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<p>Four amazing lots that captivated recent auctions include a Van Cleef &amp; Arpels tie necklace, a bronze head of Eros, a Babe Ruth baseball jersey, and a masterpiece by Yoshitomo Nara.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">White Tie: Van Cleef tassel necklace dazzles</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-Tie-Necklace-France-3-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83800" width="512" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-Tie-Necklace-France-3-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-Tie-Necklace-France-3-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-Tie-Necklace-France-3-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-Tie-Necklace-France-3-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-Tie-Necklace-France-3-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-Tie-Necklace-France-3-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-Tie-Necklace-France-3-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-Tie-Necklace-France-3-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure></div>


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<p>A rare Van Cleef &amp; 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.&nbsp;</p>
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83801 size-full" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-1-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-1-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-1-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Van-Cleef-Arpels-A-Highly-Important-and-Rare-Diamond-1-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



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<p>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 &amp; Arpels’ Art Deco style, perfectly encapsulating the era’s signature design characteristics. &nbsp;</p>



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<p>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.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bronzed God: Bidders worship head of Eros</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-R_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83797" width="512" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-R_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-R_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-R_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-R_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-R_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-R_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-R_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-R_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure></div>


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<p>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.&nbsp;</p>
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-P_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83796 size-full" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-P_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-P_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-P_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-P_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-P_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-P_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-P_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/70168822-P_Digital-Content-JPEG-copy_p-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



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<p>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.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>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.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>



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<p>The bust was previously sold by Christie’s just over 50 years ago.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Babe Magnet: Historic baseball jersey smashes record</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_1-copy_p-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83798" width="512" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_1-copy_p-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_1-copy_p-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_1-copy_p-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_1-copy_p-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_1-copy_p-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_1-copy_p-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_1-copy_p-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_1-copy_p-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure></div>


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<p>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. &nbsp;</p>
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_7-1024x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-83799 size-full" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_7-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_7-280x280.jpeg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_7-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_7-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_7-2048x2048.jpeg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_7-200x200.jpeg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_7-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Babe_Ruth_jersey_50072_Heritage_Auctions_7-100x100.jpeg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



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<p>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.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wonder Child: Doe-eyed girl lights up sale</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83803" width="512" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure></div>


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<p>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, <em>I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight</em>, eventually went for HK$96 million (US$12.3 million).</p>
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》_2-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83802 size-full" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》_2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》_2-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》_2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》_2-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》_2-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》_2-100x100.jpg 100w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoshitomo-Nara_I-Want-to-See-the-Bright-Lights-Tonight_奈良美智《我願今夜一睹璀璨光輝》_2.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



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<p>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.</p>



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<p>Nara has often talked about how his art has been influenced by musical references, and <em>I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight </em>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.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>


Under the hammer – Fab Four Auction Sales (October 2024)


<p>Four remarkable lots that impressed bidders in recent auctions are featured in this month&#8217;s Look Section, including an amazing floral painting, a classy corvette, a rare buddhist sculpture and one of Jordan&#8217;s sneakers.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Super Six: Jordan’s sneakers win the game</h3>


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<p>Six of the most important pairs of basketball shoes sported during the illustrious career of Michael Jordan went for a whopping US$8 million (about HK$62.5 million) at a Sotheby’s sale in New York last month. The astonishing figure represents the global auction record for game-worn sneakers and the second- highest amount raised for items linked to the Chicago Bulls superstar.</p>



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<p>Jordan wore these six individual pairs of Air Jordans when he was playing some of the most important games of his career – namely, the finals of his six-career National Basketball Association (NBA) championships from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998. Commenting on this remarkable six-piece lot – dubbed the Michael Jordan ‘Dynasty Collection’ by the auction house – Sotheby’s Head of Modern Collectables Brahm Wachter said: “A truly unparalleled moment and milestone in auction history, the sale of these six championship- clinching sneakers will likely never be replicated.”</p>



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<p>The largest sum accumulated for an auction item from the basketball legend’s catalogue of used sportswear was US$10.1 million, which secured his No. 23 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals of his ‘Last Dance’ season.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tibetan King: Rare Buddhist sculpture wows followers</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80593" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A-GILT-COPPER-ALLOY-FIGURE-OF-VIRUPAKSHA-2-_p-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>The last privately owned gilt copper alloy figure of Virupaksha, the Buddhist Guardian of the West, caused a stir at a recent auction held in Hong Kong by Bonhams. This early 15th-century figure from the Densatil Monastery in Tibet, measuring an impressive 73 centimetres high, eventually went for HK$37.9 million (about US$4.86 million).</p>



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<p>This huge price attained for a figure of Virupaksha, regarded as one of the Four Heavenly Kings, partly reflected the fact that the other three similar sculptures are all now residing in world-class museums – the Capital Museum in Beijing, the Palace Museum in Taipei, and Paris’s Guimet Museum. It is thought the sculpture was crafted when the noble clan ruling central Tibet and officiating at Densatil were at the height of their regal powers.</p>



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<p>Edward Wilkinson, Global Head of Himalayan, Indian and Southeast Asian Art at Bonhams said: “As the only guardian from Densatil in private hands, as well as the largest and most engaging sculpture from Densatil, this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure one of the greatest icons of Tibetan art. We are therefore thrilled, but not surprised, that it fetched the top price it deserves.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Floral Fantasy: Kusama’s bold Flower blooms at auction</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Scale-Photo-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80594" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Scale-Photo-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Scale-Photo-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Scale-Photo-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Scale-Photo-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Scale-Photo-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Scale-Photo-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Scale-Photo-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>A floral painting by Yayoi Kusama, who is renowned for her deep affection for flowers as well as pumpkins and polka dots, delighted the Christie’s salesroom in Hong Kong so much that it garnered the second-highest auction price for the much-loved Japanese artist. The final sum for the 2014 work, called simply A Flower, topped HK$78 million (about US$10 million), a figure that is also greater than the HK$58.5 million attained for another floral work by the same artist at Christie’s the previous season.</p>



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<p>Interestingly, Kusama’s life-long fascination with flowers began following a terrifying experience in childhood. She had a sudden, disturbing vision that she was surrounded by hundreds of flowers in a garden and they appeared to be chatting among themselves as if they had taken on human personas. This early moment of distress mushroomed into an illusory fantasy based around flowers and influenced her canon of work over several decades.</p>



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<p>A vivid and bold piece with polka-dot motifs created when the artist was in her mid-80s, A Flower displays depth and appreciation of the subtle influence of changes of colour akin to the division and reproduction of cells in nature.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">First &amp; Last: Classy Corvette pair grabs headlines</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/109082-copy-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80592" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/109082-copy-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/109082-copy-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/109082-copy-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/109082-copy-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/109082-copy-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/109082-copy-800x450.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/109082-copy.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>The very first and the very last production Corvette L88 were offered together under one lot by Mecum Auctions at its recent sale in Kissimmee, Florida, resulting in much excitement and a mightily impressive winning bid of US$2.58 million (about HK$20.18 million). Equipped with muscular engines, the two classic Chevrolet ‘dream cars’ were used to turning heads when they hit the US racetracks in the late 1960s and winning awards thereafter.</p>



