Association between Naón and Christie´s
www.christies.com
Buenos Aires , Jan 8 1998
Christie´s today announced that the company has acquired a minority ownership interest in Argentina´s premier fine and decorative arts auctioneers, J. C. Naón y Cia, based in Buenos Aires. The association between the two companies is aimed at developing the local art market, expanding the art trade within the Mercosur (the free trade alliance between Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) and broadening the Latin American art market internationally.
"This investment represents a long-term commitment by Christie´s to build the Latin American art market. From a global perspective, South America is the next logical market to expand. We fully anticipate in the years ahead that South America will become an important destination for major art collectors around the world", commented Christopher M. Davidge, chief executive officer of Christie´s International.
"We have been impressed with Argentina´s economic and political strenght and its great passion for collecting. Argentina has led the way for expandig the art market in South America by lifting import and export restrictions, and we hope this will encourage neighboring countries to follow suit", added Patricia G. Hambrecht, president of Christie´s Inc.
Christie´s currently holds sales of Latin American art twice a year in New York. Since its first Latin American art sale in 1981, Christie´s sales have been increased from a modest $2,5 million to $28 million in 1994, the department´s peak year, proving the vitality of the market. In November 1996, Christie´s sold Argentine Antonio Berni´s "Los Emigrantes" for $ 552,500, which set a new world record for the artist at auction and established a record for a painting from. A year later, the records were shattered at Christie´s when Berni´s "La Gallina Ciega" sold for $607,500.
J. C. Naón y Cia is Argentina´s leading auction house for fine and decorative arts. Naón, founded by Juan Carlos Naón in 1903, is the Argentina´s oldest fine arts auction house. Juan Carlos Naón lead the firm until his death in 1961. Since then, his grandson Juan Carlos Ocampo, runs the company. First the headquarters were installed on Bartolomé Mitre 530 and moved in 1924 to the 757th at the same street; since 1946 the firm is located at Guido 1785 in Buenos Aires city.
The firm has auctioned some of Argentina´s best colllections, including Félix DELOR, Gastón FOURVEL RIGOLLEAU, Luis GARCIA LAWSON , Cora CAVANAGH, Eduardo J. BULLRICH, Carolina TOMKINSON de UGARTE (three Goya´s paintings were bought by the "Museo de Bellas Artes de Bs. As") the ANCHORENA´s country house "EL BOQUERON", María UNZUE de ALVEAR, Rafael J. BOSCH, Concepción UNZUE de CASARES, María Mercedes SAAVEDRA ZELAYA, José Lucio de OCAMPO, Miguel PANDO, Enrique ANCHORENA, and his wife Ercilia C.H. de ANCHORENA, Miguel GAMBIN, Juan Manuel ACEVEDO, Antonio M. LELOIR, Nicanor PALACIOS COSTA, William H. VAN DEURS, Carlos HILLNER, Celedonio PEREDA, Luz GARCIA BALCARCE de DUFFAUR, Carlos DEL SOLAR DORREGO, Inés M. VICTORICA ROCA, Clara LELOIR UNZUE de DEL CARRIL, Haras "OJOS DE AGUA", etc...
Christie´s, founded in 1766, is the world´s oldest fine arts auctioneers. The firm sells properly in more than 80 countries - from fine and decorative arts to collectibles, wine and motor cars - and offers a wide array of services such as valuations, private treaty sales and educational courses, Christie´s recently sold the most important collection of 20th century art ever to come to auction, "The Collection of Victor and Sally Ganz" for more than $206 million - the highest total ever for any single-owner sale auction. Headquartered in London, the firm has 119 offices in 41 countries. Christie´s principal selling centers are London and New York, with regular auctions also held in Geneva, St. Moritz, Amsterdam, Monte Carlo, Rome, Milan, Athens, Tel Aviv, Glasgow, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei and Melbourne. Christie´s has had a representative ofice in Buenos Aires since 1963. The office is currently headed by Cristina Erhart del Campo and is located at Arroyo 850.
For more information on Christies please see www.christies.com
[More information]
[Naón]
J.C. Naón & Cía S.A., Auction House
Guido 1785 - (1016) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tel +(54-11) 4811-1685 / 4813-4943 , Fax +(54-11) 4812-6129
email: info@naon.com , web: http://www.naon.com/