- Sales increase by 55%- this is a lot that has allowed so much to increase revenue?

- Firstly, I think it happened because in the previous year, in 2009 the market was very weak. And the main growth driver was the fact that market confidence returned. And she returned as buyers and sellers to. Of course, the case also in the fact that we were lucky to get to sell a large number of works from famous collections, such as a collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sidney F. Brody, Michael Crichton, Max Palevsky, and others, including Picasso, who went for $ 106 , 5,000,000, and set a new record price for artwork. The owners of these papers have decided to sell them during this time period because they were confident that the outstanding works always retain their value. Confidence sent to the merchant and customer.

- It is clear that the owners wanted to sell their works at a good price. But why do people have to buy at this price - all believed that the crisis is over?

- Buy antiques - it is always a question of quality products. When the market there are outstanding works, the buyers realize that such a possibility can not be used. And we were fortunate that last year we asked several prominent collectors. Such sales - that's exactly what's desperately needed art market.

- Judging by your statements, the Asian market is very much added in the last year: sales in Hong Kong increased by 114%in Dubai by 157%. And what are the prospects for China?

- According to China is difficult to obtain actual figures. We know that the Chinese antiques market is huge, so started working in this area 5 years ago. We are doing our best. And it's not a coincidence that we have appointed one of our most experienced members of the board of directors, Francois Kyurelya on the Chinese direction.

- In China, there are quite a large local auctions. As Christie's is going to compete with them?

- Yes, the Beijing Poly International, for example, a very good auction. But in fact, for us it's not a question of competition with China, is a question of immersion in China. We want to become part of the environment. Art market is huge, and there is a place for all. Customers will be sent to Christie's, Sotheby's or Bonhams, the main question that will actually be needed to Chinese collectors. What is this secret thing that they all want - huge imperial vases or Monet, Cezanne, Picasso? How they would react to modernity, to the post-war art? Therein lies the charm of the competition with Chinese auctions: successfully compete with them means to understand what to Chinese collectors. We need to listen: auction business - it is generally the art of listening.

- Judging from the sales of art in China, the Chinese need to Chinese art.

- China is now very focused on his art. But that Chinese consumers will want tomorrow, the big question. For example, Russian art collectors are buying 8 times more foreign art, than the Russian. It is a fact. But the remarkable how quickly they come to this, as quickly became international. This speed, I have not seen. This occurred at an interval of about 5 years. You know how many Russian paintings we had at the last show, which we organized in Moscow in early April? One. If we are going to conduct a demonstration in China as it is the Chinese papers? Maybe 20 or 50. And in Moscow - one, although even five years ago, we exposed almost exclusively to Russian art. I wonder whether we will need in China, too, 5 years to achieve the same position.

- Last year 28%of your customers have purchased the work through Christie's Live, via the Internet. Does this mean that you will change the company's strategy, more and more go to the Web?

- We've already done it. Our policy has changed two years ago when we realized the importance of the Internet itself. We have already spent a lot of money in this direction. Internet - is a fantastic opportunity to grow our business globally and is a very, very quickly. Internet, incidentally, is exactly the reason that last year we got a great result for our London site in South Kensington, where the average price of lots is $ 10 000-15 000. Most buyers in this area - the younger generation. I would say, a generation iPad. This involves us in an entirely different relationship, a new market. You know from all customers in the past year, approximately 25%came to us first. And most new customers - people aged 38 to 45 years. That is on the antiques market comes to my generation, which is closely our traditional customers, people who are mostly over 50. And this is quite a unique situation, this was not simply than ever.
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Three of the most amazing sale Cristie `s..
1. "Nude, green leaves and bust" Pablo Picasso: an absolute record
"Naked, green leaves and a bust of" Pablo Picasso (1932) was sold in May 2010, at auction Christie's New York for $ 106.5 million is an absolute record prices for works of art ever sold at auction.
2. 'Oh ... okay, "Roy Lihtenshneyna: The largest growth rates
Comics one of the main representatives of Pop Art, created in 1964, was sold in November 2010 at Chrsitie's New York for $ 42.6 million is noteworthy that the previous record price for a work of Liechtenstein was "only" $ 16.2 million
3. "Nude female figure from behind IV» Henri Matisse: a record from the first time ...
A rare bronze sculpture by Henri Matisse (ca 1930) was first put up for auction, and organizers hoped to get for trading it to $ 35 million, but the result exceeded expectations - in November 2010 it was sold at Christie's New York for $ 42.5 million