Paris Auctions Raise the Stakes for Art Basel Week
Paris auction houses are raising their sights for Art Basel Paris (23-25 October). Following combined sales of €192 million last year, against pre-sale estimates of around €129 million, Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Artcurial and Phillips are now targeting between €227 million and €319 million. These figures remain provisional, as online catalogues allow last-minute additions and withdrawals. The increased expectations reflect Paris’s growing importance on the international auction calendar. Between 2019 and 2025, Christie’s and Sotheby’s more than doubled their combined sales during the Paris fair week, compared with growth of 25.7% in London over the equivalent period. Paris now generates three-quarters of London’s total, against less than half in 2019. The shift has been reinforced by the relocation of major sales, including Christie’s “Thinking Italian” and Sotheby’s Surrealist Art auction. Christie’s is offering 478 lots across four sales, estimated at €107 million to €154 million. A major highlight is the Paul Durand-Ruel collection, comprising 62 works valued at €30 million to €43 million.