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<p>The oldest model, a 1967 Convertible, is widely known as the very first production Corvette L88 and also has the distinction of being the only L88 Convertible to be painted Tuxedo Black. Its noteworthy racing career included being driven by Tony DeLorenzo and Jerry Thompson, and finishing second in the 1967 Daytona Beach SCCA runoffs. The accolades continued in later life, as it achieved Bloomington Gold certification, numerous NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) Top Flight wins and the NCRS Heritage award in 2013.</p>



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<p>The last documented model of the line was manufactured on 4 December 1969. The 1969 Coupe was finished in the famous Corvette factory colour of Fathom Green.</p>


Under the hammer – Fab Four Auction Sales (March 2024)


<p>Four remarkable lots that impressed bidders in recent auctions are featured in this month&#8217;s Look Section, including a flawless diamond ring, a likely singular timepiece, a masterpiece of splashed-ink art and six of Messi’s football jerseys.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fancy In Pink: Flawless diamond rings supreme</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/70575293-sp-1-RGB_Digital-Content-JPEG-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80603" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/70575293-sp-1-RGB_Digital-Content-JPEG-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/70575293-sp-1-RGB_Digital-Content-JPEG-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/70575293-sp-1-RGB_Digital-Content-JPEG-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/70575293-sp-1-RGB_Digital-Content-JPEG-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/70575293-sp-1-RGB_Digital-Content-JPEG-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/70575293-sp-1-RGB_Digital-Content-JPEG-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/70575293-sp-1-RGB_Digital-Content-JPEG-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>The largest fancy intense pink internally flawless diamond ever to appear at auction set pulses racing at Christie’s in Hong Kong. ‘The Pink Supreme’ took centre stage at a series of sales spanning more than 110 lots of magnificent jewels. While an array of coloured and colourless diamonds and gemstones and other superb creations emanating from prestigious jewellery houses came under the hammer, it was this 15.48-carat fancy intense pink cushion brilliant-cut diamond ring which shone the brightest. It fetched HK$83.87 million (US$10.8 million), representing a price per carat of HK$5.41 million (US$700,000).</p>



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<p>The Pink Supreme diamond is considered a true rarity. The phenomenal and unparalleled beauty, size, internally flawless grading and splendid craftsmanship of this stone have combined to produce a bejewelled masterpiece coveted by collectors.</p>



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<p>Vickie Sek, Chairman of Jewellery at Christie’s Asia Pacific, said: “We were truly delighted to showcase a diverse selection of magnificent jewels at our Hong Kong 2023 Autumn Sales, and the superb result realised for The Pink Supreme is a testament to the unwavering market demand for this category.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">One To Watch: Likely singular timepiece clocks a fortune</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/10_Patek-Philippe-ref.-3974P-001-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80605" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/10_Patek-Philippe-ref.-3974P-001-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/10_Patek-Philippe-ref.-3974P-001-1-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/10_Patek-Philippe-ref.-3974P-001-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/10_Patek-Philippe-ref.-3974P-001-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/10_Patek-Philippe-ref.-3974P-001-1-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/10_Patek-Philippe-ref.-3974P-001-1-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/10_Patek-Philippe-ref.-3974P-001-1-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>A previously unknown and possibly unique Patek Philippe ref. 3974 Grand Complications wristwatch made a timely appearance at Phillips auction house in Hong Kong, generating much enthusiasm among watch admirers. Eventually selling for HK$14 million (US$1.8 million), the timepiece was part of a successful watch auction in which a total of 208 lots were sold, reaching an overall value of HK$181.7 million.</p>



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<p>This Patek Phillippe ref. 3974 minute repeater perpetual calendar watch in platinum (possibly manufactured in or around the year 2001) went to a bidder for well above the pre-sale low-end estimate. Indeed, the auction showed strong sales performances for many of the lots and attracted more than 1,700 collectors participating from 61 countries and regions.</p>



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<p>Thomas Perazzi, Phillips’ Deputy Chairman and Head of Watches in Asia, said: “The top 10 lots beautifully demonstrate how varied the market is with the Patek Philippe ref. 3974 in platinum flying way above its pre-sale estimate, while a Rolex ‘Stelline’ ref. 6062 in yellow gold achieved 40% more than its previous sold price at auction, and a number of independents established strong results.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Autumn Glow: Yosemite colours make a splash</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/張大千　秋山夕照Zhang-Daqian-Autumn-Mountains-in-Twilight-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80606" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/張大千　秋山夕照Zhang-Daqian-Autumn-Mountains-in-Twilight-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/張大千　秋山夕照Zhang-Daqian-Autumn-Mountains-in-Twilight-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/張大千　秋山夕照Zhang-Daqian-Autumn-Mountains-in-Twilight-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/張大千　秋山夕照Zhang-Daqian-Autumn-Mountains-in-Twilight-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/張大千　秋山夕照Zhang-Daqian-Autumn-Mountains-in-Twilight-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/張大千　秋山夕照Zhang-Daqian-Autumn-Mountains-in-Twilight-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/張大千　秋山夕照Zhang-Daqian-Autumn-Mountains-in-Twilight-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Works by Zhang Daqian are eagerly awaited by the auction community and when a masterpiece of splashed-ink art made its way onto the block in Hong Kong, the final price of HK$199.37 million (US$25.6 million) did not disappoint. Indeed, such was the anticipation in the runup to the sale of Autumn Mountains in Twilight that Sotheby’s bestowed upon it the highest estimate ever for a splashed-ink-and-colour landscape by the artist.</p>



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<p>Born in Sichuan in 1899, Zhang had turned to bold abstract artistic representations in the later part of his career when his eyesight began to falter. The roving and prolific Chinese artist was inspired to paint Autumn Mountains in Twilight after a visit to Yosemite National Park in California during the summer of 1967, and in this work, his mastery of the medium is seen to reach new heights.</p>



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<p>It was a sentimental journey as his brother had stopped at the park years previously and a treasured photograph he had been given from this visit had been lost in a fire. The sheer magnificence of the sunset views of Half Dome or El Capitan stirred Zhang’s creative juices, and returning to his home in Brazil he set to work. The golden hues of the cliffs and valleys cover almost the entire canvas.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Messi Magic: Six shirts score the lot</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Set-of-Six-Jerseys-Back_01-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80607" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Set-of-Six-Jerseys-Back_01-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Set-of-Six-Jerseys-Back_01-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Set-of-Six-Jerseys-Back_01-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Set-of-Six-Jerseys-Back_01-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Set-of-Six-Jerseys-Back_01-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Set-of-Six-Jerseys-Back_01-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Set-of-Six-Jerseys-Back_01-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Half a dozen football jerseys worn by Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi during the 2022 World Cup have been auctioned for an incredible US$7.8 million. Held by Sotheby’s in New York, the sale sparked intense interest from lovers of sporting memorabilia and the final price was the highest achieved by a sports item at auction last year. It also surpassed the previous record for a Messi collectible – a shirt worn at the 2017 El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona that went for $450,000 in 2022.</p>



