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Christie's Returns to Asia
London-based auction house partners with Langton's of Australia
In a move set to expand its international base, Christie's London wine department is returning to the Asian market after an absence of five years. The auction house has joined forces with Langton's, the leading wine-auction firm in Australia, and the companies plan to hold a comarketed live sale in Asia—most likely in Hong Kong—in spring 2006.
The two auction houses, which have been loosely allied for 15 years, will also share with each other their online expertise. Christie's will be granted full access to Langton's Internet wine-auction software, which is said to be the most advanced in the business, and both houses will formalize a visible Web partnership by the end of 2006.
"Over the past few years, we have seen an increased rate of interest and bidding activity from clients across Asia—from Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and mainland China," said David Elswood, international head of Christie's wine department. "It made sense therefore to strengthen our 15-year partnership with Langton's in a bid to help Christie's meet this new and expanding demand in the global fine-wine marketplace."
