Christie’s Amsterdam

When James Christie organized his first auction in 1766 which included wine and….bales of hay, he had no idea that his company would become over the next 238 years ‘the world’s leading auctioneers’. Soon the company of James Christie became a popular place for the high society, collectors and traders. Since then a lot has changed, Christie’s no longer auction bales of hay for example. However many things have remained the same. The knowledge, quality and dedication that were so typical of James Christie remain and these traits are demonstrated by our outstanding auction results. Our constant international successes have enabled Christie’s to grow into a global organization with around 90 offices in 46 different countries with an average of 1200 auctions per year.

Christie’s first auctions in the Netherlands took place in 1973. Today Christie’s Amsterdam is based in the former ‘Scheepvaartmuseum’ on the Cornelis Schuytstraat and organizes almost 35 specific auctions each year: from old masters to nineteenth and twenty century art, van silver to Chinese porcelain, from jewelry to wine.

What has an auctionhouse such as Christie’s Amsterdam to do with schipping, other than the fact that it is located in the old ‘Scheepvaart museum’? Also, what has an auctionhouse as Christie’s Amsterdam to do with a company like BoArt? You will be surprised. In London Christie’s has organised maritime auctions since 1988 and in Amsterdam there have been maritime linked sales since 1996. As well as this, Christie’s Amsterdam has a long tradition of auctioning the treasures of shipwrecks such as the Nanking and Diana cargoes.

Christie’s and BoArt share more than a maritime tradition. BoArt is looking for quality and style; Christie’s has it. This is why we support BoArt’s initiative and wish them the best of luck with ‘The Art of Yachting’.

Jop Ubbens

Chairman Christie’s Amsterdam