French auction house Artcurial’s 1st semester sales for 2016 have shown a 6 percent jump over figures for the same period last year. In its latest report, the auction house shares that the sales in the first semester of this year have totaled €1,225m ($1,384m). The results underscore the auction house’s dynamic strategy, which is based on the diversity of the lots that it offers, such as furniture and other premium collectible objects to name a few. Some underlying features of the latest sales figures are an increasing global makeup of Artcurial’s clientele. As much as 75 percent of buyers for lots sold over €50,000 were of foreign origin. In addition, 31 premium lots were either preempted or acquired by the museums. World Auction Record HighlightsThe highlights of the stellar sales include a world record auction price for a painting by Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968) and a world record auction price for a collector car. Duchamp’s “Nu sur nu (nu aux cheveux verts),” 1910-1911, classed as a national treasure, sold for €1,243,000 ($1,417,020) at a June 6 sale. The money raised went to Médecins Sans Frontières. Similarly, a 1955 work by Nicolas de Staël (1914-1955), “Nature morte au poêlon blanc,” sold for €970,200 ($1,106,030). Earlier in the year, on February 5, a 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti, hailing from the private collection of Pierre Bardinon, had achieved the world record auction price for a collector car when it was picked up for €32,075,200 ($37,794,319). Another Ferrari, a 1986 Testarossa Spider Valeo, which previously belonged to Gianni Agnelli, also set a world auction record for its model when it was picked up for €1, 210,100 ($1,350,411). Besides, A 1963 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible Serie 5 sold for €1,473,200 ($1,644,018).Apart from these headlining acts, throughout the semester, records were achieved for superlative works with prestigious provenances. In March, for instance, the entire lot of drawings from the collection of Georges Dormeuil (1856-1939), one of the greatest drawings collectors of his time, sold for almost four times its estimate at €2 million ($2.3 million). In April, it was the collection of comic strips belonging to the popular French singer, songwriter and actor Renaud, with the double plate at the end of the album “Aventures de Tintin Le Sceptre d’Ottoka,” which made news. Next, another record was set with the sale of an original watercolour for “Le Petit Prince,” the 1943 play by French author, diplomat and journalist Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944), which went for €133,200 ($149,198). The 2nd Semester OutlookThe outlook for the second semester of 2016 is equally bright. With auctions lined for each of the six coming months, more records are likely to be made, and broken. An important auction to look forward to is “20 years of friendship with Diego Giacometti: The Éliane and Daniel Brollo Collection,” which will take place on September 14. A public exhibition will be held for 10 days leading up to the auction, offering a panoramic vision of the work of Swiss sculptor and designer (1902-1985). It will be possible to absorb the excellence of 15 pieces of bronze furniture including three by his elder brother, Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966). Also included will be preparatory plasters, prototype elements including a rare ceiling light. Finally, a never-before-seen photographic report will be on show. It was made by the son of the collectors at the end of the 1970s and early 1980s, offering the chance to see Diego Giacometti at work in the intimate environment of his Parisian workshop. The Hong Kong AuctionThe auction house’s international expansion and outreach will continue, the highlight of which will be its second auction in Hong Kong on October 3, to be held in association with Spink. Titled “From Paris to Hong Kong,” this sale will provide an opportunity to Artcurial to reach out to its Asian clients, whose number has doubled each year over the past five years. Its first auction in October 2015 was a success, when it organized its first European comic strip auction in Asia. For the second edition, Artcurial will pay tribute to two of it specialties, street art and comic strips. The ninth art will be represented with works by Hergé and also some exceptional plates by Moebisu, including a page from “Deuxième histoire d’Harzak,” published in 1975. Works by Kaws, JR and Invader will make up the street art section.Says François Tajan, Deputy Chairman at Artcurial, “In 2016, Artcurial continues its investment in order to support its international expansion. After the significant change in our visual identity during the 1st semester, we are now going to enhance our digital platform in order to appeal to our ever-increasing international buyers who participate in our auctions online. At the same time, we will be meeting with our collectors personally at our events such as the second edition of our Hong Kong sale and also our increasing European network which recently welcomed three new consultants.”The Europe SalesElsewhere, Artcurial will conduct two prestigious auctions during FIAC Paris (October 20-23). The first one will be focused on design, titled “Heavy Metal,” while the other will be dedicated to Urban Art. “Heavy Metal,” to be held on October 24, will offer a panorama of contemporary creation with a focus on one particular material — metal which can be found across several masterpieces by Jean Prouvé, Ron Arad, Marc Newson and Charlotte Perriand. Prior to that, Artcurial will also mark its attendance at La Biennale des Antiquaires (September 10-18). Here, select works from various departments will be showcased to give collectors an overview of what is on offer at various auctions in the second semester. Cars on Fast TrackCar lovers too can look forward to more action in the second semester. On July 9, Artcurial Motorcars will gather collectors at Le Mans Classic for a new edition of this prestigious event. Three other auctions in the category will round off the year. On September 18, an auction of the contents of the Normandy Tank Museum, in Catz in northwestern France, will be held. About three weeks later, on October 9, 80 American cars from the André Weber collection will be sold in an auction called, “On the Road,” to be held just outside Paris. The final automobile auction of the year will be held in November, that will celebrate the 10th edition of “Automobiles sur les Champs.”Increased Digital PresenceDuring the first half of this year, the Artcurial Live Bid enabled thousands of people to bid directly using the Internet, totaling almost €4 million ($4.52 million). To respond to this demand, Artcurial is redoing the online platform to offer online-only sales soon. Continuing with the virtual tour of the Artcurial mansion on Paris’s Champs Elysées, the digital environment will be entirely readjusted with social networks being updated to enable online bidding. The goal is to multiply interactions between Artcurial and a faithful clientele and also attract new younger collectors who use modern-day online tools to buy art.
