10 November 2022 |title=Paul G. Allen's Art at Christie's Tops $1.5 Billion, Cracking Records |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/09/arts/design/paul-allen-auction-christies.html |access-date=10 November 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news|url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/paul-allen-christies-billion-dollar-art-sale-1234646017/|author1=Angelica Villa|author2=Daniel Cassady|date=10 November 2022|title=Collection of Deceased Tech Billionaire Paul Allen Draws Historic $1.5 B. in Christie's Auction|work=ARTnews}}
• In May 2023, the jewellery collection once owned by Austrian billionaire Heidi Horten, who died in 2022, set a record for the most valuable single collection of jewels in an auction, fetching CHF180M ($201M).{{cite web |last1=Holland |first1=Oscar |last2=Orie |first2=Amarachi |date=16 May 2023 |title=Controversial jewelry collection fetches a record-shattering $201 million |url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/heidi-horten-jewelry-auction-record/index.html |website=CNN}}{{cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Belen |date=10 April 2023 |title=Christie's largest jewelry sale: A billionaire widow, diamonds and a fortune built on Nazi plunder |url=https://english.elpais.com/society/2023-04-10/christies-largest-jewelry-sale-a-billionaire-widow-diamonds-and-a-fortune-built-on-nazi-plunder.html |work=El País}} In August 2023, Christie's cancelled a second Horten jewellery sale, which had been scheduled for November, after Jewish charities and organizations refused to accept portions of the proceeds from the first sale citing the source of Horten's wealth.{{Cite news |last=Small |first=Zachary |date=31 August 2023 |title=Christie's Cancels Sale of Jewelry Connected to Nazi-Era Fortune |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/arts/design/christies-heidi-horten-sale.html |work=The New York Times}}
• In November 2024 a painting by surrealist artist Rene Magritte broke an auction record, selling for more than $121 million at Christie's in New York. The previous record for a work by Magritte was $79 million, set in 2022.{{cite news|title=Magritte painting nets auction record of $121 million |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/magritte-painting-nets-auction-record-of-121-million/ar-AA1upN02 |publisher=MSN |date=November 20, 2024}}

In 2000, allegations surfaced of a price-fixing arrangement between Christie's and Sotheby's. Executives from Christie's subsequently alerted the Department of Justice of their suspicions of commission-fixing collusion.

Christie's gained immunity from prosecution in the United States as a longtime employee of Christie's confessed and cooperated with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. Numerous members of Sotheby's senior management were fired soon thereafter, and A. Alfred Taubman, the largest shareholder of Sotheby's at the time, took most of the blame; he and Dede Brooks (the CEO) were given jail sentences, and Christie's, Sotheby's and their owners also paid a civil lawsuit settlement of $512M.{{cite news|last=Rohleder|first=Anna|year=2001|title=Who's Who in the Sotheby's Price-Fixing Trial|work=Forbes|location=New York|url=https://www.forbes.com/2001/11/14/1114players.html|access-date=3 September 2009}}{{cite book|last=Mason|first=Christopher|url=http://www.theartofthesteal.com/|title=Art of the Steal: Inside the Sotheby's-Christie's Auction House Scandal|date=3 May 2005|publisher=Penguin Group|isbn=978-1-4406-0480-5|location=New York}}{{cite web|date=8 September 2004|title=Going Once, Going Twice... Glamour, Greed and Fraud at Sotheby's and Christie's|url=http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1034|access-date=3 September 2009|work=Knowledge@Wharton|publisher=University of Pennsylvania}}

