A superb opening session which witnessed excellent trade from the very outset set the tone for a sale which was following up on the sweeping increases that it recorded 12 months ago.

A record-breaking €215,000 top lot in 2013 was the only milestone that this year's auction was unable to surpass as six-figure transactions rose from four to nine while the number of lots to make €50,000 or more went from 18 to 44.