Christie’s turns 250 this month. In that time the auction house has grown from a modest one-man operation to an international network of 2,500 employees and an annual revenue of $6.1 billion.

When Scottish entrepreneur James Christie staged his first ever sale in London in 1766, the lots had little to do with art. Items for sale included livestock, rare birds, tulip bulbs, a bed, and a coffin. Only a year later, however, Christie used his connections to London’s artistic and intellectual elite to narrow his focus on artworks and luxury goods.

According to auctioneer and Christie’s global president Jussi Pylkkanen, the founder’s “innovative spirit” contributed to the establishment of the auction house as the focal point of creative exchange before the existence of the Royal Academy (founded 1768) or the National Gallery (founded 1824). “James Christie was absolutely decisive in establishing the UK as a cultural center in his time,” Pylkkanen told Monopol recently.

Today the auction house has expanded its influence throughout the globe, and has established itself as one of the primary venues of secondary market exchange for artworks.

Now, as the auction house celebrates its anniversary, we look at the top 10 lots they have sold. Notably, a full seven of the 10 are from the last five years. Here they are:

Pablo Picasso Femmes d’Alger (1955). Photo: Courtesy Christie’s.

1. Pablo Picasso’s Les femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’) (1955) sold for $179.3 million on May 11, 2015.

Amedeo Modigliani, Nu couché, 1917–18.
Courtesy Christie’s New York.

2. Amadeo Modigliani’s Nu couché (1917) sold for $170.4 million on November 9, 2015.

Francis Bacon, Three Studies of Lucian Freud (in 3 parts) (1969). Photo courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.

Alberto Giacometti L’homme au doigt (1947). Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

4. Alberto Giacometti’s L’homme au doigt (1947) sold for $141.2 million on May 11, 2015.

Pablo Picasso Nude, Green Leaves and Bust (1932). Photo: courtesy Christie’s.

5. Pablo Picasso’s Nude, Green Leaves and Bust (1932) sold for $106.4 million on May 4, 2010

Roy Lichtenstein, Nurse (1964). Courtesy of Christie’s New York.

6. Roy Lichtenstein’s Nurse (1964) sold for $93.3 million on November 9, 2015.

Gustav Klimt Adele Bloch-Bauer II(1912). Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

7. Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II (1912) sold for $87.9 million on November 8, 2006.

Mark Rothko Orange Red Yellow. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

8. Mark Rothko’s Orange, Red, Yellow (1961) sold for $86.8 million on May 8, 2012.

Barnett Newman Black Fire I (1961). Photo: courtesy of Christie’s.

9. Barnett Newman’s Black Fire I (1961) sold for $84.1 million on May 13, 2014.

Vincent van Gogh, Portrait of Dr. Gachet (1890). Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

10. Vincent Van Gogh’s Portrait du Dr Gachet (1890) sold for $82.5 million on May 15, 1990.