Christie's and Sotheby's Private Sales Raise Conflict of Interest Concerns
A 1999 article in artpress examines how Christie's and Sotheby's increasing focus on private sales blurs the line between auction houses and dealers, potentially undermining trust. The acquisition of New York's Emmerich Gallery by Sotheby's exemplifies this conflict, as specialists handling public auctions also arrange private sales, raising questions about transparency and impartiality.
Key facts
- Christie's and Sotheby's are expanding private sales operations.
- Sotheby's acquired Emmerich Gallery in New York.
- Specialists managing public auctions also conduct private sales.
- The trend risks discrediting auction houses due to perceived conflicts of interest.
- Trust is a key commercial argument in the art market.
- The article was published in artpress in May 1999.
- The source is an article titled 'Transactions privées et publiques : le dilemme Christie's / Sotheby's'.
Entities
Institutions
- Christie's
- Sotheby's
- Emmerich Gallery
- artpress
Locations
- New York
- United States
Sources
- artpress —