Are automated auctions on the way? | Rufus Bird | The Critic Magazine

Are automated auctions on the way? New technology presents a double-edged future for the art market. Christie’s has unveiled a rostrum designed by Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson’s LoveFrom, intended to project efficiency while preserving live auctioneering’s identity. The oak structure replaces a mahogany model and features sleek lines that convey precision. Adrien Meyer praised it as elegant and capable of lasting generations, signaling a shift toward combining tradition with modern branding.

Online sales rise, but high-value pieces still rely on human guidance, fueling questions about automation replacing the traditional auctioneer.