How Much Decorative Art Sold at Auction in 2024?

This article is part of the Artnet Intelligence Report, The Year Ahead 2025. Our analysis of the second half of the year’s market trends provides a data-driven overview of the current state of the art world, highlighting auction results and trends, and spotlights the evolving tastes in a turbulent market.

Sales in the decorative-art category—which includes design objects, furniture, jewelry, watches, and more—dropped nearly 42 percent year on year, netting $3.3 billion, the lowest total in a decade.

Courtesy of Artnet Analytics.

The average price of a decorative artwork at auction dropped 39.5 percent year over year, to $13,010, also the lowest since 2014.

François-Xavier Lalanne, Hippopotame Bar (1986). Courtesy of Sotheby’s.

In the decorative-art sector, Sotheby’s and Christie’s remain roughly neck and neck, with Sotheby’s taking first place by just $72.9 million in 2024.

The Aga Khan Emerald, a Cartier emerald and diamond brooch sold at Christie’s in Geneva, for $8.8 million. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP via Getty Images.

North America may be the largest market for fine art in 2024, but it remains in third position for decorative art, earning just over $898 million. Europe took first place, with $1.3 billion in sales, and Asia came in second. with $1 billion.