Introduction

Christie's auction house

Architect:
Bruno Moinard, Paris

Lighting designer:
L´Observatoire International, New York

Photographer:
Peter Freed, Thomas Mayer

Place:
New York

Lighting solutions

ERCO Christie's auction house Introduction Content

Modern art transforms the James Christie Gallery into a 'transitory museum' - since everything on show here is also for sale.

In London, 1766, James Christie opened his first establishment for auctioning artwork. Today, Christie's organises hundreds of auctions every year in over 15 large cities worldwide. Nowadays, the auctioning program consists of 80 different categories. By moving the American headquarters to the Rockefeller Center the auction house has now doubled its sales and office areas in New York to around 28,800m² (310.000sq ft).

The highest maxim is flexibility: white walls can even accommodate large-format pictures and, combined with the lightly pigmented wooden floor, form a neutral background against which artworks of all epochs can be displayed just as effectively as chromed and polished classic cars or Chinese vases.

In addition to the actual auction halls, a good part of this area is taken up by the galleries and viewing rooms where the auction lots are presented. The atmosphere in these rooms is an alluring blend of refined, minimalist salesroom and 'transitory museum'.

ERCO Christie's auction house Lighting solutions

The USA-specific ERCO 2-circuit tracks are mounted flush with the ceiling and carry a large number of Quinta spotlights for low-voltage halogen lamps. This allows quick arrangement of virtually any lighting situation desired. The results are not so much to be measured by museum standards as by the wish to obtain a stimulating, dramatic lighting for the artefacts - which after all are to achieve the highest possible bids.

A narrow aperture running around the ceiling adds a pleasant, diffuse daylight component to the otherwise purely spotlight-based lighting.

In addition, special private salesrooms are also available for distinguished clients and auction lots. In such rooms, Optec wallwashers add to the equipment available to the lighting designer for showing the exquisite exhibits in their best light.

Factsheet

20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020
Tel.: +1 212 636 2000
Fax: +1 212 636 2399

www.christies.com

History
Christie's exceptional contribution to the history of auction houses began on the 5^th of December 1766 when James Christie conducted his first sale. A level-headed entrepreneur, renowned for his eloquence and humour, he developed the business of auctioneering into a fine art.
Significant amounts of Britain's national heritage passed through his auction house, with members of aristocracy and even the Royal Family contributing various works.
Christie conducted the greatest auctions of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. He negotiated with Catharine the Great, Empress of Russia, over the sale of Sir Robert Walpole's collection of paintings, which then went on to form the basis of the Hermitage collection in St. Petersburg.
Christie's auctions became one of the greatest social events on the London calendar.
In 1999 the New York auction house moved from Park Avenue to the Rockefeller Center.

Lighting tools used

ERCO track
Introduction
Product overview

Optec
Introduction
Product overview

Guide

The Guide section provides thorough information on everything from the physical bases of lighting to suggested solutions for different lighting situations. The interactive knowledge modules vividly illustrate lighting solutions that are possible with this product range.