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Artcurial’s 1st Semester Sales Jump 6% Over Last Year Figures
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Affordable Bollywood Memorabilia Auction at StoryLTD
StoryLTD’s auction titled “Post-Independence Indian Cinema,” currently underway online, is a great opportunity for lovers of Hindi cinema to grab a slice of their favorite films at affordable prices. The lots on offer largely include posters, lobby cards and some rare photographs of the top actors of the early years of Hindi film industry immediately following the country’s Independence.A total of 11 lots out of the 50 on offer make up the top bracket. Each of these is estimated at $380-$610 (about Rs 25,000 - Rs 40,000), making the lots highly affordable. These top lots include posters of some iconic images, rare social pictures of film stars, and film stills. Some of these lots that are likely to generate interest among film lovers include a brooding Amitabh Bachchan in a still from one of his most successful films ever, “Deewar” (1975); a lot of three stills from the same film; two stills mounted on lobby cards from yet another Bachchan biggie “Zameer” (1975); two film stills from “Parvarish” (1958), mounted on lobby cards, featuring Raj Kapoor, another stalwart of Hindi cinema; a set of three stills on separate lobby cards of Raj Kapoor-Nutan hit “Anari” (1959); a black-and-white still lobby card from Shammi Kapoor film “Janwar” (1965); and a hand-painted color poster of the 1960 film “Barsat Ki Raat,” featuring top actors of the time Bharat Bhushan and Madhubala, among others. Highly interesting is a black-and-white photograph from the Holi celebration of 1950 at the residence of Raj Kapoor. It may be mentioned that till this day, most of the Hindi film industry gathers at the residence of its first family, the Kapoors, for celebrating the festival of colors and revelry every March. This image is estimated at $230-$305 (approx. Rs 15,000 - Rs 20,000). Also interesting is a picture from the wedding reception of Raj Kapoor’s son, Randhir and actress Babita; the picture becomes important because of the handshake between the two evergreen stalwarts — Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand. This photograph is priced at $155-$230 (approx. Rs 10,000 - Rs 15,000). A set of four images — featuring yesteryear actresses Mala Sinha, Nirupa Roy, Sharmila Tagore and Saira Banu — dressed for their parts on the sets of films is estimated at $305-$455 (approx. Rs 20,000 - Rs 30,000).It may be mentioned that auctions of Bollywood memorabilia at affordable prices are one of the hottest sales at StoryLTD. The next sale at this auction house is that of Antiquarian Books on August 16 - 17.StoryLTD is a service of Saffronart, an auctioneer of Indian art online established in 2000.The auction will be on through 8 pm IST, July 6. Please check www.storyltd.com for details
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Fondation Louis Vuitton-Natalia Vodianova’s ‘The Art of Giving’ Love Ball Tonight
A carefully-curated selection of 15 art works by outstanding international contemporary artists such as Olafur Eliasson, Takashi Murakami, Sterling Ruby, Chiharu Shiota, Huang Yong Ping, and Zhang Enli will highlight the auction that will follow ‘The Art of Giving’ Love Ball by Fondation Louis Vuitton at Paris tonight. ‘The Art of Giving’ Love Ball charity event is held annually in support of the Naked Heart Foundation, set up by Russian supermodel and philanthropist Natalia Vodianova after the Beslan school siege of 2004, considered one of the world’s worst terrorist attacks that also involved children. One of the most internationally renowned charity events, ‘The Art of Giving’ Love Ball will be held at the iconic building of Fondation Louis Vuitton, under the patronage and in the presence of Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer LVMH / Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Designed by the American architect Frank Gehry, the building falls in line with the LVMH group’s efforts to promote art and culture over the last 20 years. This will be the 5th Jubilee Love Ball charity gala, which will feature an intimate black-tie dinner for a sophisticated audience of 250 guests from all over the world. The funds raised through the charity dinner and the auction will go towards developing support services for families with children with special needs and constructing inclusive playgrounds and play parks for children of all ages and abilities, which are the two main areas of work of the Naked Heart Foundation.The 15 lots at the auction have been curated by Jean-Paul Claverie, Adviser to the Chairman, LVMH, with the help of the Naked Heart Foundation specialist and trustee, Sandra Nedvetskaia. The gavel will be wielded by Sotheby’s Chairman, Oliver Barker. Artists as well as galleries have been generous in support of the foundation’s efforts, which is reflected in the eclectic lineup of artists and their works. Among some of the highlights is a painting by Sterling Ruby, courtesy of Gagosian gallery, and a commissioned portrait by globally-recognised art ‘rock star’ Murakami, courtesy of Perrotin Gallery. Work by the current star of Monumenta, Huang Yong Ping, is courtesy of Parisian contemporary art gallery owned and named after Kamel Mennour. Shanghai’s Zhang Enli’s work comes courtesy of Adrian Cheng, and Chiharu Shiota’s work is courtesy of Blain Southern. Many of the artists have worked with the Fondation Louis Vuitton in the past, such as Olafur Eliasson, Isaac Julien, and Taryn Simon (courtesy Almine Rech Gallery), who participated in its inaugural exhibition.The event will also present a unique opportunity to visit Gehry’s LA studio, and acquire his “Fish Lamps” artwork. The venue that is home to the Fondation Louis Vuitton collection, will be completely closed to the public for the night.
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Helena Newman Appointed Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe
Sotheby’s has announced the appointment of Helena Newman as Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe. Newman will take on the role in addition to her current position as the worldwide co-Head of Impressionist and Modern Art, a department she leads along with New York-based Simon Shaw.In her position as Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, Newman will work with fellow Chairmen Mario Tavella, Oliver Barker, and Philipp Württemberg to develop and lead what Sotheby’s describes as its “client relationships, business, and consignment winning strategy across Europe.”Maarten ten Holder, Sotheby’s Managing Director for Europe, said: “Helena will be a key player in driving both our business and strategy in Europe whilst continuing to co-head our global Impressionist and Modern art business.” “She will bring to the role as Chairman not only the experience of 28 highly successful years at Sotheby’s, but also an unparalleled depth of expertise and relationships in the field of Impressionist and Modern Art,” he added.
