Popular name for the London firm of Christie, Manson & Woods, the oldest fine-arts auctioneers in the world.
It was founded by James Christie (17301803), who opened his salesrooms in 1766. He became friends with Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough , among others, and developed a tradition of holding studio sales for prominent artists. Christie's has handled some of the most important art sales in history, including the sale of paintings to Catherine II the Great of Russia. The firm, which became a public company in 1973, now has branches all over the world.