Christie's has been criticised for "an embarrassing history of a lack of transparency around provenance". In 2003, Christie's was criticised for its handling of two Nazi-looted artworks claimed by heirs of the original Jewish owners. In one case, it refused to divulge to the heirs the location of an Italian painting formerly owned by Jewish Viennese banker Heinrich Graf, looted by the Gestapo.{{Cite web |last=Reich |first=Howard |date=30 December 2002 |title=Sisters track art stolen by Nazis |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-30-et-reich30-story.html |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Pratley |first=Nils |date=25 October 2003 |title=Christie's hides behind confidentiality over painting stolen by Gestapo |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/oct/25/arts.artsnews |access-date=3 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077}} Christie's eventually revealed the holder's name after the Jewish Community of Vienna filed a successful suit in the UK on behalf of Graf's American daughters in late 2004.{{cite news |last1=Reich |first1=Howard |title=Bittersweet ending: A Nazi-looted painting resurfaces but is not returned |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/howard-reich/ct-looted-marieschi-ae-0528-20170527-column.html |access-date=26 February 2023 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=27 May 2017}} In the other 2003 case Christie's declined to inform the family that it had discovered that a painting consigned to it had been looted from Ulla and Moriz Rosenthal, a Jewish couple murdered in Auschwitz.{{Cite news |last=Pratley |first=Nils |date=24 October 2003 |title=Christie's hid Nazi past of painting |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/oct/24/germany.arttheft |access-date=3 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |date=24 October 2003 |title=Christie's denies Nazi cover-up |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3211127.stm |access-date=3 February 2023}}

On 19 May 2020, the craft supply company Hobby Lobby, who purchased material for loan or donation to The Museum of the Bible, filed a diversity action on the auction house regarding the sale and purchase of the Gilgamesh tablet by private sale agreement on 14 July 2014, allegedly while knowing the Iraqi-origin cuneiform object had a fake provenance.{{cite web |title=HOBBY LOBBY STORES, INC., Plaintiff, v. CHRISTIE'S INC. and John Doe #1, Defendants. 20-CV-2239 |url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-dis-crt-ed-new-yor/2146234.html#:~:text=The%20plaintiff%20filed%20this%20diversity,a%20portion%20of%20the%20Epic |website=FindLaw |access-date=18 March 2024}}{{Cite web|title=Hobby Lobby sues Christie's for selling it an antiquity authorities say was looted|url=http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/hobby-lobby-sues-christie-s-for-selling-it-a-looted-antiquity|access-date=24 July 2020|website=Theartnewspaper.com|date=19 May 2020 }} In June 2020, they were forced to withdraw four Greek and Roman antiquities from sale after it was discovered that they came from "sites linked to convicted antiquities traffickers".{{Cite web|date=14 June 2020|title=Christie's withdraws 'looted' Greek and Roman treasures|url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/jun/14/christies-withdraws-allegedly-looted-greek-and-roman-treasures|access-date=24 July 2020|website=The Guardian|language=en}} The same month, they were criticised for putting up a Benin plaque and two Igbo alusi figures for auction.{{cite web |last1=Obi-Young |first1=Otosirieze |title=Art Historian Chika Okeke-Agulu Calls for Cancellation of Paris Auction of Igbo Sculptures |url=https://folio.ng/art-historian-chika-okeke-agulu-calls-for-cancellation-of-paris-auction-of-igbo-sculptures/ |website=Folio Nigeria |access-date=17 August 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Waning market for African artefacts? Controversial Benin bronze fails to sell at Christie's|url=http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/christies-african-objects-sale|access-date=24 July 2020|website=Theartnewspaper.com|date=30 June 2020 }} The plaque was tied to similar plaques taken from Nigeria during the Benin Expedition of 1897 and remained unsold after an auction was held. The alusi figures are alleged to have been taken from Nigeria during the Nigerian Civil War and were sold for €212,500 (after fees), below their low estimate of €250,000.{{Cite web|date=29 June 2020|title=Christie's Paris Sells Two 'Sacred Sculptures' From Nigeria, Despite Protests From Scholars and Nigerian Heritage Authorities|url=https://news.artnet.com/market/two-sacred-sculptures-nigeria-sold-christies-christies-paris-despite-claims-objects-looted-war-1890772|access-date=24 July 2020|website=artnet News|language=en-US}} Christie's claims to require "verifiable documented provenance that the object was taken out of its source nation prior to the earlier date of 2000, or the date which is legally applicable between the country in which the sale takes place and the source nation".