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Memorabilia of India’s First Cricket Superstar, Ranjitsinhji, at Christie’s on July 13
Before he became Maharaja Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji, ruler of the Indian princely state of Nawanagar in Kathiawar (in present-day Gujarat), he was a flamboyant cricketer who studied at Cambridge University and played for the Sussex cricket team in first-class county competition. He later served as the county team’s captain too. What’s more important is the fact that Ranji, as he was popularly known, went on to become the first Indian to play cricket for England. India’s most prestigious domestic cricket tournament — the Ranji Trophy — where future national stars first cut their teeth, is named after him. He, indeed, was Indian cricket’s first superstar. Significant memorabilia associated with the cricketing times of Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji (his official name before he became the ruler of Nawanagar) is coming up for auction at Christie’s, London, on July 13, as part of the sale titled “Valuable Books and Manuscripts.” Born in 1872 in Sadodar, Gujarat, he was the ruler of Nawanagar from 1907 - 1933, until his death. Lot #236 is Ranjitsinhji’s palm wood cane with 9-carat rose gold band, engraved ‘KSR’ and impressed ‘F’ hallmark for 1901. Estimated at £3,000 – £5,000 ($3,879 - $6,465 or Rs 2.60 lakh - Rs 4.34 lakh), it comes to the auction table from the collection of cricket commentator Henry Blofeld (like the other celebrated cane in this auction, that of Charlie Chaplin, £6,000 – £9,000 ($7,776 - $11,664). Ranjitsinhji’s cane comes with excellent provenance — by family tradition, it was gifted by Ranji to his former college servant at Cambridge who, in turn, gave it to William Albert Gedge, and it remained in the family by descent until sold at Christie’s South Kensington on May 26, 2000, to Blofeld. Ranjitsinhji’s cane is considered a wonderful example of the princely style that he adopted after he came to England to study at Cambridge. Light and perfectly weighted, the magical cane was a symbol of the power he might one day assume; it was an opulent fashion accessory for a man who batted in fluttering silk shirts and cared deeply about appearances; and above all it was something to swing joyfully like his very bat. Supremely style conscious, he also became the first undergraduate to drive a car through Cambridge.This lot comes with six framed photographs from Ranjitsinshji’s own collection at Jamnagar. These are: “K.S. Ranjitsinhji,” 1898; “K.S. Ranjitsinhji at Shillinglee Park by Vandyk,” London; “K.S. Ranjitsinhji, W.G. Grace and their teams at Shillinglee by Vandyk,” London; “W.G. and Ranji,” with the autograph of both sitters inset beneath; “Ranjitsinhji and shot Leopard,” the mount stamped ‘Nurmahomad Velji Kamadia, photographer, Pancheswar Chauk – Jamnagar;’ and “Ranji and Shooting Party with Leopard.” Another lot where he figures is #264, comprising two pictures of two legendary batsmen of the day in batting stance — W.G. Grace and Ranjitsinhji. This lot is estimated to fetch £1,400 – £1,800 ($1,810 - $2,327 or Rs 1.21 lakh - Rs 1.56 lakh). Both the full-length portraits were taken by E. Hawkins and Company, Brighton. The warm-toned silver print of W.G. Grace’s picture dates to 1896, while Ranjitsinhji’s picture in albumen print is inscribed 1890s. Ranjitsinhji learned to play cricket at the prestigious Rajkumar College, Rajkot, and he became the first Indian to earn a cricket blue, playing nine matches for Cambridge University in 1893. Ranji introduced the leg glance into cricket, and in partnership with C.B Fry dazzled as a batsman for Sussex, also proving a useful change-bowler and competent slip. Between 1895 and 1904, he was never outside the top five in the county averages, compiling a total of 14 double centuries. In 1896, he performed the unprecedented feat of scoring two centuries against Yorskshire on the same day. An unorthodox but graceful batsman, he scored the high total of 3,000 runs in 1899 and again in 1900. He scored 62 and 154 not out in his first Test, appeared in four Test series for England against Australia, and led a tour to North America in 1899. In 15 England-versus-Australia Test matches, he scored 985 runs. In 1907, when he became the Jam Sahib of the small Indian state of Nawanagar, his life took him back to India, away from the world of county and Test cricket. However, he excelled as the ruler of a princely state too.As a progressive ruler and a statesman, he set an example by the simplicity of his personal life. He modernized his capital of Jamnagar, developed the seaport of Nawanagar, and built roads, railways, and irrigation facilities. During World War I, he was a British army staff officer stationed in France, attaining the rank of colonel. In 1920, he represented the Indian states at the League of Nations Assembly, Geneva, and in 1932, he became the chancellor of the Indian Chamber of Princes. He was knighted in 1917, 1919, and 1923.
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Thota Vaikuntam Leads the Table at Saffronart’s Art & Collectibles Online Auction
In a pleasant surprise that will warm the hearts of all those who love Thota Vaikuntam’s figurative canvases, one of his works is leading the table at Saffronart’s upcoming Art and Collectibles Online Auction, to be held on July 27-28. His untitled acrylic-on-canvas, signed in Telugu and dated 02 (for 2002), is the most expensive lot on offer at $60,610 - $90,910 (about Rs 40 lakh - Rs 60 lakh). The canvas, like all signature Vaikuntam works, shows a man and three women (probably Krishna, Radha and gopikas) in rich, bold colors, alluding to the rich colors of life in the artist’s native state of Andhra Pradesh (now divided into two known as Andhra and Telangana). Based in the second IT capital of India Hyderabad, which is also doubling as the capital for the two new states, Vaikuntam has always been a charmer as far as his works are concerned.This writer has attended quite a few solo and group shows in New Delhi, featuring works by this unassuming artist, and he has always been a crowd favorite for the robust, richly-colored figures that he draws and paints. The fluidity of the figures that he draws show a hand absolutely at ease and in sync with his art. These figures are inspired by the common rural men and women that Vaikuntam has seen around him going about their chores since his childhood. The two next most expensive art works on offer are a canvas each by Bikash Bhattacharjee (1940-2006) and M.F. Husain (1913-2011). Both of these are estimated at $45,455 - $60,610 (about Rs 30 lakh - Rs 40 lakh). Bhattacharjee’s untitled oil-on-canvas, signed 1987, comes from a prominent New Delhi-based collection. It is a painting of a rural Bengal woman with her child, with quite a few temple bells in the background.Husain’s work, on the other hand, is an untitled acrylic-on-canvas, with a rare red-saffron-pink palette. It was last sold at another Saffronart auction in March 2010. The next most expensive art work is another Husain, an untitled acrylic-on-canvas, showing the Veena in landscape — it’s an important chief instrument of Hindustani classical music. Estimated at $42,425 - $48,485 (about Rs 28 lakh - Rs 32 lakh), it is a signature Husain work with the strokes on the Veena easily referencing the master’s style. The top five list is rounded off by two works by Sakti Burman and one by T.V. Santhosh. Lot #5 by Sakti Burman, is a still life with a typical European perspective, perhaps, an allusion to his life in France that he has lived for most of his career. In bright crimson background, it is in complete contrast to the other Burman work, lot #46, characterized by a pastel palette. It shows white flowers in a pond overlooked by a cluster of houses yonder. Santhosh’s oil-on-canvas too is his signature work — a neon palette with colors fusing into each other as if viewing a plasma image of his work. It shows a man holding a placard with a picture of a smiling child, and something in an unidentified script scribbled on the placard. Even though the top five lots on offer in this auction are art works, this auction is not just about art but also about sundry collectibles such as exclusive jewelry, furniture, and haute horlogerie, among others. Of special interest would be lot #71, “B.Zero1 18K Pink Gold and Steel Band by Anish Kapoor for Bvlgari.” It is estimated at $775 - $975 (about Rs 51,150 - Rs 64,350). For details on other lots, log on to www.saffronart.com.