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<p>Messi wore the six World Cup shirts during the first half of the final, semi-final, quarter-final, round of 16 and two of the group stage matches at the Qatar tournament, where the spotlight was trained upon him throughout. His country’s victory in the epic final with France merely cemented a widely considered reputation that he is the greatest footballer of all time.</p>



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<p>“These historic shirts are not only a tangible reminder of one of the most important moments in the history of sports, but are principally connected to the pinnacle moment in the career of the most decorated football player in history,” said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s Head of Modern Collectibles.</p>


The Marvelous Four on the Auction Block


<p>Four items that particularly stood out at this season&#8217;s auctions include an 11.28-carat fancy vivid blue diamond ring, a zitan &#8216;dragon&#8217; compound cabinet, Sam Josefowitz&#8217;s masterpiece and Francois-Xavier Lalanne&#8217;s art. See how each attracted ground-breaking bids.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Brilliant Blue</h3>



<p><em>Infinitely irresistible diamond ring</em></p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Infinite-Blue_2_p-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-79839" width="768" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Infinite-Blue_2_p-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Infinite-Blue_2_p-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Infinite-Blue_2_p-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Infinite-Blue_2_p-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Infinite-Blue_2_p-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Infinite-Blue_2_p-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Infinite-Blue_2_p-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Infinite-Blue_2_p-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>A superb 11.28-carat radiant-cut fancy vivid blue diamond set the auction house buzzing with its dazzling elegance, notching up one of the highest prices ever achieved for a diamond in Asia. The prized lot at Sotheby’s Hong Kong 50th Anniversary Autumn Sales fetched HK$198.2 million (US$25.3 million), with the house securing the three best-ever sales prices in Asia for blue diamonds – this one coming in third.</p>



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<p>Praise for The Infinite Blue diamond, mounted in a diamond ring with brilliant-cut white and pink-tinged diamonds, was effusive, with Wenhao Yu, Chairman of Jewellery and Watches at Sotheby’s Asia, commenting: “[Its] beautiful blue hue, elegant cut and unique physical properties make it one of the most irresistible diamonds to appear on the market. It’s been an honour to have been entrusted with the opportunity to offer a diamond of such breathtaking beauty, its price attesting to the resilient demand for top-quality coloured diamonds amongst global collectors.”</p>



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<p>Undoubtedly, part of the appeal of this magnificent diamond stems from its rarity, with less than 0.1% of diamonds sourced exhibiting a high-grade blue.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Household of the Blue Dragon</h3>



<p><em>Emperor’s cabinet commands sky-high price</em></p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-79841" width="768" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-1-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-1-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-1-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-1-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>A massive zitan ‘dragon’ compound cabinet likely used by the Kangxi Emperor (1654-1722) attracted a dramatic two- way bidding war between a collector on the phone and an admiring fan at Sotheby’s auction house in Hong Kong. This superb example of early Imperial Qing furniture, which stands at a massive 3.7 metres high, finally went for HK$54.6 million (US$7 million).</p>



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<p>The cabinet is infused with imagery carved into the silky zitan wood that adds to its allure. Dragons soar through the clouds in a display of symbolism that had deep meaning at the time, signifying imperial presence and power. Such is the quality of the workmanship displayed on the cabinet that only the most skilled artisans from one of the palace workshops under the command of the emperor’s household would have been tasked with the job.</p>



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<p>Another reason for the impressive price – and the ferocious bidding – is that this sale represents the first time since at least the early 1940s that all components of the cabinet have been sold as one unit. The top left- and right-hand compartments had earlier been separated from the main body of this majestic piece and possibly passed inside the members of the same French family.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Quiet Reverie</h3>



<p><em>Fauvist sensual embrace woos collectors</em></p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-79840" width="768" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>A strikingly colourful masterpiece from the art collection of the late tycoon Sam Josefowitz caught the eye at Christie’s auction house in London. Following frenzied bidding, the final price of Kees van Dongen’s La Quiétude was inflated to an astonishing £10.78 million (HK$102.3 million). This represented over twice the higher end of the estimate, such was the interest amongst enthralled onlookers in this oil on canvas laid down in 1918.</p>



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<p>La Quiétude hit the block during Christie’s evening sales of 20th and 21st-century art in London, part of contemporary art fair Frieze Week. Typical of the Dutch-French artist’s Fauvist use of colour, the work was influenced by a 1913 visit to Egypt, where Van Dongen travelled down the Nile to Luxor and was struck by a sculpture of Ramesses II. Orientalism was in vogue, and the imagery of curvaceous bodies locked in perfect harmony draws on the erotism evoked in the Western mind at this time by the culture and civilisation of North Africa and the Middle East.</p>



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<p>Dongen developed a great admiration for fashion designer Paul Poiret, who acquired La Quiétude direclty from Dongen.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rare Beast</h3>



<p><em>Lalanne sculpture smashes records</em></p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-79844" width="768" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/4-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p><br>François-Xavier Lalanne’s masterpiece, Rhinocrétaire I, broke the world auction record for the artist at a recent sale by Christie’s in Paris. The eventual price of the almost life-size rhino sculpture-cum-functional furniture rose to €18.3 million (about HK$151 million), doubling the previous sum paid for a work by the artist.</p>



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<p>François-Xavier Lalanne first exhibited this 1964 sculptural work in the presence of his partner and fellow artist, Claude Lalanne, at an exhibition called Zoophites. Made of patinated brass and bronze, zinc, brass, silvered brass, leather and natural wax, Rhinocrétaire I was considered by many as the standout item on display. Part of its charm is a homage to the fondness in 18th-century France for discreet drawers and hiding places. For instance, the beast’s hand-welded brass flanks contain a hidden safe as well as an illuminated desk.</p>



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<p>Such was the enormity of the sale that the auctioneer, Cécile Verdier, Chairman of Christie’s France, commented: “A historic moment in Paris for this unique piece, which establishes François- Xavier Lalanne as one of the great sculptors of the second half of the 20th century.”</p>


Discover the most incredible auction items that broke records with their jaw-dropping prices 


<p>Four breathtaking slots that wowed bidders at recent auctions are highlighted. These include a gorgeous vivid coloured diamond, a beautiful gilt-bronze monkey, a fantastic Ferrari and a landscape masterpiece.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Blue Beauty: Vivid coloured diamond takes bidders&#8217; fancy</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GE2302_CMD3B_EN2_p-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-78001" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GE2302_CMD3B_EN2_p-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GE2302_CMD3B_EN2_p-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GE2302_CMD3B_EN2_p-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GE2302_CMD3B_EN2_p-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GE2302_CMD3B_EN2_p-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GE2302_CMD3B_EN2_p-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GE2302_CMD3B_EN2_p-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>A famous blue diamond worn at the 2023 Met Gala by actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas instigated an intense bidding war at Sotheby’s, propelling the final price to balloon above US$25 million (HK$196 million). Laguna Blu, a rare pear-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond of 11.16 carats, had headlined a Bulgari high-jewellery necklace at the gala, but it was auctioned in Geneva as the original ring designed by the Italian jeweller in 1979, set between tapered baguette diamond shoulders.</p>



