In October, Christie's announced the auction of the Harry Woolf Collection, one of the finest collections of Fabergé works amassed over 50 years by the London businessman.
Related: A Collection of Fabergé Masterpieces at Auction
On November 29, at Christie's London, the 86-lot collection inspired passionate bidding battles and astonishing sale prices, which ensure the enduring interest in original Fabergé creations from Tsarist Russia.
"The sale achieved excellent results, selling at 98% and over double the overall pre-sale estimate which is testament to Harry Woolf’s incredible collection and his dedication to only collecting the very finest examples of Fabergé during his lifetime," said Alexis de Tiesenhausen, International Head of the Russian Art Department, and Margo Oganesian, Russian Works of Art Specialist. "It is very rare to see a single owner collection of Fabergé of such breadth and quality come to the market and the global interest shown today along with the competitive bidding is indicative of the continued fascination in the House of Fabergé, its unparalleled craftsmanship and the caché attributed to owning a piece of such repute."
Related: Fabergé Eggs: 8 Little Known Facts
The successful bidders in the hall and on the phone at the auction came from 18 countries and four continents, with Russian buyers, who made up 21% of the highest bidders, leading. The auction of the Harry Woolf Collection totaled £5.2 million (approx. $6.8 million).
The highlights of the sale were mainly to be found among the numerous animal figurines crafted from fine materials. However, the most expensive item sold was a mosaic gem-studded brooch from c. 1913 that achieved £350,000 against an estimate of £70,000-90,000.
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