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Bonhams Hong Kong Sale of Imperial Chinese Porcelain and Works of Art Posts Strong Revenue
The analysis of the results of Bonhams’ sale of Imperial Chinese Porcelain and Works of Art in Hong Kong last month is out. With 80 percent lots sold and a total of HK$50,818,500 (US$6,550,348) in sales, it has been a highly successful auction. Commenting on the sale results, Asaph Hyman, International Head, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Asia & Europe, said: “We are delighted with the results. They demonstrate the robustness of the market and its enthusiasm for the exceptional.”Xibo Wang, head of the department, added: “The sale was carefully curated to allow important buyers to focus on select groups of high-quality objects. The strong prices showed that rare pieces with impeccable provenance are still highly sought after by collectors worldwide.”The hottest-selling item was a pair of exceptionally rare Imperial doucai waterpots, bearing Yongzheng six-character marks and belonging to the period 1723-1735. It sold for HK$12,640,000 (US$1,629,272), against an estimate of HK$10,000,000-15,000,000 (US$1,288,969-1,933,471). It generated interest from the buyers present as well as those bidding over the phone. It’s the make as well as the provenance of the waterpots that give the pair its high value — it once belonged to the Jingguantang and Gerald M. Greenwald collection and has been exhibited on a number of occasions by the Min Chiu Society and in the Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong. There are only four other known examples in Imperial and private collections, including the Palace Museum, Beijing.Strong interest was generated for a unique example of a rare iron-red and gilt-decorated ‘dragon’ candlestick, bearing the Yongzheng seal mark, which had been with the same European family for about 115 years. The desire to acquire the candlestick was so high among the bidders — both physically present as well as over the phone — that the lot eventually sold at triple its estimate of HK$900,000-1,200,000 (US$116,007-154,676), selling to a collector present in the room for HK$3,040,000 (US$391,846). Another outstanding example of Qing dynasty Imperial porcelain that saw hot bidding was the exceptionally rare underglaze-blue and iron-red enameled vase, bearing the Qianlong seal mark and of the period 1736-1795, which sold for HK$5,620,000 (US$724,392), against an estimate of HK$4,500,000-6,000,000 (US$580,020-773,358). Previously in the well-known T.Y. Chao and Shimentang collection, the vase is one of only three recorded specimens. The archaistic inspiration as depicted on this vase is a manifestation of the Qianlong Emperor’s wish to ‘restore ancient ways,’ calling on craftsmen to draw inspiration from archaic examples and embrace the intrinsic values of sincerity, simplicity and exuberance.Other collectibles from the Qing Court, dating to the Kangxi reign (1662-1722) were also much in demand, including an impressively cast Imperial gilt-lacquered bronze figure of Amitayus and an Imperial gilt-bronze archaistic ritual bell, Bianzhong, bearing the Kangxi cast mark, and dating back to the 54th year corresponding to 1715. The devotional figure of Amitayus is engraved on the underside with the character ‘shi’ denoting the number ‘ten,’ and is believed to be a limited series of Imperial gilt-lacquered bronze figures of Amitayus commissioned by the Kangxi Emperor for his grandmother, the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuangwen (1613-1688). It was bought for HK$7,240,000 (US$933,184), surpassing its pre-auction estimate of HK$4,000,000-6,000,000 (US$515,572-773,358). The Imperial bell, which was originally part of a set of 16, sold for HK$2,440,000 (US$314,496), against its estimate of HK$2,200,000-2,800,000 (US$283,566-360,901).Other notable sales included a rare Imperial Ge-type vase, bearing the Qianlong seal mark and of the period, which sold for HK$4,240,000 (US$546,502), against an estimate of HK$3,500,000-5,000,000 (US$451,121-644,458); and a rare white jade archaistic tripod incense burner and cover, Qianlong period, which multiplied its estimate of HK$600,000–800,000 (US$77,334-103,113), selling for a remarkable HK$3,640,000 (US$469,165).
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Private World of Beatrix Potter at Sotheby’s London
British author Beatrix Potter’s personal memorabilia, including her illustrations, and photographs, are going under the hammer today at Sotheby’s London, in the auction titled “English Literature, History, Children’s Books and Illustrations.” A section of the humongous sale will include a collection of over 200 photographs providing a glimpse into the personal life of one of the world’s most loved children’s authors, Beatrix Potter (1866-1943).Spanning 40 years, from Potter’s childhood to middle age, the collection shows the author at leisure, charting her family life, friends, holidays in Scotland, and life in her beloved Lake District. In many of the photographs, the author is pictured alongside her family pets and various dogs and rabbits, including Benjamin Bunny himself. These photographs are in different groups. One group is a collection of 29 photographs that include early pictures of the author and family portraiture (1879-1884) and is estimated at £1,500-£2,000. The second group, consisting of 95 photographs or postcards showing houses, interiors, sceneries and landscape (1890-1913), is estimated at £800-£1,200. Yet another group is a collection of 39 photographs of livestock and other animals (1896-1931), estimated at £1,000-£1,500.Among the highlights are the author-illustrator’s personal copies of the most famous photograph ever taken of her, showing her standing in the doorway of her much-loved Lake District Home, Hill Top Farm. They come in an envelope addressed to her from the photographer, Charles King. This lot comprising 15 photographs, is estimated at £1,000-£1,500. Most of the photos, however, were taken by her father, Rupert Potter, a gifted amateur photographer who first took up photography in the early 1860s when it was still a relatively new art form. His images were the subject of a National Portrait Gallery exhibition in 2012. These images too are sectioned in various groups, such as early family portraiture (1875-1899), and later family portraiture (1900-1912). The former section features 11 photographs and is estimated at £1,500-£2,000. The group called later family portraiture consists of 14 photographs and is estimated at £1,200-£1,600. Rupert Potter was a great friend of the Pre-Raphaelite painter John Millais, and often helped him by photographing landscapes or people, such as William Gladstone, for his paintings and portraits. Millais is said to have inspired and encouraged Beatrix’s artistic talents when she was a child, and he features in many photos in this collection along with other leading figures and luminaries of the day including author William Gaskell, and the politician John Bright.The sale also features several other Beatrix Potter-related lots, including an unrecorded drawing “Kitten Warming her Paws by the Kitchen Fire” and a rare Christmas card “Mice in a Coconut.”Born in London, Potter loved to sketch animals and later invented stories about them. Potter first tasted success as an illustrator, selling some of her work to be used for greeting cards. One of her most famous works, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” started out as a story she wrote for the children of a former governess in a letter. Potter later transformed this letter into a book, which she published privately. In 1902, Frederick Warne & Co. published this story, which soon rose up the popularity charts, especially among the younger generation of readers. She went on to write more than 20 other books for young readers that included “The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin,” 1903 and “The Tale of Benjamin Bunny,” 1904, among others.
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Sotheby’s to Unveil David Bowie’s Personal Art Collection
Sotheby’s has announced David Bowie’s personal art collection will be unveiled for the first time in an exhibition at the auction house’s New Bond Street galleries in London from November 1-10. The landmark exhibition precedes the three-part “Bowie/Collector” sale of around 400 items from the private collection of David Bowie which will be held in London at Sotheby’s New Bond Street on November 10 and 11, 2016.A the heart of the sale is Bowie’s collection of more than 200 works of modern and contemporary British art, which includes works by the likes of Graham Sutherland, Henry Moore, Damien Hirst, Frank Auerbach. Simon Hucker, a senior specialist at Sotheby’s, said that Bowie always looked for artists with whom he felt a connection and for powerful and inspiring works. “This is what led him to British art of the early and mid-20th century in particular, which, of course, also led him home,” said Hucker.A spokesperson for the Estate of David Bowie said that the late musician’s art collection was compiled out of passion and fueled by personal interest. “He always sought and encouraged loans from the collection and enjoyed sharing the works in his custody,” the spokesperson said. “Though his family are keeping certain pieces of particular significance, it is now time to give others the opportunity to appreciate – and acquire – the art and objects he so admired.”Highlights of the collection include Frank Auerbach’s portrait of his cousin, titled “Head of Gerda Boehm” 1965 (est. £300,000-500,000), British artist Harold Gilman’s painting “Interior (Mrs Mounter)” 1917 (est. £150,000-250,000), Peter Lanyon’s Cornish landscape “Witness” 1961 (est. £250,000-350,000), Jean-Michel Basquiat’s “Air Power” 1984 (est. £2.5-3.5m), a Damien Hirst spin painting (est. £250,000-350,000), and Bowie’s Castiglioni brand record player (est. £800-1,200).