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<p>The exceptional value of a vivid blue diamond reflects, in part, the extraordinary circumstances of their creation. These stones are formed deep below the earth’s mantle, and the disturbance of the crystal lattice is critical in determining their colour. Any traces of boron within the pure carbon structure of the diamond will result in varying shades of blue – enough boron in the stone and the diamond attains the highly prized ‘vivid’ category. Less than 1% of stones achieve this colour, and fewer still have no tint of another colour as coloured diamonds often show some kind of tint of another colour. The price the diamond achieved at auction is an indication of its rareness.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bronze Prize: Million-pound monkey sitting pretty</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2_p-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-78002" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2_p-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2_p-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2_p-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2_p-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2_p-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2_p-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2_p-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>A beautiful gilt-bronze monkey by François-Xavier Lalanne fetched £1.25 million (about HK$12.3 million) at auction in London with bidders stirred by the rare opportunity to obtain one of the French sculptor’s iconic animals. Singe Alternatif SIII was created in 2007, a year before Lalanne’s death, and was one of two Singe (Monkey) figures up for auction at Christie’s – his Singe Alternatif SIV realised just over £1 million.</p>



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<p>Animal motifs were integral to Lalanne’s art and formed a substantial part of his oeuvre. Their symbolism captivated him, and he was particularly enamoured with the sheep and the monkey, which he would depict far from their natural habitats. His Singes, smiling serenely, sit atop tables and mantelpieces.</p>



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<p>Lalanne developed a love for sculpture as a young man when, as a security guard at the Louvre, he would wander the Antiquities galleries and study the statuary of Ancient Egypt. It was from works like The Seated Scribe and Toth as a Baboon that he gained knowledge and inspiration which undoubtedly shaped his sculptural vocabulary. Only two gilt-bronze pairs of Singes have previously been offered at auction, once in 2020 and again in 2022.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Street Art: Camden crescent masterpiece a big hit</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mornington-Crescent_Frank-Auerbach_p-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-78007" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mornington-Crescent_Frank-Auerbach_p-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mornington-Crescent_Frank-Auerbach_p-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mornington-Crescent_Frank-Auerbach_p-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mornington-Crescent_Frank-Auerbach_p-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mornington-Crescent_Frank-Auerbach_p-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mornington-Crescent_Frank-Auerbach_p-200x113.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mornington-Crescent_Frank-Auerbach_p-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>A new auction record for a work by figurative painter Frank Auerbach was set at Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary evening sale in London. Mornington Crescent sold for £5.6 million (about HK$55 million), comfortably surpassing its high estimate of £4.5 million.</p>



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<p>Painted in 1969, Mornington Crescent is considered one of Auerbach’s most epic and ambitious landscape works. At 101.4 cm by 152 cm, it is also one of his largest and is firmly rooted in both a geographical and psychological sense of place – in this case, the street in Camden, north London, where the artist has his studio. Scaffold-like bars of paint form rigid structures dramatically conveying a recreated image of the urban environment.</p>



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<p>The 92-year-old Berlin-born British painter had a good evening at the ‘Britain’s Visionaries’ auction. All three of his works up for grabs exceeded their estimates: besides the lively bidding that Mornington Crescent sparked, E.O.W. on her Blue Eiderdown VII fetched £4.5 million and J.Y.M. Seated II went for £1.1 million. He has long been fascinated by the subject of Mornington Crescent and the housing developments which started in the 1820s.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Horse Power: Rare Ferrari races to auction record</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-30_p-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-78008" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-30_p-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-30_p-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-30_p-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-30_p-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-30_p-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-30_p-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-30_p-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>The sale of a 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta was a major coup for Bonhams Cars, notching up a whopping US$30.25 million (about HK$237 million). About 1,000 people jostled in the Quail Lodge &amp; Golf Club grounds in Carmel, California, for the best view of a racing car that became the fourth most valuable Ferrari sold at auction and raked in the highest-ever price for Bonhams’ motoring division.</p>



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<p>Part of its appeal was undoubtedly its rarity – only two 412Ps were built from scratch. Furthermore, a nine-year-long renovation project restored this beautiful vehicle to its original glory so it could hit the open road. “Thanks to its devoted lineage of owners and the stewardship of its seller, the 412P stands as an enduring piece of art that honours the Ferrari legacy,” commented Bonhams specialist Rupert Banner.</p>



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<p>The car has a strong racing history, roaring to third-place finishes in 1967 at Le Mans and the 1000 km of Spa, and seventh spot at Brands Hatch. The following year, it triumphed at the Norisring Nuremberg 200, Solituderennen and Swedish Grand Prix. The car comes with a 5-speed manual transmission and 4-wheel disc brakes.</p>


Under the hammer – Fab Four Auction Sales


<p>The man, the myth, the misogynist – just three of the few words that best describe Pablo Picasso, one of the world’s most celebrated artists of modern times. The many sides of his life and work come under the spotlight this year as institutions around the globe mark the 50th anniversary of the Spanish artist’s death. </p>



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<p>Given that he was originally thought to have stolen the Mona Lisa, it’s safe to assume that the co-founder of Cubism endured early troughs among the peaks of his path to fame. Improbable though it may sound, Picasso was a prime suspect when Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece vanished from the Louvre in 1911. The picture was later found to have been stolen by a former museum employee, but not before Picasso was cast in a doubtful light. It was a low point in what would become a dazzling, high-profile career. </p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-dans-un-fauteuil-畢加索《坐椅女子》_p-814x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77404" width="611" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-dans-un-fauteuil-畢加索《坐椅女子》_p-814x1024.jpg 814w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-dans-un-fauteuil-畢加索《坐椅女子》_p-223x280.jpg 223w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-dans-un-fauteuil-畢加索《坐椅女子》_p-768x966.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-dans-un-fauteuil-畢加索《坐椅女子》_p-1221x1536.jpg 1221w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-dans-un-fauteuil-畢加索《坐椅女子》_p-1628x2048.jpg 1628w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-dans-un-fauteuil-畢加索《坐椅女子》_p-200x252.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-dans-un-fauteuil-畢加索《坐椅女子》_p-800x1006.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-dans-un-fauteuil-畢加索《坐椅女子》_p-scaled.jpg 2035w" sizes="(max-width: 611px) 100vw, 611px" /></figure></div>


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<p>Ever prolific, Picasso created tens of thousands of works of art, experimented with a bewildering variety of styles, and never stopped innovating. His legacy is still exciting and inspiring to artists and art enthusiasts everywhere, and tributes abound half a century after his passing. </p>