In November 2014, Christie's had to withdraw a prehistoric sculpture from Sardinia, valued at $800,000–$1.2m, put on auction by Michael Steinhardt, a US-billionaire, who was given a lifetime ban on acquiring further antiquities by the Manhattan district attorney's office in 2021.{{Cite news|last=McKinley|first=James C. Jr.|date=6 January 2018|title=Looted Antiques Seized From Billionaire's Home, Prosecutors Say|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/nyregion/antiques-seized-from-billionaire-michael-steinhardt-cyrus-vance.html|access-date=9 December 2021|issn=0362-4331}} After having acquired artworks with unverified provenance for years, for example by convicted art dealer Giacomo Medici, Steinhard's collection had been subjected to search warrants and investigations since 2017. He finally surrendered 180 looted and illegally smuggled antiquities valued at $70m. According to The Guardian, the district attorney said: "For decades, Michael Steinhardt displayed a rapacious appetite for plundered artefacts without concern for the legality of his actions, the legitimacy of the pieces he bought and sold or the grievous cultural damage he wrought across the globe.{{Cite web|last=Alberge|first=Dalya|date=7 December 2021|title=US billionaire surrenders $70m of stolen art|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/07/us-billionaire-michael-steinhardt-surrenders-70m-dollars-stolen-art|url-status=live|access-date=7 December 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207103919/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/07/us-billionaire-michael-steinhardt-surrenders-70m-dollars-stolen-art |archive-date=7 December 2021 }}

In February 2023 a French court ordered Christie's to unconditionally restitute Dutch painting The Penitent Magdalene, signed Adriaen van der Werff (1707), looted in 1942 from Lionel Hauser in Paris and last sold by the auction house without any provenance in London in April 2005.{{Cite web |date=1 February 2023 |title=French court orders Christie's to restitute a Nazi-looted painting sold in London |url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/02/01/french-court-orders-christies-to-restitute-a-nazi-looted-painting-sold-in-london |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=The Art Newspaper – International art news and events}}{{Cite web |last=Villa |first=Angelica |date=31 January 2023 |title=Christie's Ordered to Return Painting That Was Confiscated During World War II to Proust Heirs |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/crhisties-returns-dutch-painting-proust-heirs-restitution-1234655870/ |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=ARTnews.com |language=en-US}} Christie's had offered the Hauser heirs 50 per cent of the sale price; the heirs refused the offer and took the case to court.{{Cite news |date=7 July 2022 |title=Legal battle over 'Mary Magdalene' painting looted by Nazis in Paris |language=en |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/police-and-justice/article/2022/07/07/legal-battle-over-mary-magdalene-painting-looted-by-nazis-in-paris_5989370_105.html |access-date=2 February 2023}}{{Cite web |date=28 January 2023 |title=Justice orders the return of a painting looted by the Nazis from a cousin of Marcel Proust |url=https://time.news/justice-orders-the-return-of-a-painting-looted-by-the-nazis-from-a-cousin-of-marcel-proust/ |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=Time News |language=en-US}}

In 2018, Christie's began offering "digital passports" stored on the blockchain to a select number of private collectors purchasing art. These "certificates of ownership" gave the buyer a clear and transparent provenance record of the piece of art they were purchasing, a record that could never be erased or manipulated, and accessible worldwide.[https://webflowinternal.artory.com/blog/artory-to-join-christies-panel-on-art-and-blockchain Artory to Join Christie’s Panel on Art and Blockchain] Artory.

