Auction

EXCLUSIVE: Abramovich Said to Be Owner of World's Most Expensive Painting

Filed under: Art, Wealth

EXCLUSIVE: Abramovich is Likely Owner of World's Most Expensive Painting

When we first reported back in May that Pablo Picasso's 1932 painting Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust (above) had sold for a record-breaking $106.5 million at Christie's we heard whispers that the buyer was a certain Russian oligarch known for his eye-popping acquisitions: Roman Abramovich. Now that the world's most expensive painting has been lent to the UK's Tate Modern museum by the unnamed "private collector" who bought it (as my colleague Deidre Woollard reported), a strong indication that the owner is based in London where Abramovich spends most of his time, we're hearing them louder. [cont'd]

Gallery: Record-Breaking Art

Tags: abramovich, art, art auction, art collectors, auction, billionaire, chelsea, London, modern art, most+expensive+painting, mostexpensivepainting, museums, oligarch, Pablo Picasso, Picasso, Roman Abramovich, Russian billionaires, Tate Modern, UK, wealth, world record, worlds most expensive, worlds most expensive painting

Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE: Abramovich Said to Be Owner of World's Most Expensive Painting”

Ernest Hemingway's African Safari Rifle Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Sports, Men's Style, The Classicist

Ernest Hemingway's African Safari Rifle Up for Auction

A remarkable double-barreled elephant gun made by London's Westley Richards in 1913 that belonged to Ernest Hemingway and was used by the famed author on safari in Africa is being offered for auction on March 14. The impressive .577-caliber Nitro Express, the starring lot at James D. Julia Auctioneers' Important Firearms sale in Fairfield, Maine, comes with the original case and accessories and is expected to fetch between $150,000 – $200,000. The 16-pound rifle, engraved with rhinos and tigers and designed to bag the biggest game, has its own chapter in the new book Hemingway's Guns: The Sporting Arms of Ernest Hemingway.

Gallery: Ernest Hemingway's Safari Gun

Tags: Africa, auction, author, celebrity, celebrity auction, celebrity guns, Ernest Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway Africa, Ernest Hemingway guns, Ernest Hemingway safari, ernest+hemingway+guns, ernest+hemingway+on+safari, ernesthemingwayguns, ernesthemingwayonsafari, firearms, gun, gunsmith, Hemingway, Hemingway gun, Hemingway safari, Hemingway shotgun, hemingway+rifle, hemingwayrifle, hunting, Key West, Maine, rifle, Royal Warrant, safari, shooting, shotgun, sporting, sporting style, UK, Westley Richards, writer

Continue reading “Ernest Hemingway's African Safari Rifle Up for Auction”

Leigh Keno's Paintings, Folk Art and Furniture Auction (Exclusive)

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Auctions, Art, Architecture & Design

On Tuesday, January 18, 2011, Keno Auctions will hold its American and European Paintings, Folk Art, Furniture, and Decorative Arts auction. The auction will feature such important items as a Winslow Homer watercolor, an extremely rare Andrew Wyeth sketchbook, early American antique furniture, and important Folk Art. (see gallery below). Winslow Homer's watercolor is seen above with Keno Auctions' president, Leigh Keno, who is one of the foremost experts in the world of art and decorative arts as well as a regular contributor, along with his twin brother, Leslie, to the popular PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

"We are very excited about the sale," Leigh Keno told Luxist. "It's a mixture of American, English and British furniture and paintings. There are some Chinese and other Asian things too. There is real variety---even a Minoan bronze bowl that dates back to 1200 to 1600 BC that was found in Crete. The great thing about the auction is that we have the Internet---including Live Auctioneers and ArtFact---as well as our own telephone bidding system, which makes it possible for anyone around the world to bid."

Keno has devoted much of his time of late amassing the large collection of important items that are featured in this auction. Important furniture items include a William and Mary veneered high chest of drawers (estimate: $60,000 to $120,000). "This is the most important example of American cabinetmaking in the baroque style in early 18th century Boston," says Keno. "There are only two others with veneered walnut moldings. But this high chest has the distinction of not only having the veneer on the sides, but also having the original surface on the legs and feet. The fact that the base is completely original is of great importance."