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<p>The governments of Spain and France, where he spent most of his adult life, have partnered for Célébration Picasso 1973-2023, which embraces some 50 exhibitions and events in Europe and North America. Hong Kong joined in the remembrance by showing a glistening selection of his masterpieces in an intriguing medium.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3_p-866x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77396" width="650" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3_p-866x1024.jpg 866w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3_p-237x280.jpg 237w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3_p-768x908.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3_p-1299x1536.jpg 1299w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3_p-200x237.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3_p-800x946.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3_p.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></figure></div>


<p>Sotheby’s, which has championed some of the happenings in this timely retrospective of his work and life, highlights Picasso’s formidable influence as the resident artist of the 20th century – an idiosyncratic eye refracting the turbulence, traumas, dreams and visions of his times into stunning visual statements that challenged convention and still pulsate with energy today.</p>



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<p>Naturally, the Musée National Picasso-Paris is central to the year-long salute; it has already held one tribute show masterminded by British designer Paul Smith, while another from French conceptual artist Sophie Calle begins in October. It also opens a Centre for Picasso Studies in the prestigious and newly renovated quarters of Hôtel de Rohan, a short walk from the museum’s equally storied building in the Marais district. This unique resource for the artist and his subjects combines documentation, a library and archives around a research centre and a digital gateway.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Period pieces</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/6_p-1024x458.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77400" width="768" height="344" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/6_p-1024x458.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/6_p-626x280.jpg 626w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/6_p-768x343.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/6_p-1536x687.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/6_p-2048x915.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/6_p-200x89.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/6_p-800x358.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>When Picasso passed away in 1973, at the age of 91, it was discovered that he kept pieces from all his periods in his 78-year oeuvre. It took seven years to complete an inventory of his works in all media, and many held by his family landed in the hands of the French authorities as payment for inheritance taxes. It was this initial body of work that enabled the Musée National Picasso-Paris to open its doors nearly 40 years ago.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-assise-a-la-galette-des-rois_p-753x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77403" width="565" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-assise-a-la-galette-des-rois_p-753x1024.jpg 753w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-assise-a-la-galette-des-rois_p-206x280.jpg 206w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-assise-a-la-galette-des-rois_p-768x1044.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-assise-a-la-galette-des-rois_p-1130x1536.jpg 1130w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-assise-a-la-galette-des-rois_p-1507x2048.jpg 1507w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-assise-a-la-galette-des-rois_p-200x272.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-assise-a-la-galette-des-rois_p-800x1087.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-assise-a-la-galette-des-rois_p-scaled.jpg 1883w" sizes="(max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px" /></figure></div>


<p>Olivier Widmaier Picasso, the artist’s grandson, gathered exclusive testimonies, historical records and personal photos from this time to make a new documentary entitled Picasso, The Legacy. Sponsored by Sotheby’s, it is an intimate exposure of the man and the splendour of his artistry.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bohemian romance</h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-Accroupie_p-806x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77402" width="605" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-Accroupie_p-806x1024.jpg 806w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-Accroupie_p-221x280.jpg 221w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-Accroupie_p-768x975.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-Accroupie_p-1210x1536.jpg 1210w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-Accroupie_p-1613x2048.jpg 1613w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-Accroupie_p-200x254.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-Accroupie_p-800x1016.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NEW-Pablo-Picasso-Femme-Accroupie_p-scaled.jpg 2016w" sizes="(max-width: 605px) 100vw, 605px" /></figure></div>


<p>Another way to glean more about the artist’s life is through ‘Picasso’s Montmartre with Le Meurice, Celebrating 50 Years’, an experience that combines an overnight stay at the grand hotel in Paris with a guided walking tour that propels art enthusiasts back in time to the hedonistic, bohemian era of the Belle Époque. When Pablo Picasso married Russian ballerina and early muse Olga Khokhlova in 1918, the wedding reception was held at the hotel and it was the season’s biggest affair.</p>


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<p>Le Meurice’s expert guide succeeds in opening minds to the romance and derring-do of the youthful non-conformist in the early 1900s. When he first arrived in Paris, Picasso was regarded with suspicion as a foreigner and watched by the French police for his supposed anarchist leanings. During the walk, anecdotes are shared and landmarks are highlighted while tracing his ootsteps through the cobblestone alleyways of Montmartre where he once lived and painted.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Changing with the ages</h3>


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<p>More than five decades later, in 1961, Picasso married Jacqueline Roque, the face that launched more than 400 portraits completed in the dozen years before his death. Museum Casa Natal Picasso in Málaga, Spain – the artist’s hometown – stages The Ages of Pablo, a chronological and stylistic overview of works from his formative years to the time spent with his second wife.</p>


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<p>Picasso is revealed through his paintings, sketches, sculptures, ceramics and photographs, all of which have enduring value. Demonstrating his dynamic ability to convey life and emotion, the exhibition is divided into eight sections corresponding to the major phases of his art, including ‘Blue and Pink’, ‘Cubism’, ‘Classicism’, ‘Surrealism’, ‘Wartime’ and ‘The Joy of Living’.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Glass act</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4_p-809x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77397" width="607" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4_p-809x1024.jpg 809w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4_p-221x280.jpg 221w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4_p-768x972.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4_p-1213x1536.jpg 1213w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4_p-200x253.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4_p-800x1013.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4_p.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 607px) 100vw, 607px" /></figure></div>


<p>Here at home, Hong Kongers were able to join the momentous commemoration as a summer exhibition, Pablo Picasso: Paintings in Glass, threw light on some of his most-known painterly compositions. A collaboration between the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong and the French May Arts Festival, it paid tribute not only to the iconic artist but also to the art form of gemmail.</p>



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<p>A type of stained-glass mosaic developed by French painter Jean Crotti and perfected in the workshop of Roger Malherbe-Navarre, gemmail involves the expert assembly and melting of meticulously chosen pieces of glass. When Picasso first witnessed the gemmistes’ endeavour in 1954, he exclaimed, “A new art is born!” Enthused, he proceeded to layer shards of glass into graphical representations of more than 50 of his existing paintings.</p>


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<p>The 50th anniversary of Picasso’s passing is, above all, a tremendous opportunity to honour his creative legacy while also challenging key events in his life, particularly his relationships with women who became his muses and lovers. “People were happy to be consumed by him,” his daughter Paloma Picasso, the jewellery designer, has said. “They thought it was a privilege. If you get too close to the Sun, it burns you. But the Sun can’t help being the Sun.” As evidenced by many of his life documentations, Picasso cared primarily for his creations, but what creations they were!</p>



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<p>Photos: University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong</p>


Strokes Of Genius: 50 years after his passing, the art world muses on Picasso’s magic and missteps


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<p>It was perhaps a “somewhat undercover” wine-appreciation society started by Robert Sleigh and a schoolfriend that heralded an illustrious career spanning the idyllic vineyards of France, the hurly-burly of New York, and now the international melting pot of Hong Kong.</p>



