Christie's

Auction houses are still getting high prices for works from the historic canon, but demand isn’t what it once was.

A letter from Albert Einstein that discussed God and religion was sold for far more than the presale estimate of $1 million to $1.5 million.

A letter in which Einstein called the word God “the expression of and product of human weakness” is expected to fetch $1 million at auction.

Sales have slowed in the face of new political realities, including Western sanctions on Moscow. But wealthy buyers continue to create surprises.

As competition for goods and customers increases, exhibitions by contemporary art jewelry designers are proliferating.

A blockbuster week of sales backed by third-party guarantees reassures the art world that the market is humming, if not booming.

The trend toward broadening tastes at auction picked up steam at Christie’s with the Hockney and new highs for works by two African-American artists.

In three auctions, there were some formidable prices, though eyebrows were raised at a number of intimidating estimates. And there were failures.

Chinese collectors flock to London to buy items from their country’s Imperial past, attracted by pieces with ownership histories that guarantee authenticity.

Bids far exceeded expectations at the Christie’s auction, which also included items that once belonged to Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein.