Dorotheum, Central Europe's largest auction house, is able to look back on a highly successful 2012 auction year. In fact, it turned out to be the most successful year in the company's history.

Modern and contemporary art did particularly well, bringing in new record results in both categories. Highly regarded by both Austrian and international buyers, top sales included 754,800 Euro for an untitled wall-piece by Anish Kapoor, 605,300 Euro for a 'dancing' painting by Max Ernst, as well as 582,300 Euro for the 1968 „Concetto spaziale, Attese“ by Lucio Fontana. Excellent results were also achieved by the works of Ilya Kabakov, Robert Clark Indiana, Enrico Castellani, Günther Uecker, or Jannis Kounellis.

2012 was marked by a strong showing of old master paintings, a classic category of enduring appeal. Pride of place went to Lorenzo Lippi's „The Triumph of David“ which exceeded expectations with 869,800 Euro. Bidding for Melchior de Hondecoeter's „The concert of birds“ climbed to 711,300 Euro, while one art lover set a new world record with the 366,300 Euro paid for Bartolomeo Veneto's „Portrait of Cardinal Ippolito d’Este“.

Canaletto's London view „New Horse Guards“ was successfully sold in a private sale shortly after the autumn auction of old master paintings.

This was also a record year for Austrian art: The oil painting „Wartende“ by Werner Berg set another world record at the November auction when it sold for 219,900 Euro. Egon Schiele's „Seated female nude“ characterised by clear, minimalist lines and a daring point-of-view enjoyed great success at the spring auction of modern art selling for excellent 398,300 Euro.

Leading the 19th century painting category was Emil Jakob Schindler's „View of Ragusa“, once again a world record sale at 317,500 Euro. Friedrich von Amerling's „Girl with black mantilla" was similarly successful at 156,800 Euro, with one more world record price brought in by the „Hot Summer Day“ of Vasili Andreyevich Golynsky which was knocked down for 146,700 Euro.

Two of the February auctions caused a particular stir: The auction of the "Prince Kinsky Estate", perfectly staged by the interior designer Philip Hohenlohe, was rewarded with princely results. Meanwhile the „Austrian Design“ auction on 29th February 2012, the first event of its kind, made a bold statement emphasising the qualities of Austrian design with a selection of important design objects from the history of Austrian design of the nineteen-twenties to -sixties. Many of the objects on offer achieved unprecedented prices.

Coins, medals, and decorations were highly sought after among the collector's categories. At the coin auction on 16th May 2012, the single documented copy of the Matthias II. gold coin (1612 - 1619) proved to be worth a sensational 122,000 Euro to one collector. In the watch and jewellery categories classic wrist-watch makers and sizable jewels enjoyed particular popularity. Brilliant results were also brought in antique silver and vintage carpets. At the glass and porcelain auction on 18th October 2012, a pair of representative vases from fin de siècle France was sold for sensational 95,460 Euro.

Martin Böhm, Dorotheum managing director, on the successes of the 2012 auction year: "Interest in art has increased on a global level, and the art market is very strong. Our decision to increase our international presence has been proven correct and we shall continue on this course."