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<p>Aptly ensconced in smart new headquarters at WKCDA Tower in Hong Kong’s cultural hub, the Managing Director, Asia, of Phillips talks fondly of those early years. Sleigh’s brief now extends beyond the world’s finest bottles as he oversees the regional strategy of the historic auction house known for its 20th-century and contemporary art and luxury sales.</p>



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<p>The Briton’s early passion for wine steered him into a driving job in London with wine merchant Haynes, Hanson &amp; Clark. Crucially, the role allowed him to take his Wine &amp; Spirit Education Trust (WSET) exams, as at the time only those employed in the trade could sit them. Then, as the UK economy stagnated in the early ’90s recession, he sought broader experience that would differentiate him from the crowd. Meeting some Burgundy producers at a wine-tasting event, he promptly asked if he could work for them.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Burgundy benefits</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hi_ACK2967_p-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77332" width="512" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hi_ACK2967_p-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hi_ACK2967_p-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hi_ACK2967_p-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hi_ACK2967_p-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hi_ACK2967_p-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hi_ACK2967_p-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hi_ACK2967_p-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hi_ACK2967_p-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure></div>


<p>Sleigh found himself at a small domain in Beaune where the grapes were handpicked from its own vineyard and the wine crafted and bottled onsite. “I did one viticultural year in a way; it was vineyard work and cellar work, and when I first got there, they were still pruning the vines,” he recalls.</p>



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<p>The labour was rewarding and he learnt the essentials of vinification. “Winemaking is 90% cleaning,” he says with a smile. “It is cleaning everything spotless so that you do not get bacteria in the wine and it all turns to vinegar.”</p>



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<p>He spent three years in France and is now an unashamed Francophile who would happily drink only French wine. His second job in Burgundy was at Maison Louis Latour, a leading négociant-éleveur with many English-speaking buyers. He liaised with clients and assisted with customer service and marketing.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US points</h3>



<p>It was this experience that likely helped Sleigh secure a “career-defining” move to the US, where in 1996 he joined the wine department of Sotheby’s auction house in New York. Aside from demand for the cult wines of Napa Valley, he noted other distinct differences in the US wine market compared to Europe. “The Americans are very much led by critic scores; the likes of Robert Parker at the time, who exerted a very powerful influence. They are buying on the 100-point scoring system,” he says.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hong Kong hub</h3>


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<p>He was called to Asia in 2010 to manage the huge demand in the Hong Kong wine auction sector following the reduction and then elimination of tax on wine in the territory. </p>



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<p>With the West still reeling from the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis, coupled with the pent-up demand for Western luxury goods from Chinese consumers with huge disposable incomes, this “perfect storm” propelled Hong Kong into the wine hub of Asia.</p>



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<p>“The wine market has never seen anything like it and probably never will again,” says Sleigh, relating how prices took off and Hong Kong became the most important market within 18 months. “Just the amount of stimulus that happened then – it was an extraordinary time.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Auction house</h3>



<p>After more than 25 years at Sotheby’s, Sleigh assumed his new position with Phillips at the start of the year, tasked with a broader role in the art and luxury sector. Asian-based clients clinch about a third of Phillips’ sales, and he believes their new Asia headquarters with a purpose-built exhibition space – the largest premises of any auction house in Hong Kong – increases their visibility and power in the Asian market. “Being the first auction house to have our own permanent galleries and auction room leaves no doubt about how committed Phillips is to Asia,” he stresses.</p>



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<p>This site, occupying the lower six floors of WKCDA Tower near the M+ museum and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, has definite advantages. “The possibilities that this location holds for Phillips are endless, especially as the West Kowloon Cultural District continues to expand and thrive,” he says. “We are excited to be at the heart of it and play an active role in its evolution.”</p>



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<p>Early indications suggest the move to West Kowloon will be a successful one. Phillips’ 20th Century &amp; Contemporary Art exhibition in March and April, as well as previews of watch and jewellery lots, attracted 30,000 visitors, and their inaugural evening sale there yielded notable results – Yoshitomo Nara’s Lookin&#8217; for a Treasure sold for HK$84 million, and Yayoi Kusama’s Pumpkin fetched HK$56 million.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Asian ascendency</h3>


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<p>According to Sleigh, the art world once operated in two separate ecosystems – East and West – but Hong Kong is now part of a unified global market, with a huge collecting base that extends from Asia to all parts of the world and vice-versa. He talks of a transformation of the playing field: “It now comes as no surprise that the highest-value lot in our long history – a masterwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat – came from the collection of Yusaku Maezawa and was sold to another collector based in Asia for US$85 million.”</p>



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<p>Since arriving at Phillips, Sleigh has noted a much younger clientele viewing contemporary art, 20th-century art, design, photographs and watches compared to those interested in wine. He is excited by how collecting is becoming integral to the Asian lifestyle – with many people travelling to the art fairs in Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore – and sees huge growth potential and less of a weight of tradition in the art market here.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sales drivers</h3>



<p>Eternally fascinated by the cycle of the auction industry, Sleigh has conducted literally hundreds of sales during his career. He believes the auction ritual remains “a compelling call to action” for unique and valuable items and will always play a role when there is competition for a desirable collectible. There are those who say that all auctioneers are frustrated actors, and though Sleigh remains unconvinced by this characterisation, he concedes he has known some who like “being there in front of the world!”</p>



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<p>He describes how having fallen asleep on a plane whilst watching the documentary The Truffle Hunters, he woke with a start, possibly due to hearing his own voice eerily on the headphones. It transpired that the director had taken an excerpt from a recording of a truffle auction for charity he performs every year.</p>



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<p>Indeed, charity is close to his heart. He is regularly involved in charity auctions and his wife, Libby Alexander, is the co-founder and CEO of Splash Foundation, which provides swimming lessons to those in need. “We are lucky we live in Hong Kong and we are very fortunate in many ways,” he says. “There are a lot of people who are less fortunate, so I think it is important [to give back].”</p>



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<p>Interview by: Neil Dolby Photographer: Jack Law Art Direction: Joseff Musa Fashion Stylist: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer:Jack Fontanilla Hair &amp; Make Up: Owen Ko Venue: Phillips Asia HQ in West Kowloon</p>


Sure Hammer: Having been around the auction block for 27 years, Robert Sleigh now drives Philips forward in Asia


<p>At a June preview of the Freddie Mercury collection that will shortly be sold by Sotheby’s, the media forms a semicircle around a young woman holding aloft the left shoe of a pair of white high-top sneakers. “These are the shoes Freddie may have performed in at the Live Aid Concert in 1985,” says Gabriel Heaton, a Specialist in the Books and Manuscripts department of the auction house, before clarifying: “However, as there are other pairs which are similar, careful checking indicates that we cannot be certain these are ones used in the Live Aid Concert.”</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A_pair_of_Adidas_high_top_sneakers_est._3000_-_500_rgb-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77104" width="750" height="750" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A_pair_of_Adidas_high_top_sneakers_est._3000_-_500_rgb-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A_pair_of_Adidas_high_top_sneakers_est._3000_-_500_rgb-280x280.jpg 280w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A_pair_of_Adidas_high_top_sneakers_est._3000_-_500_rgb-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A_pair_of_Adidas_high_top_sneakers_est._3000_-_500_rgb-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A_pair_of_Adidas_high_top_sneakers_est._3000_-_500_rgb-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A_pair_of_Adidas_high_top_sneakers_est._3000_-_500_rgb-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A_pair_of_Adidas_high_top_sneakers_est._3000_-_500_rgb-800x800.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/A_pair_of_Adidas_high_top_sneakers_est._3000_-_500_rgb-100x100.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure></div>


