Screen shot from Sotheby's Russian promotional video. Jo Vickery in center.

Sotheby’s is introducing new sale, Important Russian Art, slated for Thursday Nov. 4 in New York. The auction is timed to coincide with the high-profile week of Impressionist and Modern art auctions. The house currently holds a Russian sale in New York in April and sales in London in June and November.

Sotheby’s has been aggressively chasing Russian business. They have held specialized Russian sales since 2000 when sales tallied $6 million. In 2008, sales peaked at $242 million. The house has sold $50 million so far in 2010.

Here’s a video (with handy Russian subtitles) featuring Sotheby’s senior vice president Sonya Bekkerman and senior director Jo Vickery discussing the recent sales and the market. Click here to watch.