Six years later in October 2024, two Christie's auctions exhibited this block-chain technology in the most public events to date. In the first, on 2 October, Christie's New York showcased the work of Diane Arbus and Cindy Sherman in An Eye Towards the Real: Photographs from the Collection of Ambassador Trevor Traina - a former U.S. ambassador to Austria and founder of the web3 wallet provider Kresus. Eight days later, on 10 October, Christie's New York auctioned Ascend, a digital work created by Ryan Koopmans and Alice Wexell, marking the first time a piece inscribed on Bitcoin's Ordinals protocol had been sold in a live auction at Christie’s. Christie's sees this "integration of physical and digital ownership" as the future of art auctioning, and the most efficient way for buyers to know they've purchased a work with as accurate and secure a provenance as possible.Dorian Batycka (11 October 2024), [https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/10/11/from-ordinals-to-ownership-christies-explores-new-frontiers-of-blockchain-based-provenance From ordinals to ownership: Christie's explores new frontiers of blockchain-based provenance] ''The Art Newspaper.

Christie's first ventured into storage services for outside clients in 1984, when it opened a 100,000 square feet brick warehouse in London that was granted "Exempted Status" by HM Revenue and Customs,Kelly Crow (26 April 2010), [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703709804575202083586359768# The Ultimate Walk-In Closet: Christie's Offers Art Storage in Brooklyn] The Wall Street Journal. meaning that property may be imported into the United Kingdom and stored without incurring import duties and VAT. Christie's Fine Art Storage Services, or CFASS, is a wholly owned subsidiary that runs Christie's storage operation.

In September 2008, Christie's signed a 50-year lease on an early 1900s warehouse of the historic N.Y.D. CompanyLaura Gilbert (26 April 2013), [http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/An-exodus-from-Red-Hook-/29346 An exodus from Red Hook] The Art Newspaper. in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and subsequently spent $30M converting it into a six-storey, 250,000 square feetDiane Cardwell (24 August 2009), [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/nyregion/25christies.html A High-Tech Home for Multimillion-Dollar Works of Art] The New York Times. art-storage facility. The facility opened in 2010 and features high-tech security and climate controls that maintain a virtually constant 70°{{huh|date=March 2024}} and 50% relative humidity.Jennifer Maloney (10 May 2013), [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324744104578473423704512226 Builder Is Bullish on New York City's Fine-Art Storage Market: Developer Starts Construction of Art Storage Facility in Long Island City] The Wall Street Journal.

Located near the Upper Bay tidal waterway near the Atlantic Ocean, the Brooklyn facility was hit by at least one storm surge during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. CFASS subsequently faced client defections and complaints arising from damage to works of art. In 2013, AXA Art Insurance filed a lawsuit in New York court alleging that CFASS' "gross negligence" during the hurricane damaged art collected by late cellist Gregor Piatigorsky and his wife Jacqueline Rebecca Louise de Rothschild.Laura Gilbert (20 August 2013), [http://theartnewspaper.com/articles/Axa-sues-Christies-storage-services-over-Sandy-damage/30215 Axa sues Christie's storage services over Sandy damage] The Art Newspaper. Later that year, StarNet Insurance Co., the insurer for the LeRoy Neiman Foundation and the artist's estate, also filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court claiming that the storage company's negligence caused more than $10M in damages to Neiman's art.Laura Gilbert (12 December 2013), [http://theartnewspaper.com/articles/Christies-storage-hit-by-second-lawsuit-over-storm-damage/31352 Christie's storage hit by second lawsuit over storm damage] The Art Newspaper.

