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Sotheby’s inaugural auction in Saudi Arabia — and the country’s  first major  international art and luxury auction — took place in Diriyah on Saturday with works by regional artists selling particularly well. Sotheby’s reported a full house for the “Origins” sale, which was held in a 250-seat outdoor amphitheater and featured participants from 45 countries. The sale totaled $17.28m with a sell-through rate of 67% by lot and 74% by value. Almost a third of the buyers were from Saudi Arabia . Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian's "Variation on the Hexagon" sold for $144,000.   Courtesy Sotheby's The auction offered an eclectic mix of around 120 objects. Approximately half were works of art and a quarter watches and jewelry, while there were also 17 designer handbags and several items of sports memorabilia. “Prior to the evening, nearly everyone believed the luxury segment would outperform the art on offer. To everyone’s surprise fine art achieved very solid results, indicati...