Auctions
Sotheby's and Christie's to auction precious jewels in Geneva
Sotheby's and Christie's to auction precious jewels in Geneva
With a number of high-profile jewellery auctions, including a couple of sales for charitable causes, and with highlights such as The Beau Sancy and a variety of potential USD 5 million diamond rings, a series of sales mean there is only one place to head for this week: Geneva.
Switzerland’s second city sees experts from Sotheby’s and Christie’s descend early this week with the aim of picking out some gems amongst a series of auctions that are literally packed with them.
Heading the Christie’s 'Jewels for Hope' sale (May 14th, 8 pm), otherwise known as the collection of Mrs Lily Safra, is a ring with a rectangular-cut diamond that weighs in at 34.05 carats. An accompanying expert report asserts that the diamond “may be potentially internally flawless”, hence its spectacular pre-sale estimate of between USD 3.5 and USD 5 million. Just as alluring are a pair of diamond earrings and a ruby and diamond Chaumet ring, both of which could fetch USD 3-5 million.
Christie's and Sotheby's to auction contemporary pieces in NY, May 8th and 9th
Christie's and Sotheby's to auction contemporary pieces in NY
The terrific sale last week of Edvard Munch’s pastel-drawn The Scream, fetching a world-record price for any artwork at auction of almost USD 120 million, is just one indication that the top end of the art buying business still attracts bidders willing to push the boat out.
Of course, The Scream was an exceptional auction, and a better reflection of the health of the market can be gleaned in the not-so-trumpeted sales. It will be interesting, therefore, to observe two high-calibre sales at two of the world’s premier auction houses, Sotheby’s and Christie’s.
The latter’s post-war contemporary evening sale, taking place in New York’s Rockefella Plaza on May 8th, comprises around 20 works that – according to pre-sale estimates – could go for upwards of USD 5 million, half of these for more than USD 10 million. Topping the list price-wise, at USD 35-45 million, is Mark Rothko’s Orange, Red, Yellow, a fiery 1961 mural (above right). Yves Klein’s FC1 (USD 30-40 million) and Jackson Pollock’s Number 28, 1951 (USD 20-30 million, below) are just two of many notable works in the sale.
A Scream Come True
Important Impressionist & Modern Artworks at Sotheby’s in NY
Even for observers who would only loosely describe themselves as connoisseurs of art, it is the auction event of the year. And while officially lot number 20 is one of 76 pieces in Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern Art Sale, for many this evening’s auction goes by the name of 'The Scream sale'.
It is actually a little unfair, because the overall quality of this sale is exceptionally high, with the likes of Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Chaïm Soutine, Salvador Dalí, Constantin Brancusi and Paul Gaugin expected to attract healthy bidding.
But, of course, since the announcement that this 1895 rendition of Edvard Munch’s The Scream (which is one of four) is to be sold at auction, the media and sections of the art and auction world have gone into some kind of collective overdrive. Clearly, the importance of the work is indisputable, with the Sotheby’s catalogue noting that "it has been analysed, reproduced, referenced, interpreted and commercialised more often than perhaps any picture bar Leonardo’s Mona Lisa".
Sotheby's Turkish & Islamic Week takes place April 24th to 26th
Sotheby's Turkish & Islamic Week takes place April 24th to 26th
This week’s 'Turkish and Islamic Week: Classical to Contemporary' sale, which takes place at Sotheby’s London offices this week between April 24th and 26th, promises to be a feast for connoisseurs of, inter alia, fine art, pottery and design.
The 'Turkish and Islamic' auction indulgence kicks off on Tuesday at 12 o’clock with the 'Orientalist Sale', followed at 2 pm by the fascinating single-owner collection of Ottoman art 'An Eye For Opulence'. At 10:30 on Wednesday morning it will be the turn of 'Arts of the Islamic World' to take centre stage, with 'Contemporary Art/Turkish' rounding off the week on Thursday at 10:30 am.
Highlights are numerous across the sales, starting in the 'Orientalist Sale' with Turkish artist Osman Hamdy Bey’s The Scholar (pictured above). Bey, who was born in Constantinople and trained in Paris, is seen as the first Turkish artist to “fully embrace an academic, European style” of painting. In this work, the scholar is in a mosque, and – as tradition dictates – shoeless, though very much at ease, relaxed even. This masterpiece carries a pre-sale estimate of GBP 3 to 5 million.
Christie's modern Middle Eastern Art sale starts today in Dubai
Christie's modern Middle Eastern Art sale starts today in Dubai
Measuring amongst the world’s tallest buildings, the Emirates Park Towers in Dubai are a spectacular location to hold any event. At around 350 metres, the taller of the two towers is the Emirates Park Tower Office. Its sister tower, the 305-metre Hotel Tower, is the location that auction house Christie’s has chosen for its second 'Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art' sale.
Similar to the auction in 2011, the sale is split into Part I and Part II, which take place on April 17th and 18th. The highlights are predominantly in the first part of the sale, most significantly with Ahmed Alsoudani’s Untitled (pictured left), painted by the Iraqi artist after the fall of Saddam Hussain’s regime. The painting depicts how people deal with the ‘destruction’ at the end of war and dictatorship. It carries a pre-sale estimate of USD 300-500,000, and is likely to be the most sought-after work across the two days. Indeed, his Baghdad I achieved for a record for the artist when it sold at Christie’s in October 2011 for USD 1.1 million.
Bonhams to auction early maps of the Americas on April 14th
Bonhams to auction early maps of the Americas on April 14th
As the person credited with making meaningful and lasting contact with indigenous populations in the Americas, Christopher Columbus plays a key role in the history of the American continent.
Born in the Republic of Genoa in 1451, Columbus famously set out to find a new route to Asia. He completed four trips between 1492 and 1503, and on October 12th, 1492 he reached an island in what is now known as the Bahamas. Columbus famously believed he had reached the East Indies.
As one of the first Europeans to have successfully led an expedition to the Americas since the Vikings, any item linked with Columbus and these early discovery years stir up interest when they go up for sale. An auction, therefore, entitled 'The Mapping and Discovery of America', that takes place on Saturday, April 14th at Bonhams in New York will be no exception.
Sotheby’s 'Important Watches' spring sale for 2012, tomorrow
Sotheby’s 'Important Watches' spring sale for 2012, tomorrow
Reflecting the increasing importance of many regions of Asia as international auction locations, Hong Kong is to again host Sotheby’s 'Important Watches' spring sale for 2012. Hong Kong and watches is clearly something of a winning formula, with last year’s HKD 112 million (around USD 14 million) representing the highest Sotheby’s has ever raised worldwide for important watches.
It is unsurprising, then, that this year there are a number of highlights in this sale, none more so than a rare pink/gold minute-repeating tourbillon Patek Philippe wristwatch with enamel dial and breguet numerals (pictured left). This model, which ran between 1993 and 2011, is housed in a 33-mm case surrounded by 18-kt pink/gold. Researchers say it is only the third ever to be offered at auction, with one going for a world record price at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October 2011 for HKD 4.2 million (USD 541,000). The current watch up for sale could fetch between HKD 2.8-3.6 million, or around USD 361-464,000.
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