Sotheby's Milan Auction of Pratesi Collection Totals €4.2 Million

Sotheby's held its first Old Master auction in Italy in over a decade on March 22 in Milan, selling the collection of Florentine dealer Giovanni Pratesi. The sale, titled 'Giovanni Pratesi: The Florentine Eye,' achieved a total of €4.2 million, surpassing the pre-sale estimate of €2.4-3.5 million. Of the 168 lots offered, 127 found buyers, with half exceeding their high estimates. A pair of 19th-century pedestals sold for €381,000, 38 times its estimate. Other top lots included a pair of 16th/17th-century urns (€342,900), attributed Mattia Valenziani volcanic stone tops (€330,200), a Bacchus bust from Baccio Bandinelli's circle (€165,100), and a pair of rosewood cabinets (€152,400). Bidders came from Europe, Asia, America, and Australia, with new clients accounting for about a quarter of purchases. Alexander Kader, Sotheby's head of European art, expressed admiration for Pratesi's academic integrity and passion.