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A jadeite necklace that is an ode to the Qing emperor, a unique luminescent moon jar, a painting that beautifully depicts Indian mythology or Yayoi Kusama’s famous pumpkin sculptor – all these latest history makers at auction houses have proved that a masterpiece that exudes rareness and creativity will receive unhinged appreciation.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Heavenly gem</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Jadeite necklace nod to Qing emperor</h4>
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A magnificent jadeite bead, ruby and diamond necklace sold for US$7.8 million at a recent evening sale at Sotheby’s. Bidding was frenzied for this superb decorative piece called The Emperor’s Treasure, and it went for the top amount in The Exceptionals section at the Hong Kong auction. Named after Gems of Heavenly Favour, a collection of rare manuscripts beloved by the Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799), the necklace is composed of 43 slightly graduated jadeite beads varying in size from 11.55mm to 13.05mm. The best jadeite has fine translucency and a deep emerald-green hue. These beads attain these high standards, earning the right to be called ‘Imperial Green’ in an association of nobility and majesty befitting an emperor. Their intense, lustrous green is juxtaposed by the colour and sparkle of the clasp that secures them around the neck. Crafted from 18-karat white gold, the bejewelled fastening is highlighted by a central cushion-shaped ruby surrounded by calibré-cut rubies and rose- and brilliant-cut diamonds. In 2014, a Hutton-Mdivani Imperial Green jadeite necklace sold for HK$214.04 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, setting the auction record for jadeite jewellery.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Glaze gazing</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Korean moon jar rockets to astronomical figure</h4>
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An important white porcelain moon jar set a new record for this distinctive and collectible category of Korean pottery, with the final bid rising to US$4.56 million at Christie’s sale of Japanese and Korean art in New York. The jar originates from the 1700s during the culturally rich Joseon dynasty. It notched up the highest price – far exceeding its $1 million estimate – during a special Asian Art Week at Christie’s, which also saw a buyer ride off with Hokusai’s Great Wave woodblock print for US$2.8 million, a record for the legendary Japanese artist. Large for a traditional moon jar at 46cm high, the prize lot is considered a superb example of its type from the 18th century, which is extremely rare. The gentle white sphere is covered with a translucent glaze from its everted mouth to its high, narrow foot. On close examination, areas of crackle are discernible, especially around the central seam where the two parts of the jar have been joined together. Minute traces of impurities in the glaze have produced variations in the smooth surface. Christie’s sales of Japanese and Korean Art achieved a total of $11,413,992, with registered bidders from 22 countries in total.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Goddess of Might</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Painting of Durga a roaring success</h4>
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Manjit Bawa’s Untitled (Durga) went under the hammer for US$1.98 million at Christie’s recently, setting a new global auction record for the artist. In this monumental and imposing painting from 2004, Bawa presents the goddess Durga, the supreme female deity of the Hindu pantheon, mounted on the back of her vehicle or vahana, a lion. Durga is also known as Shakti or Devi, the protector of all that is good and harmonious in the world. However, this goddess is perhaps most renowned as Mahishasuramardini, the slayer of the invincible buffalo demon Mahishasura, created by the demon king Rambha. Although Durga is instantly recognisable here, Bawa’s version of the emblematic goddess embodies a delicate purity and all-pervasive truth, reflected through the meditative qualities of his own aesthetic and technical prowess. The artist died in 2008, and this painting was last sold at auction in 2014. Greatly inspired by Indian classical artistic traditions, his work often incorporated elements from various genres and periods. Bawa visited specific mythological themes throughout his career, depicting iconic gods and goddesses like Shiva, Krishna and Durga.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pumpkin high</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Record price for polka dot bronze</h4>
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Yayoi Kusama’s bronze Pumpkin (L) fetched the highest price realised for a sculpture by the artist at Sotheby’s 50th Anniversary Contemporary Art Evening auction last month. Imbued with her trademark polka dots, this impressive example of Kusama’s highly coveted sculptural pumpkins – the eighth and final of an edition completed in 2014 – went for US$8 million. Beautifully materialised in bronze, the Japanese artist’s iconic striations of multi-sized polka dots meticulously encase the pumpkin from stem to base. One of the most admired and universally recognisable images of contemporary art today, the pumpkin is central to the 94-year-old’s widely celebrated oeuvre, appearing throughout her work from flat canvases and abstract paintings to gallery-wide installations. The bronze Pumpkin (L) is a prime example of Kusama’s unique ability to collapse the division between her own consciousness and the external world. Widely considered the most important artist to have emerged from Japan in the post-war period, Kusama was a contemporary of Andy Warhol and her pop art influenced his. Hong Kong’s M+ Museum retrospective of her work concludes on 14 May.

Breaking Records: The Latest Auction Bids

The recent online acquisition of a remarkable Patek Philippe has caused something of a stir in the watch-collecting community. Fetching US$5,815,300, the watch was the most valuable timepiece ever sold online globally and the most expensive object ever sold online at Christie’s Asia. This astronomical price for a Grand Complications Sky Moon Tourbillon has left some industry insiders wondering how high prices will go.


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Buoyed by this massive headliner, the online watch sale at Christie’s Hong Kong in March proved a success with total sales comfortably exceeding US$8 million. Alexandre Bigler, Vice President and Head of Watches at Christie’s Asia Pacific believes this achievement is indicative of a vibrant market for watches across the world. He further opines that the sale cements Hong Kong’s status as an international epicentre for watch collecting.







He also attributed the success to the diverse selection of collectible watches. “Not only did we offer rare timepieces from reputed brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier and Vacheron Constantin, but also iconic designs from other highly-sought after brands like Gerald Genta, Andersen, Hublot, A. Lange &amp; Söhne., and Jaeger Le-Coultre.”



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But just what is it that drives buyers to collect watches and pay such sky-high prices? Kenneth Or, founder of Hong Kong-based Ken’s Watches, a supplier of new and second-hand premium watches since 2002, says that for some, it is simply a hobby, just like any other pastime that gives pleasure, such as collecting arts or wine or cars or jewels.







But there are also financial motives. “It is now considered to be a kind of investment tool as well,” he notes. “Watches have their own value. A watch not only keeps its value but sometimes its value might also be increased as time passes by. One can enjoy collecting something they love while they know they can always get the money back.”


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Or also believes the market is readily accessible for the avid watch lover. “Moreover, the international watch market is very mature nowadays. It is easy and convenient to sell a watch and get the money back,” he adds.







