Is 2011 the year of the auction – or at least the flotation – of the auction house, Christie’s? Analysts certainly think so, and yesterday’s bumper set of results has helped fuel those expectations.

The privately-owned auction house yesterday reported its best year of sales in its 245 year history - with £3.3bn of fine and decorative art sold in 2010. This was up more than 53% on the previous year.