Gallery: Leigh Keno's Paintings, Furniture and Folk Art Auction on January 18, 2011

Leigh Keno's American and European Paintings Auction

Leigh Keno's auction to feature important American furniture

Tags: american+folk+art+auction, americanfolkartauction, Andrew Wyeth, antiques roadshow, auction, Chippendale, Jennifer L. Mass, Keno Auctions, Leigh Keno, leigh+keno+auction, leighkenoauction, Leslie Keno, WInslow Homer, Winterhur Museum, Wintertur

Continue reading “Leigh Keno's Paintings, Folk Art and Furniture Auction (Exclusive)”

Large Roman Micromosaic Up For Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

Auction Central News drew my attention to a stunning micromosaic that is being auctioned off by Myers Auction Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida as part of their January 30 European & Asian Antiques auction.

The massive piece is 32 by 59 inches and weighs more than 100 pounds. The piece is attributed to master mosaicist Cesare Roccheggiani, who was active at the Vatican workshops from 1856 to 1864. These micro mosaics were just part of the massive industry of selling art to tourists embarking on their Grand Tour of Europe but most were far smaller than this one. The piece depicts the ancient Roman Forum and since the 1920s this piece has been in the home of a Tampa businessman. When the home was sold in the 1980s, the new owners purchased the piece but now the estate artwork is up for sale.

This piece is unsigned but bears a striking resemblance to a signed work of very similar size and subject that sold at Christie's London in December for £337,250 ($533,192) against an estimate of £100,000 - £200,000. The Auction Central News article quotes Michael Myers, founder and co-owner of Myers Auction Gallery who says that his firm believes that although unsigned it is "almost certainly the work of Roccheggiani."

It is being offered with a $100,000-$200,000 estimate. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com. Check out detailed images of this extraordinary piece here.

Tags: art, auction, micromosaic, mosaic, myers auction gallery

Bonhams Auctioning Off John Lennon's Ferrari

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

If you were just getting your driver's license now, what car would you buy? John Lennon got a Ferrari. This is the one, and it's going up for auction.

The Beatles frontman didn't get his license until he was 25, rich and famous, and when he did, local car dealers lined up outside the gates of his Kenwood residence with an array of cars to choose from. He ultimately selected this French racing blue Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, and though it was soon joined in the motor pool by a Mini and a Rolls-Royce, this will always remain the first car of the rock & roll legend.

Destined for the auction block on February 5 at the Grand Palais in Paris, Bonhams estimates its value between €120,000 – 170,000 ($155-220k).

Gallery: John Lennon's 1965 Ferrari 330 GT

Tags: auction, bonhams, ferrari, ferrari 330 gt, john lennon, lennon

Dennis Hopper's Furniture On Offer at Christie's

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping, Art, Architecture & Design

Last summer my colleague Deirdre Woollard covered the sale of Dennis Hopper's house and major works from his impressive collection of contemporary art. Now Christie's is offering a number of prized pieces of furniture that belonged the late actor, artist and aesthete. Tops among Hopper's design classics in Christie's Interiors sale in New York on Jan. 11 – 12 is a chrome and black leather chaise by Le Corbusier, estimated at $1,000 – $1,500; a cardboard "bubble chair" designed by architect Frank Gehry, estimated at $3,000 – $5,000; and an oak and black leather Eames chair with ottoman, estimated at $1,000 – $1,500. Also included are various photographs and works of art, including an Andy Warhol silkscreen of Marilyn Monroe estimated at $40,000 – $60,000, and even the actor's set of Tiffany & Co. teacups and desert plates, estimated at $200 – $300. A number of the items are being offered without reserve, so it's a good chance for Hopper fans to score a memento.

Tags: actor, Andy Warhol, art, auction, celebrity, Christies, contemporary art, Dennis Hopper, Eames, Frank Gehry, furniture, Le Corbusier, Tiffany Co.