<p>The fact that these Adidas shoes were worn by the flamboyant Queen frontman during the band’s mid-80s tours is enough, though, to set the room abuzz with excitement. Of all the items on display during the media tour, it is a simple pair of shoes within touching distance that generates the most interest.</p>



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<p>As the ritual of media photo-taking gets underway, there is an almost spiritual, slightly unworldly moment in time, when Freddie himself seems close, like he is being reincarnated in a ghostly apparition. He wore these shoes as he held the audience in the palm of his hand during his mid-80s pomp when he knew his time was short, and every time he stepped onto the stage he was determined to put on the show of his life. Mercury loved the freedom of movement and comfort the high-tops brought him as he strutted, preened and sang like an angel. These sports shoes seem to represent the physical embodiment of a force of nature and everyone in the room wants a part of it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mercury Rising</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="511" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mick_Rock_David_Bowie_and_Mick_Ronson_Lunch_on_Tra_rgb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77115" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mick_Rock_David_Bowie_and_Mick_Ronson_Lunch_on_Tra_rgb.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mick_Rock_David_Bowie_and_Mick_Ronson_Lunch_on_Tra_rgb-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mick_Rock_David_Bowie_and_Mick_Ronson_Lunch_on_Tra_rgb-200x133.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>The Adidas footwear was among 20 highlights from the collection of the flamboyant rock idol showcased in Hong Kong before a series of dedicated auctions to be held at Sotheby’s London from 4 August (online) and during 6-8 September 2023 (live). A portion of the six ‘Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own’ sales will be donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust – an Aids charity founded by the band after the singer’s death in 1991 – and the Elton John Aids Foundation.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="625" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie_MercuryCus_crown_est._30000_-_40000_1_p_cl_rgb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77106" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie_MercuryCus_crown_est._30000_-_40000_1_p_cl_rgb.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie_MercuryCus_crown_est._30000_-_40000_1_p_cl_rgb-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie_MercuryCus_crown_est._30000_-_40000_1_p_cl_rgb-200x250.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></figure></div>


<p>Part of the fascination with Freddie Mercury is that he was a complex man with multiple personalities. Heaton talks of how reserved he was, but of how he also loved to hold lavish parties. He points to Mercury’s iconic stage crown thought to be loosely modelled on the coronation crown of St Edward; a life-size picture of the maestro wearing it in his full regal attire forms a striking backdrop. The crown is estimated to sell for £30,000-£40,000 (about HK$300,000-$400,000), and as Heaton notes, Mercury donned it for the final rendition of God Save The Queen at the end of his last performance, at Knebworth Park in Hertfordshire, UK, on 9 August 1986, in front of a crowd of more than 120,000.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rhapsody Revelations</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="594" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie21_p_rgb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77107" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie21_p_rgb.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie21_p_rgb-362x280.jpg 362w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie21_p_rgb-200x155.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>The collection previewed in Hong Kong included handwritten working drafts of lyrics to some of his most famous songs. An early draft for Bohemian Rhapsody, the third best-selling UK single of all time, is written in black and blue ballpoint pen and pencil on stationery from the now defunct British Midlands Airways.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="750" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie3_p_rgb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77108" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie3_p_rgb.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie3_p_rgb-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie3_p_rgb-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></figure></div>


<p>This is the song that changed everything for Queen, when the “volcano erupted”, as Mercury put it, and these lyrics are estimated at £800,000-£1.2 million. The page on display (from 15 in total) indicates that he originally planned to call it ‘Mongolian Rhapsody’ – ‘Mongolian’ is crossed out and replaced with the word ‘Bohemian’ – rhythmically similar but with a different resonance, as Heaton points out. The sheets reveal detailed notes on harmonies and the painstaking drafting and redrafting by a man who was modest about his composition process.</p>



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<p>“In these pages we see Freddie Mercury wrestling in grand operatic terms with profound themes – sin, damnation, stoic acceptance – and witness the great efforts he goes to pinpointing precisely the right words to embody these emotions, and to create the most extraordinary narrative,” says Heaton.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Songs Going for a High</h3>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="708" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie5_p_rgb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77109" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie5_p_rgb.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie5_p_rgb-198x280.jpg 198w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie5_p_rgb-200x283.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></figure></div>


<p>According to the expert, this type of memorabilia often generates huge interest. “The highest prices tend to be for original handwritten lyrics and also musical instruments when they have a significant playing history with a great musician,” he says.</p>



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<p>Referring to the Rhapsody lyrics, he continues, “Early drafts such as these are easily lost or discarded, so the rare survival of these manuscripts provides us with fascinating insights into how his songs were developed and put together, as well as reminding us of their musical complexity and sophistication.”</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="667" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie15_p_clip_rgb-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77110" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie15_p_clip_rgb-1.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie15_p_clip_rgb-1-210x280.jpg 210w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Freddie15_p_clip_rgb-1-200x267.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></figure></div>


<p>Heaton adds: “There are, of course, other valuable items: rare records, stage-worn costumes and other evocative items – I sold a pair of John Lennon’s sunglasses for £137,000 a few years ago.” An ivory-hued satin catsuit inspired by the mythic god, Mercury, which was used in Bohemian Rhapsody’s groundbreaking promotional video is estimated at £50,000–£70,000.</p>



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<p>“In general people pay high prices for music memorabilia for the same reason that they pay high prices for art or ceramics or rare books – because they are passionate about them.” The majority of collectors will have a love for the music they buy into. “Sometimes these are people who collect in other areas, other times they are not – it is the passion for the music that unites them,” notes Heaton.</p>



<p>Music to Collectors’ Ears</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="620" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Donna4_p_rgb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77116" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Donna4_p_rgb.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Donna4_p_rgb-226x280.jpg 226w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Donna4_p_rgb-200x248.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></figure></div>


<p>According to Darren Julien, Founder and President of Julien’s Auctions, iconic pieces worn during a stage performance, video or red-carpet event often sell for higher amounts since that appearance is recorded by photographs or on film. There is an element of nostalgia involved. “These items represent a time or a memory in one’s life that drives the bidder at an auction in the hopes of winning and keeping that memory alive,” he says.</p>