What drives up the value of a watch and makes it collectible depends on numerous factors, according to Or. “It is about the brand, the watch design and style, popularity in the market, production volume, demand in the market, and if there are any stories behind the item. All these criteria support the value of a watch and make it a collectible one.”


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Technical complexity Christie’s Bigler believes the value of some premium watches is derived from their historical significance, reflecting such things as technological advancements and design trends of their time. Some collectors also have an astute appreciation of the painstaking craftsmanship and technical expertise confined to a miniature work of art on the wrist.







As a case in point, he sees the price-busting Patek Philippe watch as one of the revered manufacturer’s most intricate and impressive creations. “ The reference 6002G seems to effortlessly combine immense mechanical complication with amazing aesthetics and readability,” he says.


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“This inspirational double-face grand complication with hand-made blue cloisonné and champlevé enamel dial was launched in 2013 to replace the first Sky Moon Tourbillon model, reference 5002, launched in 2001 and formerly the most complicated wristwatch in the world.







“Boasting 12 complications, reference 6002G is housed in an extraordinary sculptural 44mm white-gold case entirely hand-chased and engraved with almost three-dimensional elegant scrolls which takes Patek Philippe’s master craftsmen over 100 hours to achieve,” he says. “In this superlative horological work of art, rare handcraft skills are combined with a mechanical tour-de-force, representing the very highest level of watchmaking and artistry.” Watches such as these will always retain their value. Bugler advises clients to only acquire watches they feel truly passionate about.

Watch Mania – Explaining the desire for the watch masterpiece

A piece of painting, an automobile or anything that has an interesting story and history to it always becomes a priced possession and dominates in the auction world. To add to it, if the bidding item is completed with great craftsmanship, it is always bought for millions.
Passionate CLINCH
Woman sculptor inspired by ancient poem
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Camille Claudel’s L’Abandon sold for £831,600 (about US$1.01 million) at a Christie’s sale of Impressionist and Modern Art in London, beating out two sculptures by Auguste Rodin, briefly her collaborator and lover, for the auction top spot. Cast in bronze by Eugène Blot in 1905, the work is hailed as the French figurative sculptor’s breakthrough. Born in Fère-en-Tardenois, a rural village between Paris and Reims, Claudel’s mother told her any desires to become an artist were ‘unladylike’. Her father, however, presented some of her early work to a neighbour: the sculptor Alfred Boucher. Impressed, he became the girl’s mentor, and following his advice, the family moved to Paris in 1881. Claudel enrolled at the Académie Colarossi – a progressive art school that admitted women. In 1886, she began working on L’Abandon, a sculpture of an embracing couple inspired by the ancient Sanskrit poem Sakuntala. Exhibited in plaster at the 1888 Salon des Artistes Français, it won an honourable mention. The critic André Michel praised its “profound feeling of tenderness both chaste and passionate, an impression of quivering, of restrained ardour”
Top table
Italian dining furniture attracts huge bid
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A magnificent Italian ormolu, white marble and semi-precious hardstone-inlaid centre table went for a healthy US$1.5 million at the widely-anticipated auction of Modern Medici: Masterpieces from a New York Collection held by Christie’s. One of the sale’s shining highlights, this bejewelled piece of furniture is a prime example of early 19th-century Italian craftsmanship – an elegantly sculptured base expertly rendered in gilt bronze with a rich combination of chased and burnished surfaces, paired with a marble top inlaid with glorious coloured stones. The latter, circa 1800-1810, is the handiwork of Roman mosaicist Giacomo Raffaelli. Assessing the appeal of this rare lot, William Strafford, Christie’s Deputy Chairman, European Furniture and Decorative Arts, said: “The spectacular table is a fine embodiment of the art of pietra dura and sculptural gilt-bronzes. Its eye-catching top is inset throughout with rare samples of semi-precious hardstones, an attribute that saw the table hugely admired during an exhibition dedicated to this exquisite collection. We were thrilled that it was one of two lots that fetched the highest prices of the sale, selling for US$1.5 million to an anonymous buyer.
Church Record
Happy ending for looted Kandinsky
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A bid of US$44.9 million at a recent Sotheby’s sale scooped up a masterpiece by Wassily Kandinsky, representing a new auction record for the artist. The painting, Murnau mit Kirche II (Murnau with Church II), originates from 1920 and encapsulates the beginnings of the revolutionary abstract language that would underpin the rest of Kandinsky’s career. The work was recently returned to the descendants of its rightful owners, the Berlin art collectors Siegbert and Johanna Margarethe Stern; Johanna died at Auschwitz in 1944. Auction proceeds are to be shared between the 13 surviving Stern heirs and used to fund further research into the fate of their family collection. Lucian Simmons, Vice Chairman and Sotheby’s Worldwide Head of Restitution said: “This year marks the 25th anniversary of the conference, held in Washington, D.C., that first established the ground rules for the restitution of artworks looted by the Nazis during the Second World War. Since then, Sotheby’s Restitution Department has worked with many heirs and families to reunite them with their stolen property and, at the same time, to help re-tell their stories and celebrate their lives.”
Bugatti blast
Frenzied bidding for last-of-its-kind supercar
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A Bugatti Chiron Profilée, the last W16-powered car available from the famed French automotive atelier, has gone for nearly 9.8 million euros (about US$10.7 million), making it the most valuable new car ever sold at auction. It was the last possible opportunity to buy a new Bugatti powered by the legendary W16 engine – the only 16-cylinder engine in the world to be used in a car. With such an important piece of Bugatti history at stake, bidding was fierce. Marcus Görig, Car Specialist at RM Sotheby’s, said: “It was an honour for us to host this very special lot in collaboration with Bugatti. The sale of the Chiron Profilée was one of the most anticipated moments of the whole auction. With enormous global interest in the car, the Profilée attracted considerable attention at the auction among bidders and curious viewers who had visited to have a glimpse of this unique car.” Designed as a more radical version of the Chiron Sport, the Profilée took its name from one of Jean Bugatti’s first creations – a specific Type 46 model known as Surprofilée, with a sleeker silhouette and an elegant sweeping tail.
<h5>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gafencushop.com/auction-bids/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Applauding Creations From Different Centuries – Auction Bids to Note</a></h5>

