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  • Archive for August, 2014

    THE MOST VALUABLE WINE AUCTION LOT EVER OFFERED

    Friday, August 29th, 2014
    The 114-Bottle Romanée-Conti Superlot 1992 – 2010

    The 114-Bottle Romanée-Conti Superlot 1992 – 2010

    The most valuable wine auction lot ever offered – the Romanée-Conti Superlot – comes up at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on October 4.  Sotheby’s one day sale features a wealth of top notch Burgundies, led by an historic Henri Jayer collection and the Romanée-Conti Superlot.  The auction gets underway with a selection of Henri Jayer magnums from the cellar of James H. Clark, founder of Netscape Communications Corporation.  The collection of 66 magnums in 19 lots is estimated at US$750,000-1.2 million.  Of the 66 magnums 19 are the extremely rare Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux, 1990.  Additional lots from Mr. Clark will be available at a Sotheby’s single owner sale in New York next November 15.

    The 114 bottle Romanée-Conti Superlot of 19 consecutive vintages (six bottles per vintage of 1992-2010) is estimated at US$1.5-2.5 million, making it the most valuable wine lot ever offered. Romanée-Conti is regarded as one of the greatest wines in the world, with a miniscule average annual production of 5,500 bottles.  Given their small productions, Burgundies have been in ever-growing demand globally.  The Burgundy lots make up over 40% of the total number of 778 lots available in this sale.  The auction is expected to bring in US$4.5-6.7 million. 

    UP to now the most valuable wine lot ever sold at auction was a single case lot of 50 cases of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, 1982 which made US$1,051,600 at Sotheby’s, New York in 2006:  UPDATE Sotheby’s today broke the world auction record for the most expensive wine lot when it sold the Romanée-Conti Superlot for HK$12,556,250 / US$1,609,776.  The price achieved per bottle of the 114-bottle Superlot was HK$110,143 / US$14,121, which equals HK$13,768 / US$1,700 per glass for 912 glasses.  

    A PAUL HENRY AT SOTHEBY’S IN LONDON IN DECEMBER

    Thursday, August 28th, 2014
    Paul Henry - The Fishing Fleet, Co. Galway - 16" x 20" (£80,000-120,000).

    Paul Henry – The Fishing Fleet, Co. Galway – 16″ x 20″ (£80,000-120,000).  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £98,500

    A Paul Henry painting discovered in Ireland will come up  at Sotheby’s British and Irish art auction in London on December 10. The Fishing Fleet, Co. Galway by Henry is estimated at £80,000-120,000.  Charlie Minter, Sotheby’s British and Irish art specialist, will be offering free appraisals in Belfast and Dublin in the coming weeks by appointment only.  He will be carrying out appraisals in Belfast and Northern Ireland on September 8 and 9 and in Dublin and countrywide on September 10 and 11.  Sotheby’s next British and Irish art auction in London on December 10 will close for consignments from Ireland in the first week of October. Highlights from the sale will be exhibited in Dublin on November 28, 29 and 30.

    Charlie Minter commented:  “In the past couple of  years Sotheby’s has achieved a number of impressive results for Irish artists many of which have been sourced in Ireland. It has been encouraging to see renewed attention for Irish art as a whole”.  He added that global attention for Irish art continues to grow, with competition driven by works that are fresh to the market and attractively priced.

