From record-breaking sales to shifting market dynamics, 2024 brought significant milestones and valuable insights in the auction world. This article examines key highlights from the year, analyzes industry trends, and offers expert perspectives to help you navigate 2025 effectively.
The Record-Breaking Sales of 2024
The auction world shattered records in 2024, with remarkable sales across many fields. René Magritte’s L'empire des lumières sold for $121.16 million, setting new records for both the artist and the Surrealist movement. Max Beckmann’s Quappi with Green Parasol fetched €5.39 million (approximately $5,6 million), setting a new record for a Quappi portrait and becoming the highest amount ever bid online in a German auction. Meanwhile, Theodor Kittelsen’s Kvitebjørn kong Valemon became the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction in Norway and set a new personal record for the artist, selling for $4 million. For more insights into the year’s standout art sales, read our article on the 10 most expensive paintings sold at auction in 2024.
Record-breaking moments continued across other categories, with the first edition of Grimm's Fairy Tales achieving $233,000, setting a new record for the Brothers Grimm. The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers fetched $32.5 million, becoming the most expensive piece of film memorabilia ever sold. Even toys made headlines, with a Star Wars Rocket Firing Boba Fett figure selling for $525,000.
In design, Axel Einar Hjorth’s sofa Sandhamn sold for $60,000, setting a world record for Swedish pine furniture at an auction house using Barnebys' auction software, Skeleton.
The Most Popular Reads on Barnebys Magazine
In 2024, our magazine reached 1.6 million readers and brought you 260 articles, including 130 news pieces covering everything from record-breaking sales—like Leonora Carrington becoming the fifth best-selling female artist in May—to the more niche and unusual, such as Egon Schiele’s death mask fetching £19,000 (approximately $24,585) at auction or Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic white tutu selling for six times its estimate. Among the most-read articles were explorations of art, design, and luxury, including The Top 10 Stolen Masterpieces That Are Still Missing and Princess Diana's 7 Most Expensive Outfits Sold at Auction.
Readers also enjoyed deep dives into niche collecting, from Barnebys’ Guide to Buying Wine at Auction to The 10 Greatest Dive Watches for Collectors. This year, we also launched a series of Experts Interviews, where auction professionals shared insights on topics ranging from antique jewelry to vintage advertising signs.
Our audience showed a strong appetite for stories celebrating craftsmanship and design. Popular features like Ikea’s Most Expensive Designs and Chic Seats: 5 French Chair Designers You Should Know stood out among the year’s favorites. Profiles of iconic artists such as L.S. Lowry and Camille Claudel also drew readers eager to explore art history.
Our mission is to bring you the best news and stories from the art and auction world. With a team of editors working across five languages and multiple countries, we strive to celebrate the creativity, history, and culture that make collecting so special. As we look forward to 2025, we remain dedicated to inspiring and informing our growing community of readers worldwide.
Barnebys Auction Software: Driving Success
The auction industry in 2024 saw remarkable achievements, particularly among auction houses leveraging our Skeleton auction software. This cutting-edge platform has allowed auction houses to excel in the digital arena, delivering record-breaking results. Highlights include a rare acid-stained pine sofa from Axel Einar Hjorth's Sandhamn series, sold for SEK 662,550 (approximately $60,243, including fees) at Dalarnas Auktionsbyrå—a testament to the growing demand for unique design pieces. Other noteworthy sales include a 1988 Mercedes-Benz SL 300 Cabriolet fetching SEK 590,000 (approximately $53,622) at Ystads Auktioner and Märta Måås-Fjetterström's Skvattram rug selling for SEK 131,400 (approximately $11,940) after an astounding 261 bids at Markus Auktioner. Skeleton’s efficient and user-friendly system has proven instrumental for auction houses achieving these incredible milestones. To read more about our clients' highlights and results from 2024, check out the full article.
With Skeleton, auction houses get a complete solution that manages the entire auction process—from the first customer contact to the final bid. Designed to enhance the experience for both the auction house and their customers, Skeleton is continuously evolving based on user feedback. Are you an auction house? Could Skeleton be the key to unlocking your next big success? To learn more about how Skeleton can transform your operations, visit our site.
Expert's Insights
What will 2025 bring to the auction world? Pontus Silfverstolpe, Barnebys’ co-founder, and Giulia Zileri Dal Verme, Barnebys' Global Senior Editor, share their insights on the trends that shaped 2024 and the opportunities set to define the year ahead.
Fine Art
In 2024, works priced under $10,000 made up the majority of global fine art sales, reflecting the continued strength of the entry-level market. Private sales through auction houses also expanded as a complementary avenue to traditional auctions. While high-end auction prices faced volatility, blue-chip works by artists like Basquiat, Warhol, and Hockney remained popular among American collectors, who continue to influence market trends. But global participation is increasing, with Asian and Middle Eastern buyers driving demand and new auction hubs emerging in Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Shanghai.
Collectors are pivoting away from speculative buying, instead focusing on fewer but more meaningful acquisitions. Auctions featuring strong provenance or ties to celebrities are expected to dominate in 2025. Single-owner collections, often curated over decades, are expected to remain the highlight of major sales, drawing fierce bidding and record-breaking prices.
“The art market is entering a phase of greater maturity, where collecting is less about speculation and more about passion and long-term strategy,” says Pontus Silfverstolpe. “While demand for ‘young’ contemporary art may soften, galleries and buyers are turning their attention to established names and historic works. We’re also seeing increased interest in artists who were previously underrepresented, particularly female artists. As the market evolves, the focus will shift from gendered discussions of ‘female art’ to celebrating equality—art is art.”
