Spear’s Review

Private sales are becoming an increasingly important part of business for all auction houses – and Christie’s is no exception. In 2024, private sales totalled $1.5 billion, a 41 per cent increase on 2023.

The man overseeing this lucrative area of the business is Adrien Meyer, a veteran auctioneer and global head of private sales. ‘Private sales is a matchmaking service for collectors across categories,’ he tells Spear’s. ‘We have 500-plus specialists worldwide who will find the artwork or the piece of jewellery that you have been looking for.’

After catching the auction bug as a child, Meyer specialised in Modern art at the prestigious École du Louvre, Paris, and joined Christie’s in 2004. He previously led the company’s European furniture department, and prior to taking up his current post served as co-head of the auction house’s private sales channel. 

He continues to serve as co-chair of Christie’s Impressionist and Modern art department, a position he has held since 2017, and is principal auctioneer, leading sales in New York, London, Paris and Hong Kong. It’s a role that makes the most of his global experience and his talent for languages – he is fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, German and English. 

Asked what makes a great leader, he says: ‘Probably a mix of commitment, courage, vision and care.’

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