    YETI FOOTPRINTS AND VINTAGE POSTERS AT CHRISTIE’S ONLINE AUCTION

    Thursday, August 28th, 2014

    With everything from photographs of Yeti footprints to vintage film posters, an elephant bird egg and a fossilised giant palm frond Christie’s online auction Out of the Ordinary: The Online Edit runs from now until September 10.  The sale offers collectors of all things extraordinary the chance to acquire unusual objects from around the world at any time. A group of photographs showing Yeti footprints in the Memluk Basin (£3,000 – 5,000) were taken by Eric Earle Shipton (1907-1977) during the 1951 Everest expedition. Shipton’s photographs ignited speculation about the existence of a Yeti which had been growing since N.A. Tombazi made the first European sighting during an expedition to the Sikkim Himalaya in 1925. Edmund Hillary  had a strange experience at 19,000 feet in the Himalayas in 1952. In his book High Adventure (1955) he reported:  “We were climbing quite a steep pitch when Pemba stopped and picked something off the rock. Obviously greatly excited he showed it to Angpemba. Feeling somewhat curious I asked them what it was all about. They placed in my hand a tuft of long black hairs – thick and coarse they looked more like bristles than anything else.  “Yeti, Sahib, Yeti”. I couldn’t help being impressed by their conviction and it did seem a strange place to find some hair. We were well over 19,000 feet and the Abominable Snowman was obviously no mean rock climber”.

    Eric Earle Shipton (1907-1977), Photographer Yeti footprints in the Menlung Basin Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2014.

    Eric Earle Shipton (1907-1977), Photographer
    Yeti footprints in the Menlung Basin Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.

    I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE Reynold Brown (1917-1991) 1958, Paramount, U.S.

    I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE
    Reynold Brown (1917-1991) Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014
    1958, Paramount, U.S.

     

     

    THE OPULENT EYE AT CHRISTIE’S IN LONDON

    Wednesday, August 27th, 2014

    Furniture, sculpture and works of art from the 19th century feature at Christie’s sale The Opulent Eye in London on September 18,  The sale is led by an exceptional coffre à bijoux, jewellery cabinet-on-stand, by Henri Fourdinois (£70,000-100,000). Recently rediscovered in a private Portuguese collection this unique cabinet captures the grand ambition and subtle sophistication of the great exhibitions of 19th century Europe. The mahogany veneers are finely inlaid with silvered-bronze mounts, and the angles cornered by lapis lazuli veneered columns supporting ivory angels by the sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse.

    Representing many of the best makers and sculptors of the period, the sale presents palatial furnishings drawn from an eclectic mixture of styles and countries, united by their opulence, fine craftsmanship and use of precious materials. Featuring furniture, lighting, marble and bronze sculpture, garden statuary, clocks, carpets and porcelain, the sale totals 328 lots and is expected to realise in the region of £3.5 million. 

    A French gilt and silvered bronze enamel and ivory mounted Coffre a bijoux (£80,000-120,000).  Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2014.

    A French gilt and silvered bronze enamel and ivory mounted Coffre a bijoux (£80,000-120,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.

     

    A French ormolu mounted American walnut credence by Edouard Lievre, Paris c1870 (£150,000-250,000).

    A French ormolu mounted American walnut credence by Edouard Lievre, Paris c1870 (£150,000-250,000).  Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.

     

    One of a pair of over life size cast iron models of a lion and tiger, the models by Henri Alfred Marie Jacquemart (£80,000-120,000).  Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2014.

    One of a pair of over life size cast iron models of a lion and tiger, the models by Henri Alfred Marie Jacquemart (£80,000-120,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.

     

    COLOURED STONES AT O’REILLY’S IN SEPTEMBER

    Tuesday, August 26th, 2014

    Certified coloured stones will be a feature of the auction at O’Reilly’s, Francis St., Dublin on September 3. The catalogue for this auction of over 300 lots is online. Here is a small selection:

    A FINE QUALITY DIAMOND AND SAPPHIRE THREE STONE RING, the oval sapphire to two brilliant cut diamonds, mounted in white gold. Together with coloured gemstone report stating the sapphire to be; 3.90 ct, of Burmese origin with no evidence of heat treatment  (18,000-22,000)

    A FINE QUALITY DIAMOND AND SAPPHIRE THREE STONE RING, the oval sapphire to two brilliant cut diamonds, mounted in white gold. Together with coloured gemstone report stating the sapphire to be; 3.90 ct, of Burmese origin with no evidence of heat treatment (18,000-22,000)