Highly-valued Craftsmanships – The Latest Top Bids in the Auction World

Regardless of the time of the creation – the 16th century or the 20th century – anything that is crafted with great precision will surely rack up more appreciation and ultimately fetch mind-blowing auction bids. Four such works are a necklace worn by Princess Diana, The Head of Saint John the Baptist presented to Salome painting, and two more.
Iconic Cross
Diana necklace surpasses bid estimate
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An amethyst and diamond pendant once worn by the late Diana, Princess of Wales, fetched £163,800 (HK$1,534,906) at a Sotheby’s auction. Kim Kardashian outbid her rivals to scoop up the Attallah Cross. The cross was bought by Naim Attallah CBE, from Garrard in the 1980s and through his friendship with Princess Diana, he could loan it to her several times over a number of years to wear at events. It is understood that the Princess only ever wore the cross, and following her death, it was never seen in public again until the auction. The cross-shaped pendant – thought to be a one-off private commission by Garrard for one of their regular clients &#8211; is a bold and colourful piece set with square-cut amethysts and accented by circular-cut diamonds. The cross has a total diamond weight of approximately 5.25 carats and measures about 136 x 95mm. Head of jewellery at Sotheby’s London, Kristian Spofforth, said: “To some extent, this unusual pendant is symbolic of the princess’s growing self-assurance in her sartorial and jewellery choices, at that particular moment in her life.”
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/pearly-whites-splashes-gold-silver/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pearly Whites with splashes of gold and silver</a>
Head Hunts 
Depiction of decapitated saint
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A controversial early masterpiece created by the renowned 16th century Flemish grandmaster, Peter Paul Rubens – Salome Presented With the Head of Saint John the Baptist – changed hands for an astonishing US$26.9m at auction during Sotheby’s Masters Week. Supposedly painted in 1609, it is regarded as one of a small group of masterpieces created by the artist immediately following his return from Italy in December 1608. The painting formed part of a truly grand white-glove sale of works from the fabled Fisch Davidson Collection &#8211; one of the most significant arrays of Baroque art ever to come to market. While many other fine items jostled for attention during the course of the sale, there was no doubt that this renowned example of Rubens’s singular artistic vision was the star attraction, with the winning bid of US$26.9m &#8211; the third highest price ever paid for one of the artist’s works at auction &#8211; merely confirming its significance. Christopher Apostle of Sotheby’s New York, said: “This Masters Week has been one of the strongest ever staged by Sotheby’s, both in terms of the record numbers pouring through our doors to peruse the lots on the show and the spirited bidding later seen in the saleroom.”
Bronze Award 
Rijksmuseum wins bidding battle
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A bronze figure of an écorché man – an individual sculptured with his inner anatomy very much on show &#8211; created by Willem Danielsz Van Tetrode, a much-admired 16th-century sculptor, went for a fairly healthy US$1.5 million when recently auctioned in New York. A sculptor rightly renowned for dramatic compositions and skilled écorché, this particular work – perhaps unimaginatively known simply as A Bronze Figure of an Écorché Man &#8211; together with Hercules Pomarius and Striding Warrior, are generally viewed as his three most accomplished pieces. Perhaps boosting its appeal to collectors, however, the exaggerated body, long legs, abbreviated torso and visually dazzling musculature are quite unlike any of the sculptor’s other works. Particularly popular throughout much of the 17th century, this sculpture was said to have inspired many later artists, with its distinct colouring and contours recreated in a host of subsequent drawings and paintings, most famously in Voorhout’s A Young Scholar in his Study. The sculpture is now believed to have been acquired by the Rijksmuseum.
Muscle Memory 
Nostalgia for the days of the mighty muscle
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To the surprise of many, a 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona muscle car – typically a two-door sports coupé designed for high-performance driving &#8211; sold for a highly commendable US$1.43 million at Mecum Kissimmee, a specialist automobile auction event held recently in Florida. Perhaps adding to its value, the vehicle was previously owned by Kevin Greene, a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and David Spade, the well-known US TV and movie star. Boasting a 4-speed manual transmission, power steering and a 426/425 HP Hemi engine, its eventual sale price far outstripped that commanded by a similar model that went under the gavel in 2022. This may be at least partly because it is believed to be the lowest-mile, original engine four-speed Hemi Daytona still in existence. Remarkably, it has retained its value even though its first owner removed the original interior and arranged for all its body panels to be custom re-painted, while its factory wheels and tyres were put into storage. Although this Daytona model was only in production for one year, it is viewed as one of the most iconic vehicles in automotive history.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wheels-luxury-lifestyle-motoring-great-car-clubs-hong-kong/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Motoring On: Great car clubs of Hong Kong</a>
(Text: Neil Dolby)