Christie's Education previously offered master's degree programs in London and New York, but they were planned to be phased out in 2019. In 2020, in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, Christie's noted that there was a lack of racial diversity in the art world, and admitted that Christie's degree programs only exacerbated these inequities.{{Cite web |title=A statement from Christie's Education |url=https://education.christies.com/news/2020/june/statement |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=education.christies.com}}

However, Christie's continue to offer non-degree programmes in London, New York, Hong Kong and Amsterdam as well as online.Karen W. Arenson (20 October 2005), [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/20/nyregion/20christies.html Getting a Master's Looking at the Masters] The New York Times. In addition they offer an Art Business Masterclass Certificate and the Luxury Masterclass Certificate.{{Cite web |title=FAQs {{!}} Christie's Education London |url=https://education.christies.com/faqs-masterclass |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=education.christies.com}}

With Bonhams, Christie's is a shareholder in the London-based Art Loss Register, a privately owned database used by law enforcement services worldwide to trace and recover stolen art.[http://www.buildingconservation.com/directory/ad157.htm The Art Loss Register, Ltd.]: "The Art Loss Register is the world's largest database of stolen art and antiques dedicated to their recovery. Its shareholders include Christie's, Bonhams, members of the insurance industry and art trade associations. " Retrieved 27 September 2008.

Since its acquisition by François Pinault, Christie's CEOs have been as follows:

• 1999–2010: Edward Dolman{{cite news |title=Christie's appoint new CEO |url=https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2010/christie-s-appoint-new-ceo/ |access-date=23 July 2023 |work=Antiques Trade Gazette |date=27 September 2010}}
• 2010–2014: Steven Murphy{{Cite news|url=http://fortune.com/2014/12/02/christies-ceo-resign/|title=Christie's CEO Steven Murphy will step down|work=Fortune|access-date=23 May 2018|language=en}}
• 2014–2017: Patricia Barbizet[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-02/christie-s-ceo-murphy-to-step-down-chairwoman-barbizet-promoted "Christie's Names Barbizet First Woman CEO as Murphy Exits"]. Bloomberg. Retrieved 14 May 2015
• 2017–2025: Guillaume Cerutti{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/14/arts/design/christies-chief-executive-to-step-down-hand-reins-to-guillaume-cerutti.html|title=Christie's Chief Executive to Step Down and Hand Reins to Guillaume Cerutti|first=Robin|last=Pogrebin|date=14 December 2016|website=The New York Times}}Kabir Jhala (15 January 2025), [https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/01/15/guillaume-cerutti-steps-down-christies-chief-executive-bonnie-brennan Guillaume Cerutti steps down as Christie's chief executive—but will stay within Pinault's orbit] The Art Newspaper.
• 2025–present: Bonnie BrennanKabir Jhala (15 January 2025), [https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/01/15/guillaume-cerutti-steps-down-christies-chief-executive-bonnie-brennan Guillaume Cerutti steps down as Christie's chief executive—but will stay within Pinault's orbit] The Art Newspaper.

{{Reflist}}

• J. Herbert, Inside Christie's, London, 1990 ({{ISBN|978-0340430439}})
• P. A. Colson, The Story of Christie's, London, 1950
• H. C. Marillier, Christie's, 1766–1925, London, 1926
• M. A. Michael, A Brief History of Christie's Education... , London, 2008 ({{ISBN|978-0955780707}})
• W. Roberts, Memorials of Christie's, 2 vols, London, 1897
• "Going Once." Phaidon Press, 2016. {{ISBN|978-0-7148-7202-5}}.

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|www.christies.com}}
• {{Official website|http://www.christieseducation.com|Christie's Education Graduate Programmes official website}}
• {{Official website|http://www.christiesrealestate.com|Christie's International Real Estate – Luxury Properties and Estates official website}}
• [http://www.arcadja.com/auctions/en/christie_s/auction-house/10157/ Christie's page on Arcadja Art database with several auction catalogs]
• [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/7045720/Bill-Brooks.html Bill Brooks] – Daily Telegraph obituary
• [http://www.cfass.com/ Christie's Fine Art Storage Services] – Official website

{{Authority control}}

Category:Auction houses based in New York City

Category:Retail companies established in 1766

Category:London auction houses

Category:Price fixing convictions

Category:1766 establishments in England

Category:British companies established in 1766

Category:Archaeological theft

Category:Defunct private universities and colleges in New York City