Italian Art Market: Auction Results Confirm Polarization Trends
The winter sales period for modern and contemporary art in Italy has concluded, featuring auctions by Sotheby's, Farsetti, Il Ponte, Pandolfini, Cambi, Wannenes, and Meeting Art, mainly in Milan. Sotheby's reported a total of €10.73 million, a decrease from €13.73 million in 2015, with notable high prices for Domenico Gnoli's Le sofa (€2.58 million) and Lucio Fontana's Concetto spaziale Attese (€943,500). Il Ponte garnered €5.45 million, highlighted by Piero Manzoni's Merda d'artista at €275,000. Farsetti's total fell to €4.25 million but achieved record sales for Mattia Moreni (€143,450) and Giosetta Fioroni (€81,575). There is still a robust demand for artists like Fontana and Morandi, alongside a rise in private sales due to concerns over unsold items.
Key facts
- Winter auctions for modern and contemporary art concluded in Italy.
- Sotheby's total: €10,733,125 (down from €13,731,800 in 2015).
- Domenico Gnoli's Le sofa (1968) sold for a record €2,576,250.
- Lucio Fontana's Concetto spaziale Attese (1968) sold for €943,500.
- Giorgio Morandi's Natura Morta (1951) sold for €691,500.
- Il Ponte achieved €5,450,000 with over 90% sold.
- Piero Manzoni's Merda d'artista (1961) sold for a record €275,000.
- Farsetti total: €4,250,000 (down from €9 million in 2015).
- Record prices for Mattia Moreni (€143,450) and Giosetta Fioroni (€81,575).
- Meeting Art, Finarte, Pandolfini, and Wannenes improved their results.
Entities
Artists
- Lucio Fontana
- Alberto Burri
- Giorgio Morandi
- Domenico Gnoli
- Tancredi
- Piero Manzoni
- Mattia Moreni
- Giosetta Fioroni
- Bruno Munari
- Atanasio Soldati
- Manlio Rho
- Mario Radice
- Turcato
- Afro
- Mario Schifano
- Tano Festa
- Bruno Angeli
- Giuseppe Uncini
- Gianfranco Pardi
- Max Ernst
- Fausto Melotti
Institutions
- Sotheby's
- Farsetti
- Il Ponte
- Pandolfini
- Cambi
- Wannenes
- Meeting Art
- Finarte
- Intesa Sanpaolo
- Artribune
Locations
- Italy
- Milan