Applauding Creations From Different Centuries – Auction Bids to Note

Check out Bob Dylan’s collection of love letters, Piet Mondrain’s abstract painting, White Disaster by Andy Warhol and the revived vintage watch from Titanic.
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<h3>Forever Young</h3>
Lots of love from Dylan to his classroom crush
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Legendary American folk musician Bob Dylan is as renowned for his generation-inspiring songbook as he is for his antiauthoritarian lyrics. As such, it may come as no surprise that a collection of letters by the revolutionary bard recently fetched a stunning US$65,000 (HK$508,000) at auction.
The literary lot featured 42 letters all penned by Dylan, who, back then, was still known as Robert Zimmerman, when he was in high school, and chronicle his attempt to woo Ann Hewitt, his classroom crush.
Born in 1941, Hewitt settled with her family in Hibbing Minnesota and it was there that she met Dylan in her high school history class. The couple’s first date took place on New Year’s Eve 1957, with their romance lingering on until at least the end of 1959.
Sold by Boston-based auction house RR Auction, the letters, which run 150 pages in total, cover everything from Dylan’s musical ambitions to short snippets of poetry and, of course, sweet billetdoux to his beau.
Also included in the lot were a signed Valentine’s Day card and an unsigned handwritten note from Dylan to Hewitt.
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<h3>Square Deal</h3>
Mondrian art goes under the gavel
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The works of Piet Mondrian, the iconic abstract Dutch painter, seldom come up for auction, so the news that one of his most admired pieces &#8211; Composition No. II, featuring, of course, his signature red, blue, white and yellow squares- was going under the gavel and created quite a stir.
Putting the significance of the sale into perspective, Julian Dawes, Sotheby’s head of impressionist and modern art for the Americas, said: “Quintessential works by Piet Mondrian rarely come up for auction, as many are permanently housed in some of the world’s most prestigious museum collections.
The once-in-a-generation opportunity proved no disappointment with the piece in question &#8211; created in 1930 and last auctioned in 1983 when it fetched a then-record $2.15 million (HK$16 million) -exceeded all expectations with the winning bid reported as some $51 million (HK$400 million).
Mondrian, a pioneer of abstract art, relocated to Paris in 1912 after being impressed by the early cubist works of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. There he began to experiment with his own take on depicting fragmented representations of reality.
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<h3>Disaster-Piece</h3>
Car crash proves salesroom smash
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Universally celebrated for its highly-influential pop art iconography, Andy Warhol dabbled in a wide array of artistic disciplines &#8211; from film to performance art to illustrative prints and far more. It was, however, one of his muchcoveted silk screen prints that recently exceeded all expectations when it sold at auction for US$84 million (HK$ 657 million).
The piece in question, White Disaster, was created in 1963, a time when Warhol had become obsessed with gruesome and morbid imagery, with everything from nuclear mushroom clouds to electric chairs co-opted into his apocalyptic visions.
The particular work features a single image of an automobile accident duplicated 19 times in black and white across 12 feet by 6 feet canvas. Prior to the sale, it was held in a private collection for 25 years and had previously been owned by both Heiner Friedrich, founder of the Dia Art Foundation and Thomas Ammann, the wellknown art dealer.
A smaller artwork from the same series, Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster), fetched a record-breaking US$105.4 million (HK$820 million) in 2013.
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<h3>Time Titanic</h3>
Classic car drives high bids
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A watch belonging to a postal clerk sailing aboard the ill-fated Titanic recently went under the hammer at Henry Aldridge &amp; Sons, a southwest England-based auction house, along with several other momentoes of the doomed cruise liner.
Selling for an unprecedented £98,000 (HK$910,000), the considerable interest in the watch confirmed the abiding fascination with the infamous ship and its unfortunate fate, which seems to remain as strong as ever among memorabilia collectors and canny investors everywhere.
The rare vintage watch, which belonged to RMS Titanic clerk Oscar Scott Woody, as traggic as the story sounds, stopped forever at the moment its owner slipped into the freezing North Atlantic on that fateful night of 14th April 1912.
Recovered from the icy depths and returned to his wife, Leila, a month after the ship went down, the watch was the centerpiece of the sale, outvaluing several related lots, including a menu for first-class passengers, a list of those first-class passengers, an ornate dessert plate and a section of a column from the liner’s à la carte restaurant.

Love Lots – The latest news in the Auction Market

Take a look at Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Mailyn becoming the most expensive artwork, Royal Mughal pashmina carpet selling for a princely sum, 1898 Peugeot Type 15 topping the bill at car auction and an Ancient God’s herm selling for twice its estimate.
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<h3>Simply Divine</h3>
Ancient relic sells for twice its estimate
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In a true celebration of ancient relics and artworks, Christie’s recently had up for auction a private collection of New York Antiquarium, The Devoted Classicist, which featured more than 40 lots of ancient art from the Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Egyptian eras. Among the various distinctive pieces up for grabs were Athenian vases, Egyptian portrait heads and Roman marble statues of gods, goddesses and Imperial individuals, with one of the most notable sculptures featuring three depictions of the Greco-Roman God Dionysus.
The 8.5-inch marble masterpiece fetched an astonishing US$151,200 (HK$1.8 million) surpassing its estimated value of between US$70,000-US$90,000. Known as the God of fruitfulness, vegetation, wine and ecstasy, the Dionysus pieces date back to the second century AD.
Its Archaic portrayal shows a God with a layered spadeshaped beard, angled moustache and two rows of tight culrs falling on each shoulder, while the classical side has a pointed beard, full&nbsp;moustache and vertical locks on forehead. The late-classical style has a long moustache and long tendrils over the shoulders.
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<h3>Centre&nbsp;Sage</h3>
Warhol’s work takes top billing at New York sale
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The Shot Sage Blue Marilyn by pop art icon Andy Warhol became the most valuable of all his paintings, after being sold at a Christie’s auction in New York for US$195 million (HK$1.5 billion). It also became the most expensive artwork of the 20th century breaking the record previously held by Picasso’s 1955 artwork Less Femmes D’agler, which sold for US$179.4 Million in 2015. For its part, Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn dates back to 1964 and forms part of a series of five paintings made on a 40 square-inch acrylic and silkscreen on linen.
Tellingly, it was estimated to sell for around US$ 200 million, setting a record for the highest pre-auction estimate of any artwork ever,&nbsp;The sale of this piece was the undoubted highlight of the auction, which saw 36 other works contributing to total takings of US$318 million. The item was from the collection of two late Swiss gallerists, Thomas and Doris Ammann, the cofounders of Thomas Ammann Fine Art in Zurich. All proceeds from the sales will fund the foundation’s work of investing in global healthcare initiatives for underprivileged children and young adults.
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<h3>Mat Effect</h3>
The Royal rug goes for a princely sum
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An extraordinarily rare Royal Mughal pashmina carpet, woven for the court of the Indian Emperor Shah Jahan, circa 1650, sold at Christie’s for a hefty £5,442,000 (HK$ 48.6 million), going for more than twice the pre-sale estimate. Competitive telephone bidding for the Mughal Carpet lasted more than 10 minutes – a long time in auction terms. The carpet itself is square in shape, with each side measuring 275 cm and features geometrical traditional floral patterns.
It is one of only four 17th-century pashmina carpets remaining in private hands known for its brilliant colours and intricate pattern with a Lattice and Flower design. Due to the fragility of the silk and the finely spun pashmina pile, very few examples survive, making a carpet of this size and condition an extraordinarily rare memento of the golden age of Imperial Mughal carpet production. The carpet was the undoubted highlight of the Art of the Islamic &amp; Indian World (including Oriental Rugs and Carpet) sale, which raised a total of £15,989,352 (HK$142.8 million). The auction comprised 265 lots, including works of art, paintings, carpets and manuscripts from the ninth through to the 20th century.
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<h3>Vintage Voyage</h3>
Classic car drives high bids
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A&nbsp;Victorian-era 1898 Peugeot Type 15 topped the bill at the recent Bonhams London Golden Age of Motoring 2022 classic car auction, which took place just before the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Selling for a staggering £494,500 (HK$ 4.4 million), it went way over its pre-sale estimate of £275000 -£325000. Peugeot is one of the most well-known French motoring marques and the only long-established firm to still be manufacturing two-cylinder engine cars, with its current portfolio of models ranging from 8hp to 5hp.
This fully-restored Peugeot offers four-speed plus reverse transmission and an early form of cruise control, advanced features for its day.
This car’s early history suggests that it was first purchased by someone in 1898 in the Mauriac region of France. It also appears that this car received special attention as evidenced by the larger than usual number of nickel-plated parts in addition to Peugeot’s liberal stamping of the car number on the chassis, body, and various other components. These were discovered during restoration, confirming the car’s unusually high degree of originality.

