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Christie's and Sotheby's Spring Auctions in Milan: 60th and 50th Anniversaries

market-auction · 2026-05-04

In April 2018, Christie's and Sotheby's will conduct spring auctions in Milan, commemorating their milestones in Italy. Christie's, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, will present a sale on April 11 featuring 58 lots, including Piero Manzoni's Achrome (1958, estimated at €1.8-2.5 million) and pieces from the Sergio Tomasinelli collection. Meanwhile, Sotheby's, marking 50 years, is scheduled for an evening auction on April 18 with 46 lots. Highlights include Fontana's Concetto Spaziale (1952-54, €300,000-400,000) and Alighiero Boetti's tapestries (1988, each valued at €280,000-350,000), along with Scarpitta's Bendato (exhibited at Leo Castelli, €350,000-450,000) and Boccioni's Testa di bambina (1911, €200,000-300,000).

Key facts

  • Christie's celebrates 60 years in Italy with a sale on April 11, 2018, featuring 58 lots.
  • Sotheby's marks 50 years of its Milan branch with an evening sale on April 18, 2018, offering 46 lots.
  • Top lot at Christie's: Piero Manzoni Achrome (1958), estimated €1.8-2.5 million, from a collection held since 1976.
  • Sotheby's features a Lucio Fontana environment created with Osvaldo Borsani (1952-54, €300,000-400,000).
  • Fontana's Concetto Spaziale, Attese (four red cuts, 1967) at Sotheby's estimated €1-1.5 million.
  • Christie's includes works from the Sergio Tomasinelli collection: Scarpitta, Rama, Licini.
  • Sotheby's offers 10 lots from a single Italian private collection, including Scarpitta, Boccioni, Pistoletto, Leoncillo, Guttuso.
  • Boccioni's Testa di bambina (1911) at Sotheby's estimated €200,000-300,000; his Testa + luce + ambiente sold for over €10 million at Sotheby's London in February 2018.

Entities

Artists

  • Piero Manzoni
  • Salvatore Scarpitta
  • Carol Rama
  • Osvaldo Licini
  • Lucio Fontana
  • Alighiero Boetti
  • Umberto Boccioni
  • Antonio Donghi
  • Giorgio de Chirico
  • Scipione
  • Fausto Pirandello
  • Osvaldo Borsani
  • Alberto Burri
  • Enrico Castellani
  • Fausto Melotti
  • Michelangelo Pistoletto
  • Leoncillo
  • Renato Guttuso
  • Cristina Masturzo

Institutions

  • Christie's
  • Sotheby's
  • Biennale di Venezia
  • Leo Castelli
  • GAM Torino
  • NABA
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Milan
  • Italy
  • New York
  • London
  • Venice
  • Turin

Sources