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Eric Shiner, Director of the Andy Warhol Museum, to Join Sotheby’s
Eric Shiner, director of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will join Sotheby’s this September, the auction house announced recently. Based in New York, Shiner will enter the Sotheby’s fine art division as a senior vice president focused on private sales of 20th- and 21st-century art. A scholar of contemporary Japanese art and a leading authority on Warhol, Shiner has served since 2011 as director of the Andy Warhol Museum, where he has spent a total of eight years. Notable highlights of his tenure there include playing a leading role in bringing together the largest traveling exhibiton of Andy Warhol’s work in Asia, titled “Andy Warhol: 15 Minutres Eternal,” and overseeing the museum’s current show, “Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei,” developed with the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.Shiner also acquired a key addition to the museum’s collection, the 1962 “Do It Yourself (Sailboats).” A seminal work and an important landmark in Warhol's career, the painting was a reaction against Abstract Expressionism, the most important style at the time, and anticipated the Pop style that would make Warhol immortal. Part of a five-part series, it was painted around the same time as the artist's now-famous Campbell’s soup cans. One work from the series is in a private collection, and the others are at various European institutions. “Do It Yourself (Sailboats)” was first shown at New York’s Stable Gallery. After other celebrated exhibitions in Boston and at Tate London, it became part of a major 1989 Warhol retrospective at MoMA . Shiner’s successes in Asia are closely tied to his strong relationshiops across the continent and his background in Asian art — Japanese contemporary art, in particular. He received a bachelor's degree in the history of art and architecture and Japanese language and literature from the University of Pittsburgh Honors College in 1994 and a master's degree in art history from Osaka University in 2001. He also holds a master's in art history from Yale.Commenting on his appointment, Shiner said: “I am thrilled to be joining the dynamic fine art team at Sotheby’s. I look forward to bringing my commitment to innovation,and deep knowledge of the contemporary art world to bear in helping to place extraordinary works of art in the best public and private collections in the world. I hope to further promote the legacy of Andy Warhol, the father of contemporary art, in the market and beyond, while also creating new legacies for those that follow him. Warhol constantly blurred the lines between art and business in all that he did, and I trust that my own commitment to excellence in both spheres will serve me well in this new role.”Amy Cappellazzo, chairman of the Sotheby’s fine art division, commented: “As demonstrated throughout his time as museum curator and director, Eric has an entrepreneurial spirit that is well-suited for a dynamic art business. As a respected scholar, his unique background at the nexus of Asian and contemporary art will lend itself well to his new position, in which he will work closely with collectors and focus on private sales of 20th- and 21st-century art.”Lisa Dennison, chairman of Sotheby’s Americas and former director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, said: “I am delighted to welcome another talented museum professional into our ranks. Throughout his time at the Andy Warhol Museum, as both a curator and director, Eric gained unparalleled knowledge of one of the most important American artists of the 20th century, whose work is perennially sought after on the market. His skills, relationships, expertise and drive all position him for success in today’s art market.”Prior to his stint as director of the Andy Warhol Museum, Shiner was interim director and Milton Fine Curator of Art. At the museum, Shiner organized the exhibition “Factory Direct: Pittsburgh,” showcasing the artwork of 14 established contemporary artists invited to conduct artist residencies in Pittsburgh-based factories. In addition, he led the Warhol team in creating the first retrospective of appropriation artist Deborah Kass, “Before and Happily Ever After.” In 2013, for the Armory Show, Shiner curated Armory Focus: USA, which presented a broad overview of the country’s contemporary cultural practice.
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Preview: Top 5 Lots in Sotheby’s Contemporary Living Auction in New York
An Andy Warhol “Mickey Mouse” print, from an edition of 200, is the most expensive lot on offer in Sotheby’s second annual Contemporary Living auction to be held in New York on July 28. Estimated at $100,000 to $150,000 and measuring 38 by 38 inches, the print bears the inkstamp of the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board Inc. and has A183.089 inscribed on the verso, on Lenox Museum Board. It is published by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, Inc., New York.The Warhol print is the only lot in the 250-lot sale pegged at more than $100,000. Most of the other items —paintings, prints, photographs, furniture, and home accessories — have been given far more affordable estimates, beginning at $500. The sale is devoted to pieces of 20th- and 21st -entury art and design, all of which can be viewed in an exhibition from July 23 through 28 at Sotheby's New York galleries. The vignettes composed of the art and design pieces on offer, to be featured in the exhibition and also appearing in the catalogue, were created by interior designer Fernando Santangelo, of the eponymous New York-based design firm. Hailing from Montevideo, Uruguay, Santangelo counts among his earliest design successes Château Marmont, in Los Angeles, for hotelier Andre Balazs. The sale's next highest estimate, $50,000 to $70,000, is for a detailed drawing by Christo, “Running Fence (Project for Sonoma County and Marin County, State of California).” Produced in 1974, the 22-by-28-inch work, composed of fabric, wood, graphite, colored pencil, staplesm and glue collage on board, comes in its original Plexiglas box.Next among the top five lot, with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000, is a circa 1970 sound sculpture by Harry Bertoia (1915-1978), the Italian-born American sculptor known for sound art and cutting-edge furniture designs. His “Sonambient” designs — environments created by sound sculptures — are each unique. Made of beryllium, copper, and brass, this one comes to the block from a private Los Angeles collection.Fourth in order of price after the Bertoia is Peter Beard’s chromogenic print “Mt. Kilimanjaro (Mountain of Slave Caravans) . . . Now Home of the Elephant Problem, Amboseli + Beyond,” estimated at $25,000 to $35,000. The 78-year-old New York- and Kenya-based artist assembled the print in its present format in 1998 — the black-and-white image, from 1988, has been extensively illustrated with paint and ink drawings. Standing in fifth place are nine lots estimated at $20,000 to $30,000: A 1953 terre de faïence pitcher with partial color glaze by Pablo Picasso titled “Femme du Barbu (Alain Ramié 193),” from an edition of 500 and bearing the stamps “Edition Picasso” and “Madoura” stamps; Joel Brodsky’s well-known Jim Morrison image, “American Poet;” five hand-colored and hand-embossed pochoirs by Tom Wesselmann, titled “Seascape Portfolio”; two chromogenic prints by Robert Polidori, “Cadre Vide, Château de Versailles” and “Cabinets des Beautées, Château de Versailles”; George Nakashima’s eight Conoid chairs, made of walnut and hickory, each with the name of the client to the underside; “The Green Princess - 6,” a water-based acrylic on canvas by American abstract painter, printmaker, and sculptor Jules Olitski; “VB39 US Navy Seals,” a digital chromogenic print by Vanessa Beecroft; and Bridget Riley’s “Untitled (Fragment 2) (Schubert 5B),” a screenprint on Plexiglas.Other high profile names represented in the auction unclude Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons, Barbara Hepworth, Takashi Murakami, Ed Ruscha, Helmut Newton, Robert Mapplethorpe, Joan Miró, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, Sigmar Polke, Robert Indiana, Annie Leibovitz, and Ormond Gigli.