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<p>An 18-carat white-gold and diamond Omega wristwatch worn by the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, and seen in photographs during his extraordinary career, sold at a 2018 Phillips auction for US$1.8 million (HK$14.09 million) after frenzied bidding, smashing the world record for an Omega.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="600" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/the-beatles-yellow-submarine-movie-lobby-card_p_rgb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77112" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/the-beatles-yellow-submarine-movie-lobby-card_p_rgb.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/the-beatles-yellow-submarine-movie-lobby-card_p_rgb-358x280.jpg 358w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/the-beatles-yellow-submarine-movie-lobby-card_p_rgb-200x156.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>Julien’s Auctions famously sold the Beatles’ handwritten Hey Jude lyrics in 2020 for US$910,000, nine times its original estimate. The acoustic-electric guitar used by Kurt Cobain at a 1993 MTV Unplugged performance went for US$6 million in 2020, a world record for guitars sold at auction. The US auction house has also sold items from the Rolling Stones and other major stars. “The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, U2, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Cher and Barbara Streisand are all highly collectible and have a huge global audience. But contemporary artists such as BTS are also highly collectible, along with Taylor Swift, Coldplay and even Rosario,” says Julien.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="746" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rolling_Stones_p_rgb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77113" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rolling_Stones_p_rgb.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rolling_Stones_p_rgb-188x280.jpg 188w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rolling_Stones_p_rgb-200x298.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></figure></div>


<p>Sound Investment Vehicles Pop Rock memorabilia is now regarded as an asset class. “People buy these items not only for the cool factor but also as investment vehicles. Museums also buy iconic pieces and fans are always hoping to win something representing their idols’ life and career.”</p>



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<p>The resale value of iconic pieces is also tremendous, notes Julien: “We sold Kurt Cobain’s green cardigan from MTV Unplugged for US$120,000 in 2015 and resold it in 2019 for $340,000. In 2006 we sold an Elvis Presley belt from the Aloha tour gifted to his friend Jack Lord of Hawaii Five-O for approximately $65,000 and we resold it in 2018 for over $354,000.”</p>



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<p>“Collectibles continue to be highly sought after by a global audience and prices continue to rise with the help of improved technology and social-media awareness. We also see NFTs as a new class of investing in all things celebrity,” adds Julien.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="500" height="603" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Donna3_p_rgb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77114" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Donna3_p_rgb.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Donna3_p_rgb-232x280.jpg 232w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Donna3_p_rgb-200x241.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></figure></div>


<p>Ahead of Sotheby’s Freddie Mercury auction, Heaton notes that the star’s attraction remains undiminished to this day. “Queen’s songs are woven into the fabric of our culture and have an incredibly wide appeal, and Freddie himself is widely acknowledged as amongst the most powerful vocalists in rock history,” he says. In Heaton’s view, the popularity and value of pop memorabilia will not diminish in the foreseeable future. “It is now more than 60 years since the Beatles began recording, and 50 years for Queen. If people still love the music now, I am sure they will do so in another generation.”</p>


Rock on a roll: Generating huge prices at auction, collections of pop memorabilia are hot alternative assets

<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>Iconic Cross</strong></p>
<p><strong>Diana necklace surpasses bid estimate</strong></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70281 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The_Attallah_Cross_Sothebys_catalogue_shot_003_rgb-e1678677087796.jpg" alt="Auction Bids" width="768" height="767" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The_Attallah_Cross_Sothebys_catalogue_shot_003_rgb-e1678677087796.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The_Attallah_Cross_Sothebys_catalogue_shot_003_rgb-e1678677087796-200x200.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The_Attallah_Cross_Sothebys_catalogue_shot_003_rgb-e1678677087796-100x100.jpg 100w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The_Attallah_Cross_Sothebys_catalogue_shot_003_rgb-e1678677087796-600x599.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>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></p>
<p><strong>Head Hunts</strong><br />
<strong>Depiction of decapitated saint</strong></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70278 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/salomepainting_rgb-e1678677117446.jpg" alt="Auction Bids" width="768" height="717" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/salomepainting_rgb-e1678677117446.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/salomepainting_rgb-e1678677117446-200x187.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/salomepainting_rgb-e1678677117446-600x560.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p><strong>Bronze Award</strong><br />
<strong>Rijksmuseum wins bidding battle</strong></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70274 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ecorche100_p_rgb-e1678677174495.jpg" alt="Auction Bids" width="500" height="750" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ecorche100_p_rgb-e1678677174495.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ecorche100_p_rgb-e1678677174495-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>Muscle Memory</strong><br />
<strong>Nostalgia for the days of the mighty muscle</strong></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70273 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Daytona3_p_rgb-e1678677248536.jpg" alt="Auction Bids" width="768" height="397" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Daytona3_p_rgb-e1678677248536.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Daytona3_p_rgb-e1678677248536-200x103.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Daytona3_p_rgb-e1678677248536-600x310.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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></p>
<p><em>(Text: Neil Dolby)</em></p>


Applauding Creations From Different Centuries – Auction Bids to Note

<p>An exquisite vivid blue diamond – The De Beers Cullinan Blue – has sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for HK$451 million (US$57.5 million). This is just shy of the current record for a blue diamond, achieved in 2016 when The Oppenheimer Blue (14.62 carats), sold for US$57,541,779.</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_66995" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-66995" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-66995" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/De-Beers-blue-diamond2-e1656063267841.jpg" alt="De Beers blue diamond gafencu" width="700" height="386" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/De-Beers-blue-diamond2-e1656063267841.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/De-Beers-blue-diamond2-e1656063267841-200x110.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/De-Beers-blue-diamond2-e1656063267841-600x331.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-66995" class="wp-caption-text">The DeBeers Cullinan Blue, photo courtesy of Sotheby&#8217;s Hong Kong</figcaption></figure></p>
<p>A vigorous eight-minute bidding war ensued between four diamond lovers eager to secure the 15.1-carat prize took the price well above the HK$380 million reserve with the precious gem going to a telephone bidder. Possessing exceptional clarity, it is the biggest internally vivid blue diamond that the Gemological Institute of America has ever graded. Blue diamonds of such dimensions are incredibly rare, with only five 10-carat-plus examples having reached auction previously – none of which have exceeded 15 carats, making the existence of this peerless gem truly unique.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-66996" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/De-Beers-blue-diamond5-e1656063324521.jpg" alt="De Beers blue diamond gafencu" width="400" height="505" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/De-Beers-blue-diamond5-e1656063324521.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/De-Beers-blue-diamond5-e1656063324521-200x253.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /></p>
<p>“The (diamond) captivated me from the moment I laid eyes on it. With its powerful vivid colour, and breathtakingly beautiful cut, it is truly a once-in-a-generation stone, and quite simply the greatest blue diamond of its size I have ever seen during my 31-year-career,” said Patti Wong, Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia of the sale.</p>
<p><em><strong>Read our previous story on&nbsp;<a href="//www.gafencushop.com/most-expensive-stunning-vivid-rare-blue-diamonds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue Diamonds: A look at the world’s stunning coloured gems.</a></strong></em></p>


The DeBeers Cullinan Blu The most beautiful and expensive blue diamonds in the world gafencu

Tag: auction