This month marks the 150th anniversary of the Vienna World’s Fair, an event that put Vienna on the world map as a global metropolis city. In May 1873, the Vienna World’s Fair opened and the foundations put in place for the event continue to benefit the city even now. A boom in new hotels, cafes and restaurants in 1873 started city tourism as we know it, and included some of Vienna’s most iconic hotels and...
Experts believe they have found Rembrandt’s fingerprints while examining and restoring a rare oil sketch by the Dutch master. The prints, which were pressed into wet paint, are impressions of the artist’s thumb. They were found hidden underneath overpaint and darkened varnish layers. Study of a Head of a Young Man (c.1650), the painting in question, will be the highlight of the upcoming Old Masters Evening Sale held by Sotheby’s on 5 December. The 17th-century...
On 27 February 2019, Christie’s auction house will offer Le Lieu Commun (1964), one of the iconic ‘bowler hat’ Magritte masterpieces. Leading The Art of the Surreal sale, the painting is estimated to fetch between £15-25 million and is expected to set a new world auction record for the artist. This is the first time the work of art—which is considered to be one of the finest and largest examples of René Magritte’s bowler hat...
The Moon of Baroda diamond—famously worn by Maharajas and Marilyn Monroe—will be auctioned by Christie’s on 27 November. In 1953 it was donned by Monroe when she sang the iconic song, Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend whilst promoting the Howard Hawks film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). Iconic Hollywood royalty, Marilyn Monroe reportedly exclaimed: ‘It’s gorgeous!’ upon setting eyes on the stone—it was the largest diamond she ever wore in her lifetime. A rich history...
Sotheby’s sold a rare Iznik charger (c.1480) for £5.35 million, breaking a record for a piece of Iznik pottery and establishing one of the highest prices for an Islamic work of art. The charger, one of the most important pieces of Ottoman Iznik pottery remaining in private hands, was offered as part of Sotheby’s Arts of the Islamic World auction in London. Originally estimated to fetch between £300,000-500,000, the exceptional piece drew in considerable interest...
Anonymous street artist Banksy released a video on his official website showing a ‘practice run’ shredding of his famous million-pound Girl With Balloon (2006). Shred the Love (the director’s cut), which was posted on Tuesday 17 October, implies the stunt pulled at the Sotheby’s auction should have ended with the artwork being completely destroyed. In the video, Banksy himself is shown constructing the shredding mechanism. The clip also features recordings from the auction itself—including clips...
An eye for quality and patience are crucial for high net worth individuals looking to start investing in art. Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev thought he grossly overpaid when he purchased Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi (c.1490) from Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier for $127.5 million in 2013—Bouvier reportedly ‘only’ paid around $75 million for it. However, at one of the most publicised auctions to date, da Vinci’s masterpiece fetched in excess of $450 million at...
Flawless interior design, quality materials and generous amenities are just some of the elements that can provide value and significance to your luxury property. The luxury housing market is governed by its own rules where lavish properties attract a specific clientele with very particular tastes. With this crowd, no expense is spared in the quest to achieve the perfect home. The amenities and interior features that bring the most value to affluent homeowners tend to...
A one-of-a-kind gold Ferrari will be offered at a special Sotheby’s auction in October. The car—which is currently estimated to fetch £350,000-400,000—will be offered as a highlight of The Midas Touch, Sotheby’s first-ever auction completely dedicated to gold. Fully restored, the 1977 Ferrari 512 BB is only one of four Ferrari 512 BBs to be painted this shade of gold. The rare vehicle is also the only one to leave the production line with its...
Anonymous street artist and political activist Banksy strikes again. One of his most recognisable paintings, Girl With Balloon (2006), self-destructed immediately after it went under the hammer for an astounding £1.04 million. The artwork was initially estimated to fetch £200,000-300,000. The stunt left auctioneers attending Sotheby’s London’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction on 5 October 2018 completely speechless. It is still unclear what the ramifications are for the art world, the auction house and the buyer,...
