Italian Spring 2017 Auctions Report: Morandi Leads, Farsettiarte Surges

The positive trend in Italian art auctions that began in 2016 continued into spring 2017, with domestic auction houses outperforming international big players. Farsettiarte achieved nearly €9 million with 80% sold, driven by strong international demand. Il Ponte set a record with €5.7 million and 90% sold, while Pandolfini reached €2 million. Finarte sold €1.5 million, Cambi €1.277 million, Wannenes €1.004 million, and Meeting Art €1.6 million. Top lots included Giorgio Morandi's 'Natura morta' (1956) at €790,250 by Farsettiarte, René Magritte's gouache (1948) at €898,250, and Lucio Fontana's 'Concetto spaziale' (1964) at €537,950. Il Ponte sold Christo's 'Store Front Project' (1964) for €243,750 and set a world record for Irma Blank's 'Radical Writings' at €100,000. Pandolfini's top lot was Gianni Colombo's 'Spazio Elastico' at €150,000. Wannenes sold Piero Dorazio's 'Giallino' (1977) for €173,600. Cambi achieved a record for Giovanni Anceschi's 'Tavola delle possibilità liquide' (1959) at €51,250.