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Irma Stern Masterpieces Lead Bonhams South African Sale
Two of South African artist Irma Stern’s most important paintings will lead the Bonhams South African Art sale in London on September 14.The artist’s “Zanzibar Arab,” 1945 and “Watusi Dancers,” 1942, both framed in her Zanzibar frames, will each be offered with estimates of £800,000-£1.2 million.“Watusi Dancers” captures the “elegance and grace” of the Tutsi people that Stern met in the Congo during her travels to Zanzibar and the region of the African Great Lakes in the mid-1940s. The 1945 painting “Zanzibar Arab” was also reproduced in the artist’s book “Zanzibar,” in which Stern showcased her best works from this tour, according to Bonhams.Giles Peppiatt, Bonhams Director of South African Art, said that Irma Stern was a prolific and respected painter in her lifetime.“Her work is now keenly sought after at auction,” said Peppiatt. “The paintings we are offering in September demonstrate the depth of her talent and the breadth of her boundless artistic curiosity.”Also included in the sale are Stern’s “Still Life with Red Flowering Gum” (est. £200,000-£300,000), “Congo Women” (est. £150,000-£200,000), and “Mediterranean Coastal Town” (est. £80,000-£120,000).The Bonhams South African Art sale will take place on September 14 in London.
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German Auction House Lempertz Announces Ellsworth Kelly Exhibition for Fall
German auction house Lempertz will show a selling exhibtion dedicated to Ellsworth Kelly in Berlin this fall. The private collection comprises 32 graphic works by the American artist, who died last year aged 92. Spanning works from 1964 to 2000, it includes Kelly’s abstract prints, lithographs, serigraphs, and etchings.Kelly is one of the most influential American abstract artists and protagonists of color field and hard-edge painting. His reduced geometrical style and bold use of color, important also for his graphic works, is seen by some as an innovative synthesis of European abstraction and shapes informed by everyday life. Kelly spent his formative years in Paris and studied at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts shortly after the Second World War. During his time in Paris, he met many influential artists including abstract sculptor Constantin Brancusi, whose notions of shape and form greatly influenced his own understanding and thinking. Jean Arp, Alexander Calder, and the art of Henri Matisse also gave important impulses to his work.Kelly is furthermore known for his experiments with sculptural painting and the three-dimensional presentation of canvases. From early on he also produced drawings, while the lithographs and prints became increasingly important from the late 1980s on. The show includes his key formal motifs, from curves to fields to color contrasts.“Ellsworth Kelly” will be on view from September 9 through 30, 2016 at Lempertz Berlin, Poststraße 22 - 10178 Berlin-Mitte. The Brussels show dates were June 23 through July 20.
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Leslie Waddington's Private Collection to go to Christie's this Fall
Christie’s announced today that the private collection of the late art dealer Leslie Waddington will go to auction this fall. Waddington, who passed away last November at age 81, was one of the most important art dealers in the world. He opened his first gallery on Cork Street in London in 1966, and by the time it closed last year, it had become one of the city’s most noteworthy art world establishments. He helped launch the careers of artists Patrick Caulfield, Terry Frost, Peter Blake, and Patrick Heron, sold works by Morandi, Baselitz, Matisse, and Picasso, and was instrumental in bringing Color Field painters and other post-war artists to the UK. He was also, as it turns out, one of the world’s greatest collectors too. His collection contains more than 200 works of art from 23 major artists, including Josef Albers, Alexander Calder, Milton Avery, Agnes Martin, Francis Picabia, and Jean Dubuffet. All in all, it’s estimated to be worth over $26 million. The biggest work included in the sale is Jean Dubuffet’s painting, “Visiteur au chapeau bleu avril 1955,” estimated to be worth three to four million dollars. Other high-profile artworks available in the sale are Picabia’s 1923 painting “Lampe,” Martin’s 1985 work “Praise,” and a 1958 mobile by Alexander Calder titled “Le serpent rouge (The Red Snake).” The auction is set to take place Tuesday, October 4 at Christie’s London, the night before the Frieze week officially begins. This is particularly appropriate given that Waddington’s gallery was one of the first to participate in the fair in 2003. Prior to the auction, portions of the collection will be on view at Rockerfeller Center in New York mid-September, and then at Christie’s King Street from September 24 to October 4.
