Auctions from around the world: What went under hammer in 2011

PAIR OF ITALIAN CARVED SETTEES 1740-1744
These giltwood settees feature ornate carvings of mermaids and dolphins and set a new record for Italian seating furniture.
Location: London
Winnnig bid: 2.71 million

1960 PATEK PHILLIPE WRISTWATCH
An anonymous US bidder bought this rare 18-carat, yellow gold chronograph. It features a perpetual calendar, moon phases and a tachometer scale.
Location: Geneva
Winning bid: 815,637

THE TAJ MAHAL, EVENING
This Vereschagin from the late-1800s set an auction record for the artist. It was expected to fetch between $394,000 to $709,000.
Location: London;
Winning bid: $3.59 million

ROMANEE CONTI 1990, GRAND CRU
An anonymous Asian bidder bought an entire lot of this highly-coveted vintage from France's celebrated Romanee-Conti region.
Location: Hong Kong
Winning bid: $232,692 (for 12 bottles

JADE CENSER & COVER
This white jade artefact dates back to ChinaRs s Qianlong period in the 1700s. It was last owned by a Japanese collector.
Location: Hong Kong
Winning bid: $1.82 million