    A FINE QUALITY JADEITE CARVED PENDANT, in the form of an ampoule with foliage, tourmaline detail, on a silver chain. Together with a coloured gemstone report stating the jadiete to be of natural origin with no treatment (5,000-6,000)

    A FINE QUALITY JADEITE CARVED PENDANT, in the form of an ampoule with foliage, tourmaline detail, on a silver chain. Together with a coloured gemstone report stating the jadiete to be of natural origin with no treatment (5,000-6,000)

    A DIAMOND CLUSTER RING, the rectangular brilliant fancy yellow diamond, to a brilliant cut diamond surround. Together with EGL coloured diamond report stating the diamond to be; 2.01 ct, Fancy Vivid yellow, VS2 cl  (20,000-22,000)

    A DIAMOND CLUSTER RING, the rectangular brilliant fancy yellow diamond, to a brilliant cut diamond surround. Together with EGL coloured diamond report stating the diamond to be; 2.01 ct, Fancy Vivid yellow, VS2 cl (20,000-22,000)

     

    LI WENTAO AT MORGAN O’DRISCOLL’S DUBLIN AUCTION

    Monday, August 25th, 2014

     

    Wentao Li (b.1967) Chinese Paper Crane  oil on canvas

    Wentao Li (b.1967) Chinese
    Paper Crane
    oil on canvas  UPDATE:  THIS WAS BID TO 42,000 AT WHICH POINT IT WAS WITHDRAWN

    A painting by Li Wentao comes up at Morgan O’Driscoll’s art auction at the RDS in Dublin on September 15.  Paper Crane, signed and dated ’05 on the reverse, was bought directly from the artist at the  Grand Marche d’Art Contemporain de Bastille 2005, in Paris. Framed by Olivier Dyan, Art Club, Paris prior to the artists solo exhibition at the gallery in 2006 the work is illustrated on the catalogue cover of Review Wentao Art Studio.

    Li, who is known for the theatricality of his art, holds a bachelors degree from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China and an MFA from the University of Massachusetts. A letter from the artist, who lives and works in Beijing, accompanies the lot.  It is estimated at 50,000-70,000.

    Morgan O’Driscoll’s auction of 112 lots of predominantly Irish art takes place on the evening of September 15 at the Minerva Suite in the RDS.

    FROM AMULET TO ZODIAC AT CHESTER BEATTY LIBRARY

    Sunday, August 24th, 2014

    From Amulet to Zodiac the A-Z exhibition now underway at Dublin’s Chester Beatty Library takes the visitor on a journey through a selection of highlights.  The curators’ choice show highlights the breadth and quality of the wonderful collection, a rare opportunity to explore the threads that link cultures across the Western, Islamic and East Asian worlds.

    A is for Amulet and the exhibition displays exquisite examples of these seventeenth- to nineteenth- century protective charms from the Christian, Hebrew, Islamic and Hindu faiths. E is for Embroidery and the objects on view include European sixteenth- to eighteenth-century covers for almanacs and devotional works, as well as eighteenth- and nineteenth-century embroidered badges worn to indicate status in the Chinese imperial court. T is for Travel and among the early printed travel books is a rare 1576 guide to the ‘most famous islands of the world’ with a chapter devoted to Ireland.  B is for Beatty and M is for Mining, and rarely seen material from the Library’s Archives offer a glimpse into Chester Beatty’s family and professional life.  The show continues until February 1, 2015.  Here are some examples.

    N is for Noh © Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library

    N is for Noh © Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library

    A is for Amulet (Phylactery) © Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library

    A is for Amulet (Phylactery) © Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library

    G is for Garden

    G is for Garden  Copyright Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library.

    J is for Jade.

    J is for Jade.  Copyright Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library.