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Christie’s Sees Sales Volume Dip From Last Year
Hurt by a drop in high-priced offerings, Christie’s auction and private sales volume for the first six months of 2016 was just £2.1 billion ($3 billion), down 29 percent in pound sterling terms from last year, when the house made £2.9 billion ($4.5 billion) in the same period.Of the total for this year, auction sales accounted for £1.7 billion ($2.5 billion), while private sales accounted for £322.1 million ($463.9 million); the corresponding 2015 numbers were £2.6 billion ($4 billion) £333 million ($515 million). E-commerce (online auctions) contributed a relatively puny £19.4 million ($28 million).The dip in big-ticket items is evidenced by the fact that only 29 lots sold for more than £5 million in the first half of 2016, compared with 47 for the same period in 2015. Among 2016’s top lots, the Oppenheimer Blue diamond fetched CHF56,837,000 ($58,002,681) in May in Geneva, a record for a jewel at auction; Jean-Michel Basquiat’s 1982 mural-size painting “Untitled” fetched a record $57,285,000 in New York that same month; a large and rare blue-and-white 15th-century Chinese “Dragon” jar sold for HK$158,040,000 ($20.4 million) in Hong Kong, again in May; and Henry Moore’s grand 1951 bronze “Reclining Figure: Festival” brought a record £24,722,500 ($33.1 million) in London in June.And it wasn’t just £20 million offerings that saw a fall off. During the first half of 2016, the number of lots overall fell 19 percent, to 34,000 from 42,000 for the same period in 2015.The freshly released figures are most similar to those of 2011. That was the first time the house’s half-year sales hit the £2 billion mark, starting an upward trend that peaked in the first half of 2015. That high-water mark was reached thanks to numbers like the $179,365,000 brought by Picasso’s 1955 “Les femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’),” a record for any work of art at auction, in Christie’s curated “Looking Forward to the Past” evening sale, which took in $705.8 million.“I think there are no surprises,” Jussi Pylkkanen, Christie’s global president and star auctioneer, said during a phone interview on Tuesday. “Volumes are down, year on year, and obviously it’s a very significant reduction in just the amount of artworks that were being traded.” Pylkkanen put part of the blame for the decrease on external forces, such as the steep drop in oil prices at the beginning of 2016 and shaky financial markets. He also cited worries about the Brexit vote. That “little bit of trepidation” he noted, “fed its way through our sales in May and June, and that reticence was really what has brought us softer figures than this time last year.”On the plus side, he noted that June’s 10 percent drop in the pound sterling versus the dollar and other currencies was “very good for a non-UK buyer buying in England. The summer season was very good for them.” Pylkkanen was also upbeat about the October opening of the firm’s Beijing facility, observing that Asian buying now accounts for almost a third of Christie’s sales volume.His big-picture takeaway: “There’s a massive appetite to buy, and there’s a bigger buyer base than there’s ever been in my 30-year tenure here, yet the pipeline [for property] that we have is not as strong as it was in previous years. Demand is outstripping supply. At the moment, there’s a reticence from clients to offer works of art.”The question is, When, if ever, will consigners lose that reticence?Sotheby’s (publicly traded under the ticker symbol BID on the New York Stock Exchange) will release its official first-half figures and full income numbers in August. However, the house gave Blouinartinfo a brief preview of the highlights:Aggregate first-half 2016 auction sales (private sales numbers won’t be released until next month) totaled $2.4 billion, 23 percent below the $3.1 billion earned in the same period last year. Among the top earners were a vivid, supremely rare 15.38-carat pink diamond that brought $31.6 million in New York in May; Pablo Picasso's spectacular 1909 Cubist portrait “Femme assise” and Amedeo Modigliani’s beautiful 1919 portrait “Jeanne Hébuterne (au foulard),” which fetched £43.2 million ($63.6 million) and £38.5 million ($56.6 million, respectively, in the house’s stand-out June Impressionist & Modern London evening sale; Zhang Daqian’s superb 1982 landscape painting “Peach Blossom Spring,” which sold for $34.9 million in Hong Kong in April; and Cy Twombly’s 1968 graffiti-emblazoned painting “Untitled (New York City),” which went for $36.6 million in last May’s contemporary evening art sale.
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Sotheby’s Asia First Half Sales up by 22% Over Last Year
Defying markets and beating expectations, Sotheby’s Asia has posted a 22 percent increase in its revenue in the first half of 2016 over the same period last year. In the first six months of this year, Sotheby’s sales in Asia achieved HK$3.6 billion (US$461.5 million), a season high total among international auction houses in the region. This also translates into a 145 percent rise over the total pre-sale low estimate. More than 80 percent of lots sold attained prices at or above their mid-estimate.The highlight of these figures were three works of art that sold for more than HK$100 million (about US$12.89 million), and the setting of 16 world auction records. The record breaker was “Peach Blossom Spring,” a master work from the later period of one of the most well-known Chinese artists of the 20th century, Zhang Daqian (1899-1983). The work sold for HK$270.68 million (US$34.9 million), the highest paid for any work of art at Sotheby’s Hong Kong this season.Commenting on the revenue figures released recently, Kevin Ching, Chief Executive Officer of Sotheby’s Asia, said: “We are delighted by the exceptional half year results that reached 22 percent over last year. After more than four decades in Asia, Sotheby’s maintains an unrivaled ability to source the finest and rarest objects from notable collections around the world — a critical element to our success. Longstanding relationships with seasoned collectors worldwide led to a number of important consignments — from the Pilkington Collection of Chinese ceramics, to Zhang Daqian’s “Peach Blossom Spring,” to the Mi Yun Hall Collection of Classical Chinese Paintings — that drove remarkable results across collecting categories. We are further encouraged by the growing presence of Asian collectors in our worldwide salerooms, where they are pushing the market forward — evidenced by their active participation in recent major sales of Contemporary Art in New York and London, among so many others.” An important highlight of the sales analysis is the fact that the Asia auctions by Sotheby’s drew global attention. Collectors from 65 countries participated in Hong Kong sales and as many as 23 percent of buyers were new to Sotheby’s. Some interesting trends about Asian collectors too emerged in the first half of 2016. For instance, Asia-based clients not only competed for Asian works of art but global works as well. While the total number of Asian clients buying Western art at Sotheby’s grew by 12 percent, Asia-based clients competed at the top end of the art market globally — among the top 20 lots auctioned by Sotheby’s worldwide, eight were bought by buyers from Asia. For instance, at the Sotheby’s London Contemporary Evening Sale in June, four out of the top 10 lots were bought by Asian buyers, including the top lot, Jenny Saville’s “Shift,” which was purchased by Shanghai’s Long Museum for a record £6.8 million. Even at New York’s May Evening Sale of Contemporary Art, Christopher Wool’s “Untitled” sold for US$13.9 million to Japanese collector, Yusaku Maezawa. In a Hong Kong auction, a complete set of 24 Picasso silver plates was also bought by a Japanese collector for a strong price of HK$19.88 million (US$2.5 million).