$14 Million Francis Bacon Stars in Sotheby's Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

A triptych portrait of artist Lucian Freud by Francis Bacon is the starring attraction at Sotheby's' Looking Closely sale of 20th century works in London on February 10. Three Studies for a Portrait of Lucian Freud (above) is estimated at up to $14 million. However, now that Bacon enthusiast Roman Abramovich has a new $230 million mega-mansion to decorate, we bet it could go much higher. Other top lots in the sale, said to have belonged to the low-profile Geneva collector George Kostalitz, who died last year, include works by Freud himself, Salvador Dali and Marc Chagall. "The works were bought between the 1960s and the 1990s," Helena Newman, Sotheby's European chairman of Impressionist and Modern Art, tells Bloomberg. "It's a personal collection of pieces that can be lived with on a domestic scale." The total high estimate for the works on offer is $85 million.

Tags: art, auction, contemporary art, Francis Bacon, London, Lucian Freud, Roman Abramovich, Salvador Dali, Sothebys

Million-Dollar Ferraris and More at Gooding & Co. Auction in Arizona

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

It's not every day that a car like the Ferrari FXX Evoluzione goes up for auction. Or a Maserati MC12. Or a Ferrari F40, F50 or 333 SP, for that matter. But these and more are set to cross the auction block in a star-studded line-up presented by Gooding & Company.

The collection of the late Benny Caiola includes the aforementioned FXX (estimated at $2.2-2.5 million), MC12 ($1.1-1.4 million), 333 SP ($800,000-1 million), F40 ($475,000-550,000) and F50 ($750,000-850,000), along with an F430 Challenge race car ($125,000 - $150,000) and 430 Scuderia ($215,000-240,000), 599 HGTE ($275,000-315,000) and 1973 Ferrari Dino ($160,000-180,000) plus a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster ($240,000-325,000) and Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 ($175,000-225,000) for good measure.

The most notable (and valuable) of the collection, the FXX and MC12 are both based on the iconic Ferrari Enzo supercar, but optimized for performance on the race track, while the 333 SP was the last Le Mans Prototype ever built by Ferrari. It's a rare collection to be sure, one that promises to bring in upwards of $7 million in sales when the auction kicks off on January 21 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Gallery: The Caiola Collection - Gooding & Company

Tags: 1973 Ferrari Dino, 1990 Ferrari F40, 1995 Ferrari F50, 1999 Ferrari 333 SP, 2005 Maserati MC12, 2006 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione, 2007 Ferrari F430 Challenge, 2008 Ferrari 430 Scuderia, 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster, 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4, 2010 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE, 333 SP, 333SP, 430 Scuderia, 599, 599 GTB Fiorano, 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE, arizona, auction, benny caiola, caiola, caiola collection, Dino, F40, F50, Ferrari 333 SP, Ferrari 333SP, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE, Ferrari 599 HGTE, Ferrari Dino, Ferrari F40, Ferrari F430 Challenge, Ferrari F50, Ferrari FXX, Ferrari FXX Evoluzione, FXX, FXX Evoluzione, Gallardo, Gallardo LP 560-4, gooding, gooding and company, gooding company, Lamborghini Gallardo, Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4, Maserati MC12, MC12, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster, scottsdale, SLR, SLR McLaren, SLR McLaren Roadster

Silver Torah Finials Top Rare Judaica Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions

The beautiful silver objects shown above are a pair of silver torah finials, formerly of the Mercaz Avraham Synagogue, Rehovot, Israel. The finials, which date back to circa 1870 and are estimated at $35,000 to $45,000, are just part of the bi-annual Judaica auction being held by Greenstein & Co.'s Auction House on January 10, 2011.

The auction takes place at the Radisson Martinique Hotel in Manhattan and will feature 200 rare and valuable objects including menorahs, Kiddush cups, silver torah ornaments, spice boxes, paintings and much more. The auction is also open for phone bidding and purchase beforehand.

Greenstein recently launched the only Jewish Museum type of gallery in Cedarhurst, New York where collectors can buy select Judaica artifacts that are on display. Currently, the J. Greenstein & Co. Auction House is the country's only house completely devoted to the sale of holy Jewish ceremonial objects and has sold off celebrity Judaica including Sammy David Jr.'s personal menorah and items from victims of the Bernie Madoff scandal.

