18 auctions took place over the year, bringing in a total of £16 150 870 (18 994 997 EUR) a 35% increase on 2015. Native buyers at the Italian auction house buyers have more than doubled as well as a significant increase in bids from buyers around the globe. Buyers from the UK made up almost 10% of the Italian auction house's clientele.
The increase in global interest is, of course, thanks to the increase in a focus on online. Approximately 8% of the auctioned lots were bought by online bidders, which amounted for a total hammer price of £1 145 755 (1 347 520 EUR.)
With a final price of £52 716 (62 000 EUR) this female bust was the most expensive object that was sold at Wannenes via online bidding. The finely crafted piece was made in the 18th century from two different types of marble.
In May of last year, Wannenes, for the first time, conquered the 1 million EUR mark. A double-row necklace with saltwater pearls with a clasp of emerald and diamonds reached an epic total of 1 054 000 EUR.
The house also set a record for Florentine artist Neri di Bicci. His work Tobiolo and Archangel Raphael and saints, painted in 1475, is an important part of Renaissance art. It sold for £685 317 (806 000 EUR) setting a new record for the artist.
The growing interest in Contemporary Italian Art was evident in the sale of Fausto Melotti's Poesia, 1962, which sold for £295 213 (347 200 EUR.) Sold back in November, it was the highest sum paid for a single piece of Modern & Contemporary Art at Wannenes.
As was the case with auction results around the globe, Asian Art was highly favoured by the buyers. This porcelain bowl in the Ming style fetched £179 236(210 800 EUR) at auction. It was made in the China of the Qing Dynasty during the Yongzheng Period (1723-1735.)