The Pearl Carpet of Baroda sold at Sotheby’s for over $5 million
Posted on Mar 24 - Filed Under Antiquities | View Comments
Sotheby’s recently sold one of the most exquisite carpets for $5,458,500 in Doha on March 19. As the catalog note says: “The Pearl Carpet of Baroda is an extraordinary work of art that is a true testament to the wealth, sophistication, and grandeur of the legendary courts of the maharajas as well as an extant example of the fabled riches of India.”
Hold your breath: This legendary carpet is made of approximately 1.2-1.5 million pearls and around 2,500 table cut and occasional rose cut diamonds. The total estimated weight of the pearls is 30,000 carats and the diamonds are estimated to be 350-400 carats in total, all set in silver topped gold or possibly blackened gold.
Below are a few pictures. For high resolution, zoomable view please visit the image viewer on Sotheby’s website
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Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé collection breaks records at Christie’s
Posted on Feb 27 - Filed Under Antiquities, Arts | View Comments
One of the most anticipated art sale events this year so far was the week long viewing exhibition and auction of the collection of Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé. This stunning collection of antiquities, modern and decorative arts, interior designs, sculptures and everything in between and beyond was collected by the two men during a period of 50 years and now auctioned off by Christie’s and Pierre Bergé Associates in Paris. This Legendary Collection – as Pierre Bergé said – is a piece of art itself. Yves Saint Laurent noted – “Pierre Bergé and I wished for our selection to reflect our favourite pieces and for it to evolve with them, quality being the only criterion to guide us.”
The auction raised a total of €373,935,500 ($483,835,144), which is the world record sum for a private collection sold at auction. The nearly half a billion dollars will benefit the Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent Foundation and a new foundation with the purpose of supporting scientific research and the fight against AIDS. Many blogs and news outlets covered the record breaking sales and some of the controversies, so we decided to include some of the lots with million-dollar hammer prices, categorized according to Christie’s lots.
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Masterpieces Of Himalayan Bronzes
Posted on Jan 4 - Filed Under Antiquities | View Comments
Below are two important gilt bronze figures – statues of Avalokiteshvara and Buddha, respectively – which were sold at Christie’s “Masterpieces Of Himalayan Bronzes” auction event.
Large gilt bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara (sold for $1,538,500)
French and Chinese Antiquity Sales
Posted on Dec 30 - Filed Under Antiquities | View Comments
An ormolu-mounted and brass-inlaid commode by Charles Cressent was sold at Christie’s auction in Paris on Dec 16 for €994,600 ($1,363,334). The commode is dated circa 1730.
Asian Art Auction Week is Coming to New York
Posted on Sep 1 - Filed Under Antiquities, Arts, Miscellaneous | View Comments
Christie’s will be holding an Asian Art Week event in New York from September 15 through 18.
The following collections will go on the block:
- Masterpieces of Himalayan Bronzes
- Masterpieces from the Zimmerman Family Collection
- Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the J&J Collection – Part 5
- Masterworks of Ancient and Imperial China
- Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
- Japanese and Korean Art
Many items are expected to sell in the million dollar price range and we will be covering the event as it unfolds during the week.
“Apple Blossom” table lamp by Tiffany Studios ($932,500)
Posted on Jun 15 - Filed Under Antiquities | View Comments
The table lamp by Tiffany Studios which is believed to have been designed by Clara Driscoll was bought yesterday for $932,500 (over 3 times the pre-auction estimates). It was sold as part of Sotheby’s “Important 20th Century Design” auction in New York.
Another Tiffany Studios lamp, the “Wisteria” pictured below, demanded high hammer price as well. It was sold for $602,500
About Tiffany Studios:
Louis Comfort Tiffany (February 18, 1848 – January 17, 1933) was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass and is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements. Tiffany was affiliated with a prestigious collaborative of designers known as the Associated Artists which included Lockwood de Forest, Candace Wheeler, and Samuel Colman. Tiffany designed stained glass windows and lamps, glass mosaics, blown glass, ceramics, jewelry, enamels and metalwork. More about Tiffany Studios at Wikipedia
Final Day at Sotheby’s Russian Arts event
Posted on Jun 12 - Filed Under Antiquities | View Comments
The closing day at Sotheby’s Russian Art auction series in London yielded the following million dollar sales:
A FABERGÉ JEWELLED VARI-COLOURED GOLD AND GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL CARNET, WORKMASTER MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST. PETERSBURG, 1899-1903 – Sold for 541,250 GBP (~$1,052,352)
Bronze Sculpture of Angaja ($1,123,385)
Posted on Jun 11 - Filed Under Antiquities | View Comments
The 51 centimeter high bronze sculpture was bought today for €720,500 (~$1,123,385)
From the lot’s note:
“The Sanskrit meaning of arhat is ‘he who is worthy’. They are considered as free, happy, wise and good company for human beings. They are perfect saints and have reached the eight-fold path and can bestow perfection on others. Actually the arhat state foregoes the bodhisattva-hood in order to show others the way. They were disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni during his lifetime and became patriarchs after his passing away, were entrusted to guard his teachings in times of social decay, religious decline and to spread his teachings abroad.”
Ptolemaic Period Basalt Bust sold way above pre-acution price ($1,082,500)
Posted on Jun 6 - Filed Under Antiquities | View Comments
This 305-30 B.C (ptolemaic period) basalt bust of a queen or goddess had a pre-auction estimate of $40,000-$60,000 and was sold yesterday in New York way over that range. The hammer price with buyer’s premium was $1,082,500
From the lot’s description:
“Wearing a pleated and fringed garment leaving her right shoulder bare, long tripartite wig of echeloned triangular curls falling to the top of the rectangular back pillar, and fragmentary uraeus, a hole on top of the head for insertion of the missing crown, her idealized youthful face with recessed almond-shaped eyes and long cosmetic lines.”
Read more on Sotheby’s lot details page
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