Best Bids Bulletin

A remarkable discovery of one of the largest and most valuable blue diamonds in the world was recently unearthed and will be gracing the auction block at Sotheby&#8217;s Hong Kong this month. With much excitement expected to ensue, the De Beers Cullinan Blue Diamond, mined in 2021 in the Cullinan Mine in South Africa (one of the few sources in the world for extremely rare blue diamonds), is expected to captivate the crowd with its astonishing colour, cut, clarity and carat.
<figure id="attachment_65359" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65359" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65359" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/The-DeBeers-Cullinan-Blu-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world.png" alt="The DeBeers Cullinan Blu The most beautiful and expensive blue diamonds in the world gafencu" width="700" height="466"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65359" class="wp-caption-text">The DeBeers Cullinan Blu, photo courtesy of Sotheby&#8217;s</figcaption></figure>
Weighing at 15.10-carat, the internally flawless, fancy vivid blue diamond will be presented to bidders on&nbsp;27 April as a single-lot auction with an estimated value of more than US$48 million (HK$380 million).&nbsp;In the spirit of admiring this scintillating azure hue, we look back at some of the most beautiful and expensive blue diamonds that have captured the attention and heart of collectors and the world over time.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Hope Diamond (US$250 million)
<figure id="attachment_65354" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65354" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65354" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hope-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world.png" alt="Hope Diamond The most beautiful and expensive blue diamonds in the world gafencu" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hope-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hope-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-450x300.png 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hope-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-600x399.png 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hope-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hope-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hope-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hope-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hope-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-400x266.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65354" class="wp-caption-text">Hope Diamond</figcaption></figure>
The Hope Diamond, which also goes by several aliases such as,&nbsp;Le Bijou du Roi (The King&#8217;s Jewel),&nbsp;Le bleu de France (The French Blue), and the Tavernier Blue, is one of the most famous jewels in the world.&nbsp;Its origin dates back almost four centuries – possibly from India – and is one of the earliest mentioned blue diamonds.
Weighing at an outstanding 45.52-carat, it is classified as a type IIb diamond with a fancy dark grayish-blue clarity. The diamond had several prominent owners – which explains its name nicknames – and was well travelled before finally settling in the hands of&nbsp;American luxury jeweller Harry Winston in 1949. Almost decade later, the New York-based jeweller donated the gem to&nbsp;the National Museum of Natural History in the United States, where it remains as a permanent exhibition for all to admire.
The Blue Heart Diamond (US$60million)
The Blue Heart is a 30.62-carat, heart shape, brilliant-cut, fancy deep blue diamond that was found at the Premier Mine in South Africa in 1908, and obtained by French jeweller Pierre Cartier. It is approximately two-thirds the size of the Hope Diamond and one of the most popular blue diamonds known to the world. After several exchange of hands, the stone was sold to American business woman, socialite and philanthropist Marjorie Merriweather by previous owner American luxury jewellery Harry Winston. Merriweather was the last private owner of the diamond,&nbsp;who gifted the gem to the National Gem Collection in 1964.&nbsp;
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/bloomin-marvellous-a-cornucopia-of-spring-inspired-jewelleries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomin&#8217; Marvellous: A cornucopia of spring-inspired jewelleries</a>
Oppenhiemer Blue Diamond (US$58million)
<figure id="attachment_65355" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65355" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65355" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Oppenheimer-Blue-Diamond-Sells-at-Auction-for-57.5-Million-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-2.png" alt="Oppenheimer Blue' Diamond Sells at Auction for $57.5 Million The most beautiful and expensive blue diamonds in the world gafencu" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Oppenheimer-Blue-Diamond-Sells-at-Auction-for-57.5-Million-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-2.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Oppenheimer-Blue-Diamond-Sells-at-Auction-for-57.5-Million-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-2-450x300.png 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Oppenheimer-Blue-Diamond-Sells-at-Auction-for-57.5-Million-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-2-600x399.png 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Oppenheimer-Blue-Diamond-Sells-at-Auction-for-57.5-Million-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-2-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Oppenheimer-Blue-Diamond-Sells-at-Auction-for-57.5-Million-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-2-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Oppenheimer-Blue-Diamond-Sells-at-Auction-for-57.5-Million-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-2-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Oppenheimer-Blue-Diamond-Sells-at-Auction-for-57.5-Million-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-2-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Oppenheimer-Blue-Diamond-Sells-at-Auction-for-57.5-Million-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-2-400x266.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65355" class="wp-caption-text">Oppenheimer Blue Diamond, photo courtesy of Christie&#8217;s</figcaption></figure>
The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond is a sensational coloured diamond ring set with a 14.62-carat fancy vivid blue rectangular-cut diamond, flanked by a pair of trapeze-shaped diamond. In the summer of 2016, it broke the record of most expensive expensive blue diamond ever sold at auction after an intense budding war that consequently ended with the ring going under the hammer for a whopping US$58 million, setting a new auction record for he most expensive blue diamond. Its name derives in honor of Sir&nbsp;Philip Oppenheimer, the man who previously controlled the De Beers Mining Company.&nbsp; &nbsp;
The Blue moon of Josephine (US$48.5 million)
The Blue Moon of Josephine, previously known as the Blue Moon Diamond of South African origin, smashed records in 2015 for world auction price-per-carat for a diamond or gemstone at Sotheby’s Geneva. Selling for over US$4 million per carat, the cushion-shaped fancy vivid blue 12.03-carat diamond exchanged hands at a record-setting price of US$48.5 million. The winning bidder, none other than Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau, renamed the gem after his daughter, Josephine. The sale came just one day&nbsp;after the businessman purchased a rare 16.08-carat pink diamond for US$28.5 million.
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/sensual-dual-appeal-of-transformable-jewellery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The sensual dual-appeal of transformable jewellery</a>
Apollo Blue Diamond (US$41.3 million)
<figure id="attachment_65361" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65361" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65361" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Apollo-Blue-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-gafencu.png" alt="Apollo Blue Diamond The most beautiful and expensive blue diamonds in the world gafencu" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Apollo-Blue-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-gafencu.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Apollo-Blue-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-gafencu-450x300.png 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Apollo-Blue-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-gafencu-600x399.png 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Apollo-Blue-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-gafencu-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Apollo-Blue-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-gafencu-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Apollo-Blue-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-gafencu-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Apollo-Blue-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-gafencu-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Apollo-Blue-Diamond-The-most-beautiful-and-expensive-blue-diamonds-in-the-world-gafencu-400x266.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65361" class="wp-caption-text">Apollo Blue Diamond, photo courtesy of Sotheby&#8217;s</figcaption></figure>
The Apollo Blue is a Fancy Vivid Blue, 14.54-carat, Internally Flawless, Type IIB diamond earring that arrived at the auction block of Sotheby&#8217;s Geneva in 2017 as a pair to the The Artemis Pink, a Fancy Intense Pink, 16.00-carat, VVS2 clarity, Type IIA earring. Together, they were billed as the most valuable pair of diamond earrings every to appear at auction. According to the auction house, both are amongst the purest of all diamonds, with &#8220;an alluring limpidity&#8221;. In 2017, an anonymous buyer outbid the crowd, exchanging the stones for US$42.1 million for the Apollo Blue and US$15.3 million for the Artemis Pink, and renamed them “The Memory of Autumn Leaves” and “The Dream of Autumn Leaves”.&nbsp;
Mouawad Blue Diamond (US$40 million)
Once known as the Tereshchenko diamond, named after the prominent Russian family of the same name that once owned this Fancy Blue 49.92-carat jewel. It is the largest blue diamond in the world, following the Hope Diamond. While the precise location and date of which it was mined remains unknown, it is&nbsp;believed to be of Indian origin. It was first sold in 1916 prior to the Russian revolution and last sold at Christie&#8217;s Geneva to Saudi-Arabian dealer Robert Mouawad for US4.6 million, the highest price ever paid for a diamond at auction. It was then that the stone was rechristened as the Mouawad Blue Diamond.
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Also Read: <a href="//www.gafencushop.com/fancy-pink-diamond-sothebys-auction/">Pink Pride: Fancy pink diamond shines bright at Sotheby’s auction</a>

