Italian auction houses report resilient first half of 2025

Italian auction houses posted solid results in the first half of 2025 despite global market uncertainty. Cambi closed with stable revenues of €21.025 million (vs €21.2 million in 2024), with 68 auctions (39 online) and over 11,000 lots sold. Top lots included a pair of late-18th-century Sèvres vases at €466,100 and Gerardo Dottori's 'Volo sull'oceano' (1929) at €250,100. Design department grew to €3.8 million, prompting a new dedicated auction, Design Properties, in September. Il Ponte Casa d'Aste achieved €18.5 million aggregate turnover, up 8.6% year-on-year, with 29 auctions and about 9,500 lots. Best sales included Giorgio de Chirico's 'Piazza d'Italia' (1953) at €448,000 and Lucio Fontana's 'Crocifisso' (1952) at €384,000. Pandolfini's top lot was Artemisia Gentileschi's 'Cleopatra' at €595,600, with jewelry sales leading at €3.4 million. Finarte reported €17.3 million in aggregate sales (up from €17.1 million), with Giorgio de Chirico's 'I bagni misteriosi' (1935) at €467,750 and a Jiaqing porcelain vase from Stefano Gabbana's collection at €174,950. All houses noted increased digital engagement and diversification into new collectible categories.