Tags: auction, judaica, silver torah finials

England's Finest at Gooding & Company's Amelia Island Auction

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Last year at the Amelia Island auction, Gooding & Company auctioned off over $16 million in classic automobiles at the annual event, including a $2.75 million 1931 Voisin and a $1.7 million '61 Porsche RS61 Spyder formerly owned by Sir Stirling Moss. Next year's event is still months away, but early consignments are already coming in, shaping the event up to look like a veritable celebration of Britain's finest.

First up is a rare alloy-bodied 1949 Jaguar XK120, the first to come to the United States and the only one made in Blue Sheen paint, projected around the $375,000-$550,000. The 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Sedanca Drop Head Coupe pictured aboce, one of only four made with Gurney Nutting coachwork, is estimated to bring $400,000-$500,000. Finally comes a '62 Lotus 23B with considerable racing pedigree projected at around $200,000. With more consignments coming in, the auction is set to take place on Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation.

Gallery: Best of Britain at Gooding & Co. – Amelia Island 2011

Tags: 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Sedanca Drop Head Coupe, 1949 Jaguar XK120 Alloy, 1962 Lotus 23B, Amelia Island, auction, Gooding, Gooding and Company, Gooding Company, Jaguar, Jaguar XK120, Jaguar XK120 Alloy, Lotus, Lotus 23B, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Phantom II, Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Sedanca Drop Head Coupe

Rare Rolexes & More in Christie's Watches Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

A custom-engraved Patek Philippe pocket watch from the collection of American business titan Henry Graves Jr. and a stellar collection of modern dress and sport watches from the collection of award-winning actor Anthony LaPaglia are among top lots to on offer at Christie's December 14 sale of Important Watches in New York. Price-wise the big draw is a Patek Philippe Reference 2499 in 18k gold, a perpetual calendar chronograph with moon phases, manufactured in 1982, est. $250,000–$350,000, while Graves' Patek is estimated at $40,000–$60,000. LaPaglia is an astute collector whose well-chosen pieces will lead the sale's afternoon session, with estimates ranging from $2,000 up to $70,000.

A stand-out among the vintage watches in his collection is the Rolex Reference 3646 made circa 1943 for Officine Panerai, an extremely rare example of the large, stainless steel diver's wristwatches produced for Italian navy officers during the 1940's, est. $70,000–$90,000; and the Rolex Reference 6541 from circa 1958, one of the rarest Milgauss models Rolex ever produced, est. $60,000–$80,000. Identified by its seconds hand in the form of a lightning bolt, this anti-magnetic model was originally designed for use in areas of high electro-magnetic fields, such as laboratories and power stations. And our favorite is the Rolex Reference 6239, known as the "Paul Newman" Cosmograph Daytona, (above) manufactured circa 1967 in stainless steel, est. $40,000–$60,000.

Gallery: Christie's Important Watches 12/14/10

Tags: Anthony LaPaglia, auction, christies+watches, christieswatches, chronograph, Henry Graves Jr., Panerai, Patek Philippe, rare+rolexes, rarerolexes, Rolex, Rolex Daytona, rolex+milgauss, rolexmilgauss, watches

New Record Set For George Stubbs Art

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

Another big night for Sotheby's. The Evening Sale of Old Master & British Paintings at Sotheby's in London saw a new auction record set for British artist George Stubbs. His Brood Mares and Foals, a large 39 ¼ by 74 ¼ inch painting sold for £10.1 million ($15.9 million) setting a new record for the artist at auction. The previous record was for his Portrait of The Royal Tiger which sold in 1995 for £3,191,500 ($5,079,579). This was the first time the painting had ever appeared on the open market. It passed from Colonel George Lane Parker (1724-1791) of Woodbury, Cambridgeshire, second son of George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield, of Shirburn Castle, Oxfordshire down through the generations to the most recent owner.

The sale brought in a total of £23,577,600 ($37,054,556) setting six new auction record prices for works by: George Stubbs, Luis de Morales, Goswijn Van Der Weyden, Giovanni Battista Piazzetta, Lorenzo Pasinelli and Emanuel de Witte.