The most beautiful and expensive blue diamonds in the world gafencu

Blue Diamonds: A look at the world’s stunning coloured gems

Renowned&nbsp;Chinese jeweler Dickson Yewn and auction house Sotheby&#8217;s, have collaborated to showcase a strong exhibit of rare and unique classics with the aim of promoting Chinese heritage and fine arts. Coming together&nbsp;to raise funds for the Needle and Thread Charitable Foundation&nbsp;&#8211; a project which promotes the unique handicrafts of women in remote areas of China to a wider audience.
Promoting his works and enlightening the younger generation to their intangible heritage and cultural awareness is integral to Yewn&#8217;s artistic purpose. The focus of this exhibit includes a historic first &#8211; a Chinese tunic suit with the most intricate and beautiful embroidery from the southeast region of Guizhou.
Gafencu caught up with global artist Dickson Yewn to dig deeper into his artistic journey with this collaboration&#8230;
<figure id="attachment_64540" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64540" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-64540 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-25.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-25.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-25-450x300.png 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-25-600x399.png 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-25-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-25-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-25-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-25-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-25-400x266.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-64540" class="wp-caption-text">Artist Dickson Yewn </figcaption></figure>
You’ve got global recognition through your work in fine arts and jewellery&nbsp;&#8211; what inspired you to support the Needle and Thread charity?&nbsp; 
This charity is really close to my heart &#8211; they preserve the work of Chinese ethnic minorities. Most of these indigenous tribes are already fast disappearing and alongside their unique craftsmanship. Today, few young people want to get in the trade or pick up these ethnic skills. It’s a dying art and if I can do anything to honour the heritage, I will stitch together my purpose and function as an artist.&nbsp;Since 2008 I have been collaborating with Sotheby&#8217;s and this time I have some rare, iconic works up for auction, the proceeds from sale will go for a noble cause.&nbsp;
You’re showcasing some rare collectible items for the auction &#8211; throw light on these pieces. 

<figure id="attachment_64541" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64541" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-64541 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-26.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-26.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-26-450x300.png 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-26-600x399.png 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-26-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-26-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-26-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-26-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-26-400x266.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-64541" class="wp-caption-text">&#8216;The Golden Kaiser-i-hind Butterfly&#8217; brooch (left), &#8216;Dream of the Red Mansion&#8217; wearable bangle (right)</figcaption></figure>
Alongside the traditional-crafted Chinese tunic, four of my works, two of which &#8211; namely, the ‘Golden Kaiser-i-hind Butterfly&#8217; brooch and the 23rd episode of the &#8216;Dream of the Red Mansion&#8217; &#8211; are the rare collectible items up for live auction.
On a personal level, I am obsessed with nature &#8211; animals, insects species &#8211; butterfly watching is a hobby. I created the ‘Golden Kaiser-i-hind Butterfly&#8217; shoulder brooch, with the intention of highlighting the species of the butterfly. There are more than 20,000 known species of butterfly and even though fauna-inspired fluttering designs are common in high jewellery, not one artist cares to educate people about the species of these delicate creatures. Through my collection, I try to change that notion while paying homage to these highly desirable beauties.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Were there any artistic challenges in designing the collection?
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-64543 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-28.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-28.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-28-450x300.png 450w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-28-600x399.png 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-28-421x280.png 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-28-120x80.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-28-500x333.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-28-200x133.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Untitled-design-28-400x266.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /> 
Infusion of wood with precious jewels was a challenge. Embracing unexpected materials always comes with its own obstacles and it&#8217;s more with wood because it is taboo in the jewellery industry. Wood jewellery is rare because it needs to be tended to for decades to resist chemical and temperature changes, it&#8217;s a labour-intensive process. The inlaid workmanship to incorporate rose-cut diamonds, circular-cut yellow&nbsp;sapphires and tsavorite garnets in 18 karat yellow gold without nails or glue is nothing short of extraordinary.
Bidding for artist and jeweller Dickson Yewn&#8217;s pieces for the Needle and Thread Charitable Foundation begins on 18th Feb/<a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/important-jewels/literati-collection-hardwood-mother-of-pearl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery</a>.