Luxury Goods
In 2024, consumer demand for sustainable practices and the popularity of resale markets propelled auctions of pre-owned luxury goods. Iconic watches from Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet continued to see robust bidding, with growing interest in independent watchmakers such as F.P. Journe and Richard Mille. In jewelry, historic designs like Bulgari’s Serpenti, Cartier’s Panthère, Van Cleef & Arpels’ Alhambra, and Tiffany & Co.’s Schlumberger pieces have become particularly coveted, with new names likely to emerge in 2025. Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags remained auction powerhouses, but social media spotlighted other vintage favorites, like the Goyard St. Louis tote and Gucci’s Jackie bag.
This shift hints at a broader revival of archival fashion – collectors are also pursuing archival runway pieces from the 1990s and early 2000s, with designs from Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, and Tom Ford among the most sought-after. As competition for rare finds intensifies, provenance has become a key factor in driving value, with pieces linked to notable figures commanding record prices—such as Steve McQueen’s Heuer Monaco, which sold for $1.4 million, and three coats from Caroline Bessette-Kennedy’s wardrobe, which were featured in Sotheby’s ‘Fashion Icons’ sale and contributed to its $1.1 million total. With the rise of affluent buyers and heightened demand for vintage clothing and accessories, 2025 is poised to be a standout year for collectors seeking rare finds.
“Our industry is entering a fascinating era of cross-fertilization, where exclusive brands are beginning to actively engage with the secondary market,” says Pontus Silfverstolpe. “Looking ahead, I’m confident new categories—like perfumes—will make their way into auctions, further linking fine art and luxury in ways that captivate new audiences.”
Collectibles
The sports memorabilia market exploded in 2024, fuelled by rare jerseys, game-worn items, and collectibles from icons like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Younger buyers continue to drive demand, making this market an investment hotspot. Pop culture nostalgia is also booming, including rare comic book editions, vintage superhero comics, limited-edition prints, and movie props, such as a Star Wars figurine that fetched $525,000 in June. Gaming memorabilia and vintage toys are also emerging as serious categories, with sealed video games and rare consoles commanding strong prices. Expect these trends to remain vibrant in 2025, with an ever-expanding audience of pop culture enthusiasts.
“While traditional luxury categories like fashion and watches remain dominant, the market for ‘analog’ objects—including coins, musical instruments, books, vinyl records, and cameras—is on the rise,” says Pontus Silfverstolpe. “In recent years, auctions have embraced everything from sneakers to Lego, and we will continue to see new categories emerge to attract broader audiences and drive sales. Pop culture memorabilia and vintage toys are perfect examples of how the industry evolves to meet the interests of a new generation of collectors.”
Design
The market for 20th-century design continues to thrive, with mid-century modern and postmodern furniture remaining highly sought-after. Iconic designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Le Corbusier, and Josef Frank are staples of the auction scene, as buyers seek both aesthetic appeal and investment potential. Social media played a key role in 2024, boosting the visibility of specific pieces like the Mario Bellini "Camaleonda" sofa and Michel Ducaroy’s "Togo" chair, which have become must-haves for design-conscious collectors.
Looking ahead, a resurgence of retro-futurism blending 1960s and 70s space-age aesthetics with modern sensibilities is expected in 2025. Designs like Joe Colombo’s futuristic chairs and Eero Aarnio’s bubble chair are capturing attention with their sleek, curving lines and metallic finishes. Even vintage IKEA furniture is gaining traction as a new collectible category, with early and limited-edition designs commanding higher prices. At the same time, a renewed appreciation for antiques is beginning to take hold, with 2025 poised to mark their full comeback.
“Interior design trends in 2025 will celebrate 1970s-inspired aesthetics, marked by sculptural, organic shapes, playful designs, and natural materials,” says Pontus Silfverstolpe. “These imaginative and often daring styles are set to shape demand across both the auction and second-hand markets.”
Vintage Cars and Motocycles
Christie’s acquisition of Gooding & Co. in the spring of 2024 highlighted the strength and long-term potential of the vintage car market. This strategic move shows that the sector remains a highly lucrative investment space, with increasing demand for collectible cars from high-net-worth buyers. Classic cars from luxury brands such as Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini remain particularly sought-after, but antique models are also in high demand. In March, a 121-year-old Mercedes-Simplex sold for over $12 million, making it the most expensive pre-1930s car ever auctioned. This growing market is expected to attract both seasoned collectors and new investors in 2025.
Wine, Whiskey, and Spirits
The wine and spirits auction market saw record growth in 2024, fueled by strong demand from Asian markets and a diversification of collector interests. Fine wines, particularly those from Bordeaux and Burgundy, remained stable investments, while regions like California, Australia, and New Zealand have firmly established themselves in the market, offering growing investment potential. Rare Scotch, Japanese whiskey, and luxury spirits such as Cognac are expected to sustain their momentum in 2025, attracting collectors eager for unique and high-value bottles.
Looking Ahead
"After an eventful and occasionally turbulent year for the auction industry, we enter 2025 with great confidence. The macro trend of growing interest in the secondary market continues to drive the industry forward at an incredible pace. As we look ahead, our physical senses will remain central, even as technology—particularly advancements in AI and algorithm-driven personalization—reshapes user experiences. The future of auctions will depend not only on curation but also on education and inspiration, creating deeper engagement and expanding the industry to new audiences.”
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