Unique Estates Gifts Christie’s Archives to Sofia

For the first time in Bulgaria, a rare documentary history of the legendary auction house is on display, with a special focus on two Bulgarian-born artists who achieved global acclaim at its auctions.

To mark its 20th anniversary, Unique Estates, Bulgaria’s leading luxury real estate company and the official representative of Christie’s International Real Estate, is presenting the citizens and visitors of Sofia with a special archival exhibition provided by the world-renowned auction house Christie’s. The exhibition is being hosted for the first time in Bulgaria and will be officially opened at the National Gallery – The Palace on 5 November 2026 by the Minister of Culture, Evtim Miloshev, and Bertold Mueller, President of Christie’s for Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Unique Estates is highlighting the connection between art, cultural heritage, collecting and international exchange.

Valuable historical documents from the archives of Christie’s will be presented in Sofia, revealing fascinating chapters in the auction house’s history and the evolution of auction traditions over the centuries. Among the exhibits is a copy of Christie’s first catalogue, dating from 1766, as well as the catalogue from the renowned 40-day auction at Stowe House in 1848. Also on display is a tailoring bill for founder James Christie, dated 1774, alongside documents relating to the reopening of the auction house’s headquarters at King Street following the Second World War in 1953. The exhibition also features catalogues from landmark auctions, including the one at which Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers was sold in 1987 for the then-record price of £24,750,000.

A special focus is placed on two Bulgarian-born artists whose works achieved international recognition at Christie’s auctions. Jules Pascin (1885–1930), one of the leading figures of the School of Paris, is represented by the catalogue from the sale of Renée à la corbeille de fruits (Renée with a Basket of Fruit, 1928). The painting was sold at a Christie’s auction in New York in 1990. Christo (1935–2020), a pioneer of monumental spatial installations created together with Jeanne-Claude, is represented by the catalogue from the sale of Wrapped Object (1961), at a Christie’s auction in Paris in 2014. In this way, the exhibition connects the auction house’s major international history with the remarkable Bulgarian contribution to it.

Each of the documents on display carries its own story, offering insight into the people, events and innovations that have shaped the contemporary art market over the past two and a half centuries. Together, they trace the journey of an institution that began with its first auction on London’s Pall Mall and grew into a leading name in the world of art, luxury objects and collecting.

For the Bulgarian public, this is a rare opportunity to encounter authentic documentary heritage that is usually preserved within the archives of Christie’s.

The initiative reaffirms Unique Estates’ commitment to art, culture, the preservation of heritage and the long-standing international partnerships that underpin its success in the luxury real estate market.

The archival exhibition will be presented at the National Gallery – The Palace in Sofia and will be open to the public from 6 to 11 November 2026, in accordance with the gallery’s opening hours and visitor regulations.