Dickson Yewn: Promoting Chinese heritage for a noble cause

Classic cars to add to your collection gafencu auction most expensive 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis number 4153 GT (2)

Starting a car collection? 8 classic cars that you should not miss!

The stunning HK$226.3 million Sakura Ring, Kobe Bryant&#8217;s record-breaking signed rookie jersey, a rare Ming Dynasty ceramic jar, and a masterpiece by famed panter Jean-Michel Basuiat, these are the the rarest in auction highlights that had recently achieved large sums&#8230;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-59597" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring.png" alt="gafencu auction highlights rare collectibles the sakura ring" width="700" height="446" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-439x280.png 439w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-120x76.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-500x319.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-200x127.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-400x255.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-600x382.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
The Sakura Ring: The largest ever pink-purple diamond fetches HK$226.3 million 
Charming and ultra-elegant, fancy colour diamonds make a fashion statement while consistently increasing in value. Prices of pink diamonds, in particular, have soared at auctions in the last five years. Proof of this was seen recently at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Hong Kong, when The Sakura ring set a new record for the largest purple-pink diamond ever to go under the hammer.
The 15.81-carat fancy vivid purple-pink cushion mixed-cut diamond set with half-moon diamonds on a platinum and gold ring commanded HK$226.3 million, bedazzling the previous record holder, The Spirit of the Rose, a 14.8-carat purple-pink diamond, that sold at Sotheby’s last November for US$27 million. The Sakura’s internally flawless main attraction was the largest of its ilk to be graded by the Gemological Institute of America in the past year, and it outshone the auction competition. The lots that collected second- and third-highest bids were The Sweet Heart, a unique heart-shaped coloured diamond ring, and an exclusive Diamond Pendant Necklace that fetched a cool HK$50.7 million and HK$20.7 million respectively.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-the-kui-dragon-jar.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-59596" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-the-kui-dragon-jar.png" alt="gafencu auction highlights rare collectibles the sakura ring the kui dragon jar" width="700" height="446" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-the-kui-dragon-jar.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-the-kui-dragon-jar-439x280.png 439w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-the-kui-dragon-jar-120x76.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-the-kui-dragon-jar-500x319.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-the-kui-dragon-jar-200x127.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-the-kui-dragon-jar-400x255.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-the-kui-dragon-jar-600x382.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Rare Xuande-period Kui jar fires up all collectors 
When it comes to Chinese lore, the kui dragon – a symbol of power and auspiciousness – was widely used in its protective capacity to decorate the gateways and doorways of palaces and temples in the Yuan and Ming dynasties. But it did not typically grace porcelain and ceramic wares until Emperor Chenghua’s reign in the early Ming dynasty (1464-1487). This lithe, one-legged kui derives from the makara, or sea dragon, of Hindu origin and entered Chinese art with the dissemination of Buddhism.
An extremely rare Blue and White ‘Kui Dragon’ Jar of Hindu origin from the earlier Xuande period (1426-1435) was an astonishing addition to Christie’s Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 28 May. Featuring the Xuande six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle, it realised an astounding HK$31.5 million, underscoring the collectible’s cultural, artistic and historical value.
Only four such Xuande-marked jars are known to have been unearthed – three of which are in museums, while the fourth resides in the possession of a collector. The present vase had been acquired by the Shanghai-born super-collector, Robert Chang, and was sold to benefit his eponymous Art Education Charitable Foundation.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-kobe-bryants-rookie-jersey.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-59595" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-kobe-bryants-rookie-jersey.png" alt="gafencu auction highlights rare collectibles the sakura ring kobe bryant's rookie jersey" width="700" height="446" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-kobe-bryants-rookie-jersey.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-kobe-bryants-rookie-jersey-439x280.png 439w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-kobe-bryants-rookie-jersey-120x76.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-kobe-bryants-rookie-jersey-500x319.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-kobe-bryants-rookie-jersey-200x127.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-kobe-bryants-rookie-jersey-400x255.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-kobe-bryants-rookie-jersey-600x382.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Kobe Bryant&#8217;s game-worn jersey breaks all records 
A week after Kobe Bryant’s posthumous induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame on 15 May, memorabilia belonging to the NBA great scored highly at auction – each coveted item is a piece of history of one of the greatest basketball players of all time. 
Having earned two MVP titles and five championship wins, on top of playing in the NBA All-Star Games 18 times, Bryant won over the hearts of sports fans all over the world during his 20-year career. Niche auction house, Goldin Auctions, unsurprisingly garnered much buzz for the lots offered in its May Elite sale, especially for the late star’s Rookie Jersey — his earliest-known game-worn LA Lakers shirt – which went for a whopping US$3.69 million, making it the most expensive jersey ever sold.&nbsp;
Featuring Bryant’s signature on the front, the No.8 jersey has been photo-matched to four games during the 1996-97 NBA season, his rookie year, as well as his rookie photoshoot. It beat the previous priciest basketball shirt, Michael Jordan’s University of North Carolina jersey, by more than US$2 million, which fetched US$1.38 million at an auction just two weeks before.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-jean-michel-basuiat-versus-medici.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-59594" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-jean-michel-basuiat-versus-medici.png" alt="gafencu auction highlights rare collectibles the sakura ring jean michel basuiat versus medici" width="700" height="446" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-jean-michel-basuiat-versus-medici.png 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-jean-michel-basuiat-versus-medici-439x280.png 439w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-jean-michel-basuiat-versus-medici-120x76.png 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-jean-michel-basuiat-versus-medici-500x319.png 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-jean-michel-basuiat-versus-medici-200x127.png 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-jean-michel-basuiat-versus-medici-400x255.png 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gafencu-auction-highlights-rare-collectibles-the-sakura-ring-jean-michel-basuiat-versus-medici-600x382.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Basquiat&#8217;s enigmatic &#8216;Versus Medici&#8217; proves to be still relevant 
Few contemporary artists enjoy the reputation of becoming a revolutionary influence and remaining relevant for decades. For Neo-expressionist Jean-Michel Basquiat, however, he has managed to continue leaving his imprint on society even 30 years after his untimely passing at the age of 27.&nbsp;
Basquiat first made a splash on the streets of New York with works signed ‘SAMO’ in collaboration with fellow graffiti artist Al Diaz. He then blazed a brilliant trail in the ’80s, subsequently earning his standing as one the most influential artists of the 20th century.
The career of the youngest artist to take part in Documenta in Kassel, Germany, and the youngest to exhibit at the Whitney Biennial in New York, was cut short by his death from a heroin overdose in 1988. Still, his enigmatic masterpieces continue to draw praise. Versus Medici recently amassed the attention of those in attendance at the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in early May. The perplexing acrylic, oilstick and paper collage on three joined canvases, which had been off the market for a decade, realised a staggering US$50.8 million, proving the artist’s raw, gestural style of painting, grafitti-like images are still relevant till now.

