Christie's - Ancient Greek Vases from the Zimmermann Collection

Executive Summary

The Zimmermann Collection auction, featuring Ancient Greek Vases, was a noteworthy event that garnered significant interest in the antiquities market. The auction presented a collection of 45 lots, of which 36 were sold, yielding an impressive sell-through rate of 80%. The total hammer price of the sold lots reached $1,924,800.00, which, although substantial, was approximately 67.6% of the total median estimate of $2,847,000.00, suggesting that several lots were sold for less than anticipated. The collection featured a diverse range of items attributed to various artists and groups, with the majority of items dating back to the 5th century B.C.

Key Insights

• Sell-through Rate: An 80% sell-through rate indicates a strong demand for Ancient Greek Vases, showing good market health.
• Top Performers: The highest hammer price was for a lot attributed to the Nausicaa Painter, fetching $440,000, closely aligning with its median estimate.
• Exceeding Estimates: Several lots exceeded their estimates, with the highest percentage over median being 217% for a lot attributed to the Eretria Painter.
• Underperforming Lots: Some lots sold for significantly below their median estimates, highlighting the challenge in accurately estimating the value of antiquities.
• Price Ranges: Most lots sold in the $10,000 - $50,000 range, with a smaller number of high-value lots driving the majority of total sales.
• Unsold Lots: A few higher-estimated lots did not sell, pointing to possible overestimation or a mismatch with collector interest.