George Stubbs is famous for his horse paintings. The painting shows Stubbs' handiwork with both horses and landscapes. It was likely commissioned by Colonel George Lane Parker. Stubbs produced the distinctive group of compositions of mares and foals exclusively for his most important patrons during the 1760s.

Tags: art, auction, equestrian art, george stubbs, sothebys

Star Spangled Banner Sells for Record Auction Price at Christie's

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions

The Star Spangled Banner is on display at Christie's in New York. It will be sold by the auction house on December 3.

A rare first edition of America's national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, sold at auction today at Christie's for $506,500 (including the buyer's premium), setting a record price for any sheet music sold at auction. The pre-sale estimate for the lot was $200,000 to $300,000.

Composed by poet Francis Scott Key during the evening of September 13, 1814, the sheet music was offered as part of Christie's "Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts Including Americana" sale at its headquarters at Rockefeller Plaza in New York.

According to Chris Coover, senior specialist in books and manuscripts at Christie's in New York, the buyer is an American private collector. "It shows what an icon of American patriotism the Star Spangled Banner really is," says Coover.

The sellers are two retired Pennsylvania antique dealers who bought the sheet music as part of an album in 1989 for $50. The dealers only later realized the significance of what was contained in the album.

According to Coover, there are only eleven copies still in existence, including this one, though, until recently, it wasn't well known that this one even existed. "It is the only one still in private hands with all others owned by institutions," says Coover. "It is quite a rarity."

Gallery: Star Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner on view in Christie's NYC Gallery

A Close-Up View of The Star Spangled Banner.

A Close-Up View of The Star Spangled Banner at Christie's

The first edition of The Star Spangled Banner contains the mispelling of the word

Tags: antiques, auction, Christies, Francis Scott Key, rare documents, sheet music, star spangled banner, Steve Forbes, Winston Churchill

Continue reading “Star Spangled Banner Sells for Record Auction Price at Christie's”

Star Spangled Banner to Be Sold at Auction

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions

On December 3, Christie's will sell at auction a rare first edition of America's national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. Composed by poet Francis Scott Key during the evening of September 13, 1814, the sheet music will be offered in Christie's "Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts Including Americana" sale at its headquarters at Rockefeller Plaza in New York. The pre-sale estimate for the lot is $200,000 to $300,000.

The sellers are two retired Pennsylvania antique dealers who bought the sheet music as part of an album in 1989 for $50. The dealers only later realized the significance of what was contained in the album.

According to Chris Coover, senior specialist in books and manuscripts at Christie's in New York, the dealers attended many small auctions in the Pennsylvania area over a period of many years. At one of these small auctions, they acquired an album that contained popular songs from the 1814 era with most of the songs being undated. "After buying the album, the dealers studied it closely and realized it contained a first edition of The Star Spangled Banner which was bound into the album," says Coover. "They did their homework and realized they had a very rare piece indeed. They were thrilled to be the owners of a great piece of Americana."

According to Coover, there are only eleven copies still in existence, including this one, though, until recently, it wasn't well known that this one even existed. "It is the only one still in private hands with all others owned by institutions," says Coover. "It is quite a rarity."

Gallery: Star Spangled Banner

Tags: Americana, auction, Christies, Francis Scott Key, Rare Books and Manuscripts, sheet music, Star Spangled Banner

Continue reading “Star Spangled Banner to Be Sold at Auction”

James Bond's Gun Sells for $437,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Men's Style

Back in November we broke the news that a Walther pistol wielded by Sean Connery as James Bond in the photo shoot used for the main image in the poster and advertising campaign for 1963's From Russia With Love (above) was being auctioned off at Christie's' Popular Culture: Film and Entertainment sale in London. Now the results of Nov. 25 sale are in, and the weapon – in actual fact an air gun – has sold for an astonishing $437,000, almost 14 times it's high pre-sale estimate of $32,000. The iconic image of Connery holding the gun was later used in advertising and promotional material for every Bond film up until 1967's You Only Live Twice and remains a major pop culture paragon.

Source

Tags: auction, Christies, entertainment, gun, James Bond, London, memorabilia, movies, pop culture, Sean Connery, Walther PPK