Sotheby’s Recently Announced a Turkish Office
and an Auction of Turkish Art
Here’s How the Story Played in Istanbul
The Hurriyet Daily News spoke with Sotheby’s European Chairman, Henry Wyndham:
For many years, Sotheby’s has had Turkish clients and collectors attending auctions. Wyndham said the Turkish art collectors are vigorous. “They attend many international auctions in different fields of art. We want to offer good services to them. And of course our aim is to have more Turkish clients,” Wyndham said.
Sotheby’s received a tax identification number on Dec. 26 that would allow the company to open an office in Istanbul. Yet before opening the branch in Istanbul with the offer of Ali Can Ertuğ, Sotheby’s senior vice chairman, the company opened a ’Turkish contemporary art department.’ The department is now managed by Dalyan İslam.
Ertuğ said displaying and selling work by Turkish artisans in international auctions would contribute to the success of the owner of the gallery, artisans, and even to the craftsmen and the public.
Sotheby’s have contributed to artists and art in each country they opened branches, Ertuğ said, adding that wherever the company invests the prices in the art market rise. Noting that he is not manipulating, he said opening Sotheby’s in Istanbul means more art pieces, more galleries, more artisans and more people earning money through art.
Sotheby’s Turkey branch manager Oya Delahaye said a nation could express itself via art. She said the main aim for opening an office in Istanbul was to expand the number of clients and draw the attention of international clients to Turkey.
Sotheby’s is organizing an exhibition displaying 73 contemporary Turkish art pieces in London. The exhibition, which will kick off Feb. 27 and continue until March 4, will display 1.2 million pounds-worth of art. The company will then hold an auction on March 4 in its London branch.
Sotheby’s in Winning Bid (Hurriyet Daily News)