     

    NEW HOME FOR CHRISTIE’S ON SHANGHAI’S HISTORIC BUND

    Thursday, August 21st, 2014
    Shanghai Ampire Building

    Shanghai Ampire Building

    The importance of Asia in the international world of art and antiques cannot be overstated. Christie’s today announced the opening of a new home and multi-purpose art space at Shanghai’s historic Bund.  With its combination of heritage and style the location is considered to be a perfect match for the global auction house.  Located in the heart of The Bund – the symbol of the city, Christie’s Shanghai is based in the Ampire Building, built in 1907 and part of the urban landscape over the past century.  The Shanghai autumn auctions on October 24 will feature a new category of Chinese Contemporary Design as well as an evening sale of Asian and Western 20th Century and Contemporary Art and a Prestigious Lifestyle sale. A private selling exhibition, The Art of The Horse, is to be the opening exhibition at Christie’s Shanghai on October 21.  It will tour and to Hong Kong in November.  Here are some examples from the Chinese Contemporary Design sale.

    Echo - a white eggshell porcelain bowl

    Echo – a white eggshell porcelain bowl

    One of a pair of Da Tian Di Bo Luo lacquered carbon fibre chairs

    One of a pair of Da Tian Di Bo Luo lacquered carbon fibre chairs

    DA TIAN DI (SKY AND EARTH) LUOHAN BED

    DA TIAN DI (SKY AND EARTH) LUOHAN BED

    MASTERPIECES FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF IRELAND

    Thursday, August 21st, 2014

    A special presentation of some of the finest works in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland – Masterpieces from the Collection – includes paintings from the early Renaissance through to the mid 20th century from the European collection.  Highlights from the Irish collection includes key works by Hugh Douglas Hamilton, James Barry, William Orpen, John Lavery and Jack B. Yeats.  The new display of paintings by Yeats includes  a number of the artist’s most popular works, The Singing Horseman (1949), Men of Destiny(1946), A Lake Regatta (1923) and Above the Fair (1946).  Masterpieces from the Collection is open in the Beit Wing and Millennium Wing (rooms 1 – 10). A major refurbishment of the Dargan and Milltown wings of the gallery continues.  The Masterpieces exhibition will run for an indefinite period. Here is a small sample of what is on offer.

    Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) Portrait of Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Bellamont (1738-1800), 1773-1774 Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

    Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792)
    Portrait of Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Bellamont (1738-1800), 1773-1774
    Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

    Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) The Banks of the Canal du Loing at Saint-Mammès, 1888 Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

    Alfred Sisley (1839-1899)
    The Banks of the Canal du Loing at Saint-Mammès, 1888
    Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

     

    CHRISTIE’S ONLINE AUCTION OF AFFORDABLE JEWELS GETS UNDERWAY TODAY

    Wednesday, August 20th, 2014

    A summer on-line auction of vintage and modern pieces – Statement Jewels – gets underway at Christie’s today and runs to September 3.  The collection will feature everyday wearable pieces, from coloured gems to classic jadeite and pearls, and timepieces.

    Vickie Sek, Deputy Chairman of Christie’s Asia and Director and Head of Jewellery and Jadeite Department said: “We have put together a selection that offers something for everyone. The online sale platform means our clients will be able to view and purchase the statement pieces that we have on offer from anywhere in the world and best of all, at accessible prices.”

    Two signed sapphire & diamond rings (Van Cleef & Arpels & Boucheron) (US$5,000-7,000).

    Two signed sapphire & diamond rings (Van Cleef & Arpels & Boucheron) (US$5,000-7,000).

    Two signed sapphire & diamond rings (Van Cleef & Arpels & Boucheron)

    Two signed sapphire & diamond rings (Van Cleef & Arpels & Boucheron)

    A jadeite, diamond, onyx and ruby brooch (US$1,000-1,500).

    A jadeite, diamond, onyx and ruby brooch (US$1,000-1,500).

    A pair of diamond and emerald ear pendants (US$2,500-3,800).

    A pair of diamond and emerald ear pendants (US$2,500-3,800).

    A gold bracelet by Van Cleef and Arpels (US$1,000-1,500).

    A gold bracelet by Van Cleef and Arpels (US$1,000-1,500).