Sophie Neuendorf: Is Germany the next global art hub"
Auctioneer Oliver Barker directing Sotheby’s global e-auctions. Courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Following the announcement of Sotheby’s Cologne office, artnet?s Vice President and LUX columnist Sophie Neuendorf discusses shifting collecting habits and the potential for Germany to become a key player in the art world
The recent news that Sotheby?s is opening an office in Cologne, Germany has made waves internationally but also ruffled a few feathers within the German market. However, given the ramifications of Brexit, which is making import and export transactions much more cumbersome, it’s hardly a surprising decision. Christie’s has been steadily strengthening its presence Paris over the last few years and Amsterdam is much smaller in terms of buyer opportunities so the EU?s largest country in terms of size and economic strength seems the logical choice for Sotheby?s. Follow LUX on Instagram:Â luxthemagazine
According to the auction house, ?German collectors remain essential to Sotheby?s business, featuring in the list of top ten countries most actively buying and selling in Sotheby?s sales for the past three years.” In this light, it’s hard to imagine that the aim of the opening is centred solely around the potential of new collectors, but what is of interest is the abundance of private collections in Germany, which provide ample opportunities for acquiring unique and unseen masterpieces.
Germany is renowned for its impressive histo...
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