Under the hammer – Fab Four Auction Sales (October 2024)
Four amazing lots that captivated recent auctions include a Van Cleef & Arpels tie necklace, a bronze head of Eros, a Babe Ruth baseball jersey, and a masterpiece by Yoshitomo Nara.
White Tie: Van Cleef tassel necklace dazzles
A rare Van Cleef & Arpels tie necklace shone brightly at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sales in New York. Heralding from the late 1920s-early 1930s, the lot caused a major stir at the auction house and stimulated a six-minute seven-way bidding war, eventually going for US$3.6 million (HK$28.06 million). In a testament to the item’s rarity, the final price was fully three times greater than the pre-auction high estimate of US$1.2 million. Festooned with diamonds, it attained the highest price of a sensational sale of jewels owned by a distinguished American collector, in which eight pieces sold for more than US$1 million.
The important necklace raised the interest of bidders not only for its beauty and artistry but also because of its historical significance. Featuring graduated links set with variously cut stones and two elongated tassels that partially rotate, it is considered a fine example of Van Cleef & Arpels’ Art Deco style, perfectly encapsulating the era’s signature design characteristics.
A favourite of movie stars in Hollywood’s golden age, this type of tie necklace has an appealing versatility. It can adorn the décolletage, drape over one shoulder or decorate a dramatic backless gown.
Bronzed God: Bidders worship head of Eros
A superb Greek bronze head of Eros captivated collectors at Christie’s Exceptional Sale in London, resulting in a whopping final bid of £1.86 million (HK$19.1 million). The winning price represented a massive mark-up for the sculpted masterpiece, more than doubling its pre-auction estimate of £550,000 – £750,000.
Measuring just over nine inches high with its head tilted slightly to the left, the bust is thought to originate from the Hellenistic period, circa 2nd-1st century BC. It was during this time that Greek art portrayed varying stages of the human experience including childhood, and works dedicated to Eros, especially cherubic depictions, were popular.
This homage to the god of love in Greek mythology – who was often linked with the goddess Aphrodite – continued into the Roman period, though the fine casting of its facial features and intricacies of its locks of hair almost certainly place this piece in the late Hellenistic period. It is noteworthy for its elaborate hairstyle, a partial melon coiffure with overlapping curls at the sides of the face and flowing down the back of the head.
The bust was previously sold by Christie’s just over 50 years ago.
Babe Magnet: Historic baseball jersey smashes record
The jersey worn by New York Yankee legend Babe Ruth during his famous third-game, fifth-inning home run in the 1932 World Series caused a sensation at a recent sale held by Heritage Auctions. Competing in a six-hour bidding war for the coveted uniform top, baseball fans proceeded to hit the price out of the park. The hammer fell at an incredible US$24.12 million (HK$188.1 million), easily surpassing the previous record for a sports collectible. The controversy surrounding Babe Ruth’s fifth-inning home run against the Chicago Cubs has often been written about, depicted in paintings and mimicked in movies, giving this piece of sports memorabilia huge cultural significance. Ruth stepped up to the plate with the score at 4-4, heckled fiercely by Cubs supporters on their home turf of Wrigley Field. He repeatedly pointed in the direction of the deep centre field before smashing the ball out there, then gesturing to the Cubs bench as he ran the bases.
Heritage’s Director of Sports Auctions, Chris Ivy, commented: “It is clear by the strong auction participation and record price achieved that astute collectors have no doubt as to what this Ruth jersey is and what it represents.”
Wonder Child: Doe-eyed girl lights up sale
A masterpiece by Yoshitomo Nara sent Sotheby’s auction house in Hong Kong abuzz with excitement during the last Modern and Contemporary Evening sale and pushed the winning bid sky high. The work, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, eventually went for HK$96 million (US$12.3 million).
Making its auction debut, the large-scale acrylic on canvas was laid down in 2017 by the pioneering Japanese artist and is said to be one of his favourites. Its depiction of a doe-eyed little girl is a signature theme, reflecting his career-long introspective style; the childlike gaze in this work conveys a deep, tender sentimentality and a haunting serenity.
Nara has often talked about how his art has been influenced by musical references, and I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight takes its title from the 1974 folk-rock album penned by Richard and Linda Thompson. The yellow-green palette of the record cover is clearly discernible in the hues of this multi-layered painting. It also nods to how the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan affected the artist. To counter the nation’s grief, he sought to reflect a happier state of mind through the eyes of his young subjects.