gafencu auction highlights rare collectibles

A Rare Sight: The rarest of items that recently achieved record-breaking sums…

Featuring some of the most desirable and highest commanding collectibles that realised outstanding (and record-breaking) sums, at auction recently, from a stunning diamond bracelet, a historic Rolex Daytona, a beautifully illustrated medieval prayer book, and Kanye West&#8217;s record-breaking sneakers, these are the top bids that recently hit headlines&#8230;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-book-of-hours-Master_of_the_paris_bartholomeus_anglicus_paris.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-58514" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-book-of-hours-Master_of_the_paris_bartholomeus_anglicus_paris.jpg" alt="gafencu Auction Highlights The most desirable and highest commanding collectible items to go under the hammer book of hours Master_of_the_paris_bartholomeus_anglicus_paris" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-book-of-hours-Master_of_the_paris_bartholomeus_anglicus_paris.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-book-of-hours-Master_of_the_paris_bartholomeus_anglicus_paris-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-book-of-hours-Master_of_the_paris_bartholomeus_anglicus_paris-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-book-of-hours-Master_of_the_paris_bartholomeus_anglicus_paris-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-book-of-hours-Master_of_the_paris_bartholomeus_anglicus_paris-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-book-of-hours-Master_of_the_paris_bartholomeus_anglicus_paris-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-book-of-hours-Master_of_the_paris_bartholomeus_anglicus_paris-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
An illustrated prayer book scores top bid 
The Book of Hour is a medieval Christian prayer book organised by the time of day and comprised of beautifully illuminated texts, sumptuous page decorations, and portrait panels that reflected the wealth and discernment of well-to-do men and women.&nbsp;Recently a Parisian Book of Hours on vellum circa the 1440s went under the hammer for an outstanding US$3.6 million at Christie’s. Illustrated by the Master of the Paris Bartholomeus Anglicus, the tome remains complete and in pristine condition and is said to be the most richly illuminated work of its enigmatic creator.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-rolex-daytona.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-58517" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-rolex-daytona.jpg" alt="gafencu Auction Highlights The most desirable and highest commanding collectible items to go under the hammer rolex daytona" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-rolex-daytona.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-rolex-daytona-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-rolex-daytona-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-rolex-daytona-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-rolex-daytona-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-rolex-daytona-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-rolex-daytona-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
A historical Rolex Daytona races into the money 
The first iteration of the highly desirable Rolex Cosmograph Daytona can be traced back to 1963. Designed with the racing driver in mind, the chronograph become one of Rolex’s most-loved and hard-to-find models. This year, a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 16516, found its way to Sotheby’s Important Watch sale, where it realised more than HK$24 million.&nbsp;Sporting a one-of-a-kind lacquered ‘Stella’ dial in turquoise, the 40mm timepiece remains in working condition with only minor blemishes and visible surface wear. According to the auction house, it is one of five models made that year nicknamed ‘Zenith’ for their Zenith calibre 4030 movements.&nbsp;
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-cartier-Diamond-and-Rock-Crystal-Bangle-Bracelet.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-58515" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-cartier-Diamond-and-Rock-Crystal-Bangle-Bracelet.jpg" alt="gafencu Auction Highlights The most desirable and highest commanding collectible items to go under the hammer cartier Diamond and Rock Crystal Bangle-Bracelet" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-cartier-Diamond-and-Rock-Crystal-Bangle-Bracelet.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-cartier-Diamond-and-Rock-Crystal-Bangle-Bracelet-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-cartier-Diamond-and-Rock-Crystal-Bangle-Bracelet-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-cartier-Diamond-and-Rock-Crystal-Bangle-Bracelet-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-cartier-Diamond-and-Rock-Crystal-Bangle-Bracelet-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-cartier-Diamond-and-Rock-Crystal-Bangle-Bracelet-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-cartier-Diamond-and-Rock-Crystal-Bangle-Bracelet-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
A magnificent jewel snapped up at showpiece sale 
Hong Kong remains the precious heart of Asia when it comes to valuable diamonds and gems. The region’s insatiable appetite for large, high-quality stones proved to be unabated when a show-stopping Diamond and Rock Crystal Bangle sold for an astounding HK$46.9 million at auction on 21 April. A hot ticket item in Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale, this rare and phenomenal 63.66-carat pear-shaped internally flawless white diamond bracelet was rightly acclaimed as an architectural masterpiece by its creator, French luxury jeweller Cartier.
<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-kanye-west-nike-air-yeezy-1-prototype.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-58516" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-kanye-west-nike-air-yeezy-1-prototype.jpg" alt="gafencu Auction Highlights The most desirable and highest commanding collectible items to go under the hammer kanye west nike air yeezy 1 prototype" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-kanye-west-nike-air-yeezy-1-prototype.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-kanye-west-nike-air-yeezy-1-prototype-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-kanye-west-nike-air-yeezy-1-prototype-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-kanye-west-nike-air-yeezy-1-prototype-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-kanye-west-nike-air-yeezy-1-prototype-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-kanye-west-nike-air-yeezy-1-prototype-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/gafencu-Auction-Highlights-The-most-desirable-and-highest-commanding-collectible-items-to-go-under-the-hammer-kanye-west-nike-air-yeezy-1-prototype-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a>
Kanye West’s record breaking sneakers 
Recently, Kanye West’s 2008 ‘Grammy worn’ Nike Air Yeezy 1 Prototype sneakers went under the hammer at a private sale at Sotheby’s. The 13-year-old sports shoes fetched US$1.8 million, the highest publicly recorded price for a pair of sneakers, tripling the auction house’s record for being the most valuable sneakers ever sold.&nbsp;Nike Air Yeezy was the first collaboration by a major footwear label with a non-athlete. It was, at the time, Nike’s top-secret project that became “one of the most brilliant reveals in sneaker history and a pillar in the advent of modern sneaker culture”, according to Sotheby’s.&nbsp;
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