Summary of our market study

The French art auction market is estimated at 2 billion euros.

The global art auction market is valued at $31 billion.

The United States, China and the United Kingdom account for 84% of market value.

Global market trends point to a shift towards more private sales, with major auction houses such as Sotheby's and Christie's achieving nearly $2 billion in private sales.

The French art auction market is not subject to much speculation, which sets it apart from other major markets. The diversity and fragmentation of the landscape seem to spare it from the high volatility observed in markets dominated by a few major players.

French auctions focus less on the sale of stars and more on a wide range of works.

The auction market's transition to digital platforms continues to shape its evolution.

France, like other markets, is seeing an increase in online sales and the impact of social networks like Instagram on market dynamics and visibility.

Leading auction houses in the art world

  • Christie's, synonymous with prestige in the art world, has long been a giant in the auction sector.
  • Sotheby's is Christie's eternal rival.
  • Phillips is a more modern and dynamic player, known for its focus on contemporary art, design and culture.
  • Poly Auction is establishing itself as a powerhouse in China.
  • China Guardian is another influential Chinese auction house.
  • Heritage Auctions, based in the United States, stands out as the world's largest auction house for collectibles.
Get all the information you need
to understand this market

Detailed content of our market study

Inforamtion

  • Number of pages : ~ 40 pages
  • Format : Digital and PDF versions
  • Last update :

Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Definition and scope of study

The art market refers to the production and trade of works of art and antiques. The art auction market focuses on auctions, which accounted for 42% of global art sales in 2019, and therefore excludes art dealer sales (58% of global sales) which are the subjet of another study.

According to Wondeur AI's classification, the production of works of art is divided between star artists (1% of the world's artists), celebrated artists (1%), established artists (14%) and emerging and under-represented artists (84%).

The art market can also be segmented by category of work (sculpture, painting etc.), by period (contemporary, modern etc.) or by price range.

The global art auction market was worth US$24.2 billion in 2019, a 17% decline compared to 2018, after two consecutive years of growth. However, private sales increased, with Sotheby's and Christie's selling $1.8 billion worth of art on the private circuit.

The sector is largely dominated by the United States, China and the United Kingdom, which accounted for 84% of the market value in 2019. The global market is traditionally very closed and is dominated by large auction houses such as Christie's, Sotheby's, Phillips, Poly Auction, China Guardian and Heritage Auctions.

For many years, the French art auction market has been characterized by its strong stability. It experienced the strongest growth in the world in 2019, increasing by 16% compared to 2018. These figures relate to "fine art" and therefore exclude sales of antiques, historic furniture and decorative objects. The specific characteristics of the French market, which is less speculative, more fragmented and more diversified, also play in its favor.

In addition, the market is going digital, not only because of the increase in sales on the Internet, but also because of the growing influence of online information tools and social networks such as Instagram.

All our studies are available online in PDF format

Take a look at an example of our research on another market!

Do you have a question about this study?   +44 238 097 0676

Choosing this study means :

Access to more than 35 hours of work

Our studies are the result of over 35 hours of research and analysis. Using our studies allows you to devote more time and added value to your projects.

Benefit from 6 years' experience and over 1,500 industry reports already produced

Our expertise enables us to produce comprehensive studies in all sectors, including niche and emerging markets.

Our know-how and methodology enable us to produce reports that offer unique value for money.

Access to several thousand articles and paid-for data

Businesscoot has access to all the paid economic press as well as exclusive databases to carry out its market research (over 30,000 articles and private sources).

To enhance our research, our analysts also use web indicators (semrush, trends, etc.) to identify market trends and company strategies. (Consult our paying sources)

Guaranteed support after your purchase

A team dedicated to after-sales service, to guarantee you a high level of satisfaction. +44 238 097 0676

A digital format designed for our users

Not only do you have access to a PDF, but also to a digital version designed for our customers. This version gives you access to sources, data in Excel format and graphics. The content of the study can therefore be easily retrieved and adapted for your specific needs.

Our offers :

the art auction market | France

99 €
  • What are the figures on the size and growth of the market?
  • What is driving the growth of the market and its evolution?
  • What is the positioning of companies in the value chain?
  • Data from several dozen databases

Pack 5 études (-25%) France

74 € / study
370 € instead of 495 € -25%
  • 5 études au prix de 74 €HT par étude à choisir parmi nos 1200 titres sur le catalogue
  • Conservez -25% sur les études supplémentaires achetées
  • Choisissez le remboursement des crédits non consommés au terme des 12 mois (durée du pack)

Consultez notre catalogue d’études sectorielles

 

Our customer references

They have consulted our studies Discover the opinions (+500)

Malcolm Vincent
Linkedin logo

Malcolm Vincent

Astoria Finance

Gregoire de Castelnau
Linkedin logo

Gregoire de Castelnau

Stags Participations

Timothé Huignard
Linkedin logo

Timothé Huignard

PWC

Paul-Alexis Kebabtchieff
Linkedin logo

Paul-Alexis Kebabtchieff

BCG

Aymeric Granet
Linkedin logo

Aymeric Granet

Publicis Consultant

interviews & case studies All interviews and case studies (45)

La pépite Interview

BFM Business

Paul-Alexis Kebabtchieff

Boston Consulting Group

Marie Guibart

Kea Partners

Elaine, Durand

Crédit Agricole, Information & Veille

Philippe Dilasser

Initiative & Finance

Anne Baudry

Metro

Amaury Wernert

Kroll (Duff & Phelps)

Smart Leaders Interview

B-Smart

Do you have a question ?
Our team is at your disposal at   +44 238 097 0676