Sotheby’s doesn’t want to be left out of the H1 results party. Here are some significant numbers from their announcement:

Sotheby’s auction sales for the first half of 2014 stand at $3.12bn – the highest in the company’s history. Sotheby’s is a public company listed on the US stock exchange. Its full half year results and consolidated figures will be released in the coming weeks. With a growth of some 22%, Sotheby’s witnessed record sales in a number of key categories, leading the market in many of the areas widely considered as the most important indicators of its overall health:

Asia

◊ Sotheby’s dominated auction sales in Asia for the first six months, achieving total sales of HK$3.82 billion / US$490 million, a 47% increase on the previous year

Impressionist and Modern Art

◊ Sotheby’s auction sales of Impressionist and Modern Art for the first six months of 2014 have grown by 21%  compared with the same period in 2013

Old Master & British Paintings

◊ Sotheby’s has also led the market in sales of Old Masters, with a year-to-date auction total of $230m

Online Sales

◊ Online bidders competed for 17% of lots offered in 2013

◊ The number of lots purchased online in 2013 increased 36% vs. 2012

New Players:

◊ 26% of buyers in the first half of 2014 were new to Sotheby’s.