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On the Anniversary of the First Moon Walk, Bonhams Offers Space History Memorabilia
When the USSR sent the earth’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space on October 4, 1957, it launched not only a new era in space exploration but also the Sputnik Crisis in the U.S., which sparked a Space Race between the two powers that went on through the end of the Cold War. Space memorabilia from this period, which was marked by rapid advances in space science, is on offer in Bonhams’s auction “Space History” auction, which will take place today in New York. It’s no coincidence that Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin first walked the moon on this very day in 1969.The auction contains 289 lots, including materials that were used in training the astronauts or that traveled on the satellites into outer space, lab models, and signed photographs, letters, and lab documents. The most expensive lot is an original Gemini 133P Control Trainer, estimated at $60,000 to $90,000. Project Gemini was NASA’s second human spaceflight program, lasting from 1961 through 1966. It sent 10 spacecraft with two-person crews on manned low-earth-orbit missions between 1965 and 1966 with aim of developing space travel techniques to support Apollo's mission to land astronauts on the moon. The trainer on offer, consisting of five massive panels that duplicate those found inside the Gemini spacecraft, was used to train astronauts at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas. The next priciest offering — estimated a $50,000 to $70,000 — is Michael Collins’s Apollo 11 emblem, signed by the entire crew: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin. Measuring 3.5 inches in diameter and printed on a 6-inch square piece of cloth, the beta cloth emblem is one of the very few flown mission artifacts signed by Neil Armstrong. Flown to the moon in 1969 as part of Collins’s personal kit, it comes with a certificate stating that the signatures dates to 1969; the inscription on top — “Carried to the Moon aboard Apollo XI July 1969” — was added by him on November 1, 2004.Two pieces of Soyuz series memorabilia share third place, each estimated at $30,000 to $40,000. The Soyuz spacecraft were designed by the Korolyov Design Bureau in the 1960s as part of the Soviet Manned Lunar program. One of the two lots, the flown Soyuz-3 space navigation indicator, was originally in the collection of cosmonaut Gregory T. Beregovoy and was first sold in Sotheby’s “Russian Space History” auction in 1996. Beregovoy removed it from the Soyuz-3 spacecraft after his day-long flight in which he attempted several times to dock with the orbiting Soyuz-2 but failed. The navigation indicator showed the spacecraft’s position relative to the earth’s coordinates. The second lot is the navigational celestial globe that was used by cosmonaut Pyotr Ilyich Klimuk on Soyuz 18, which remained in space for 63 days, from May 24 through July 26, 1975. The second space mission for both Commander Klimuk and flight engineer Visaly Sevastyanov, it set a Soviet space endurance record at the time. Cosmonauts used navigational celestial globes to complement their ground-based navigation systems, adjusting the constellations on the globe to match the stars they could see to determine their position. Instruments such as this were much more dependable than any computer systems, which were susceptible to system failure.Fourth place is also shared, by a flown spacesuit from ISS Expedition 6 and a flown Apollo 11 navigational chart taken to the lunar surface, both estimated at $25,000 to $35,000. The space suit was worn by flight engineer Don Pettit on his dramatic return to earth aboard the Soyuz TMA-1 after NASA grounded the Space Shuttle program following the Columbia crash of February 1, 2003. Petti, a staff scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory before being selected by NASA, logged more than 370 days in space: He lived aboard the ISS (International Space Station) for five and a half months during Expedition 6 and for six and a half months as part of the Expedition 30/31 crew and was one of the first Americans to return to earth aboard the Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft. Pettit, along with commander Ken Bowersox and flight engineer Nikolai Budarin, crash landed in Kazakhstan in a malfunction-caused ballistic entry that resulted in the crew being lost for hours before being found by ground rescue teams. The second lot, the navigational chart, which mapped the start of the first manned lunar descent, is signed by Buzz Aldrin and bears the legend “Carried in Eagle to the Lunar Surface on Apollo 11.” It comes with a typed letter signed by Aldrin and has been in his private collection since his return from the moon in July 1969.
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Sotheby’s Highlights Ming Ma’s Unique Illustrations in HK Selling Exhibition
Sotheby’s is presenting a selling exhibition of uniquely creative works by Hong Kong artist Ming Ma from August 25 until September 2. Entitled “Ming Ma: The Artist Upstairs,” the exhibition will spotlight the artist’s portraits and illustrations, including those created in collaboration with filmmaker Yon Fan.Despite working with various mediums, Ming Ma is famous for his abstract and unusual portraits, to which he adds his own personality and imagination to depict our ever-changing society. In addition to these, this showcase will also highlight his rare and unconventional combination of oil and paper as the core material, which follows his earlier works as well as his more recent pen on paper pieces. Ming Ma’s recent portraits feature darker hues of primary colors, which Jasmine Yan, Gallery Director at Sotheby’s HK, believes will bring “a sense of solitude to the viewer.” In a statement, she invited audiences to “experience the artist’s emotions and imagination towards his subjects, scenes, or moments in time.”The auction house will also present a series of illustrations by Ming Ma, which they claim resulted from one of the greatest collaborations in the creative realm. Ming Ma was a long-time illustrator for renowned filmmaker Yon Fan and his magazine column “The Artist Upstairs.” He illustrated nearly all of these publications, which include “Romantica” and earlier works.These illustrations, on show at Sotheby’s, will include Yon Fan’s poetic inscriptions, underlining a dialogue between the two creatives and providing each work with a specific backdrop. “Ming Ma: The Artist Upstairs” runs from August 25 through September 2 at Sotheby's Hong Kong.
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K-Pop Icon T.O.P to Curate Sotheby’s Hong Kong Evening Sale
K-pop rapper, singer, and actor T.O.P will curate the upcoming Sotheby’s Hong Kong evening Contemporary Art Autumn Sale on October 3.Choi Seung Hyun, who goes by the stage name T.O.P, is a South Korean pop star and part of Asia’s most popular boy band, BIGBANG. The group will return to Macau for another big performance in September this year.Entitled #TTTOP, the Sotheby's sale alludes to the more than five million followers on the music icon’s Instagram account, where he is known to document his latest art crushes. Though an unusual collaboration at first glance, Sotheby’s reveals the singer’s passion for art collecting and designer furniture. According to Korea Joongang Daily, bitten by the collecting bug quite early, T.O.P has been amassing an art collection for more than four years, now totaling over 80 works. Moreover, the singer is an active contributor to the art world. In 2015, he donated parts of his designer chair collection for Haegue Yang’s exhibition at the Samsung Museum of Art in Hannam-dong in Seoul. In that same year, he co-curated the contemporary Asian art exhibition “The Eye Zone” at Singapore's ArtScience Museum, and he was also the recipient of the Visual Culture Award by Prudential Eye Awards.Little has been revealed about the works on sale in the upcoming auction, but Sotheby’s has released a teaser video until further information is released next month. The auction house has specified that a portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Asian Cultural Council to facilitate cultural exchanges and promote young talent in Asia and the United States.According to Sotheby’s, T.O.P has an undeniable influence on the younger generation in Asia with his passion for art, design, and music. As mentioned in a press release, “T.O.P’s stellar showbiz presence is matched by his influence as a passionate young art collector in Asia. His interest in designer furniture and contemporary art stems from a deep-rooted appreciation of artists across disciplines.”What remains to be seen is whether the auction house’s tactic to lure younger crowds will help achieve successful sales, going beyond their lower estimate prices.The Sotheby's Contemporary Art Autumn Sale will take place on October 3 at Sotheby's Hong Kong.
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Datebook: Christie’s Celebrates 250th Anniversary With 'Out of the Ordinary' Sale in London
“Out of the Ordinary — The 250th Anniversary Edition” will be hosted on September 14 at Christie’s London. This annual auction celebrates the "unusual and the unique, the extraordinary and the exceptional." The upcoming edition will feature more than 90 items, which have been selected due to their intriguing and unique stories. Each item up for sale can be viewed by the public during the five-week summer exhibition, starting August 6 and running up to the day of the auction. The highlight of the sale is a diverse collection of memorabilia belonging to the Jersey-based collector David Gainsborough Roberts. According to a press release, "his vast array of items include personal possessions of many celebrated and renowned names of the 19th and 20th centuries such as Queen Victoria, Sir Winston Churchill and Lawrence of Arabia." A selection of Olympic souvenirs will also be up for sale.Founded in 1766, Christie's celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2016.Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek of the auction.
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