“Last year, for the first time in decades, Christie’s claimed ascendancy over Sotheby’s. In the first half of 2006 Christie’s extended its lead, selling $2.13 billion, up 38% on 2005, while Sotheby’s turned over $1.96 billion. Since the 1960s, Sotheby’s has always claimed the lead, although the gap between the two narrowed through the 1990s.”