Auction News Network

Sotheby’s ‘Classic Cellar’ Series In Hong Kong

Since March 2009, Sotheby’s has held seven sessions of its Classic Cellar of a Great American Collector series, raising $39.1m along the way. The eighth segment will happen in Hong Kong on October 1 with an offering that Sotheby’s is calling “the greatest single-owner wine collection” in its history. Highlights include three Imperials of Chateau Lafite 2000 (est. $15,000-20,000), eight cases of Chateau Petrus 1995 (est. $16,000-20,000 each), and two Imperials of Chateau Cheval Blanc 1990 (est. $8,000-11,000).

BMW Museum Sale

In the late 1930’s, BMW’s 328 Roadster dominated the field, winning its class at the Mille Miglia and Le Mans. With its stiff yet lightweight frame and soft springing, it’s been called the first truly modern sports car. The ex Gilbert ‘Gillie’ Tyrer 1937 Franzer-Nash 328 example that Bonhams will offer at its “Power By BMW” sale in Munich on October 1^st has been thoroughly restored, and comes with extensive correspondence documenting its racing history, and assorted period photographs. It’s estimated at $705,000-862,000.

Allan Stone Collection At Sotheby’s

Lawyer turned art dealer Allan Stone (1932-2006) was as well known for his passionate collecting as his gallery. He was drawn to a vast range of material, from primative, folk, and “junk” art, to Bugatti automobiles and the works of Wayne Thibaud and Willem de Kooning. When Sotheby’s sold the bulk of Stone’s collection last spring in a two-part sale, it realized $54.8m. On September 23 in New York, the auction house will offer the third and last part. Wayne Thibaud’s “Standing Man,” estimated at $1.2-1.8m, is likely to be the event’s top seller.

Christie’s Enigma

During World War II, the Germans believed they had an unbeatable ciphering device in the Enigma machine. They were wrong: A British team of cryptologists, linguists, scientists and data analysts were able to break it, turning the war’s tide and very likely shortening it. Christie’s will sell one of these three-rotor Enigmas that was used by the Germans on September 29^th in London, where it’s expected to bring $47,130-78,550.

Update: The Enigma machine soared to $208,000, almost three times its high estimate.

Bulgari Blue Diamond Glitters At Bonhams

Every so often, in roughly one of every 10,000 diamonds mined, a diamond appears whose carbon atoms interact with its other trace elements to produce a different colored gem. The rarest are blue, and of these, the most coveted of all are designated “fancy vivid blue.” Around 1960, Bulgari combined one such stone weighing 3.72 carats with another 3.93ct pear shaped diamond to fashion a remarkable “crossover” ring. On Wednesday, when Bonhams offers the ring for the first time in London, it’s expected to fetch $942,000-$1.26m.

Update: The blue diamond ring sold for $2.96m, more than double its high estimate.

1909 Korean Gold Won Tops Sale

Heritage came out with final figures for its Long Beach coin auctions, reporting a record take of $34 million. Ancient Roman and turn of the century Korean money stole the show. The legendary Yung Hi Gold 20 Won Year 3 (1909) went for $632,500. A silver, dime-sized coin celebrating the assassination of Julius Caesar knocked down $546,250.

Solid Asia Week For Christie’s

Christie’s was hoping to snare upwards of $50m at its series of Asia sales this week in New York. The auction house did considerably better than that, pulling in almost $76m during its three days of events at which it offered thousands of art objects, including jade, museum quality furniture, rare ceramics and porcelain. Among the highs was the sale of a rare 18^th century blue and white Ming-style moonflask, for which a buyer paid $2.7m, almost four times its high estimate.

High-End Real Estate Roundup

A renovated 1920’s Connecticut mansion, another Connecticut estate with its own trout stream and 10,000sf “Fieldhouse,” and a Sea Island waterfront retreat are all heading toward the block in coming weeks. Read more in our high-end real estate roundup.

Rare Colt Targets $900,000

Few examples of the Texas Paterson Colt revolvers were produced. Some have vanished as a result of “hard use,” Most of the remaining guns are in museum collections, including those of New York’s Metropolitan Museum, The New-Work Historical Society, the Smithsonian, and the Autry, among others. The example that Heritage will be offering on September 18 in Dallas features a rare configuration, with roundback cylinder, six silver band inlays, and a scalloped German silver escutcheon inlay on the case lid. It’s estimated at $700,000-$900,000.

Update: the Texas Paterson revolver sold for $977,500, exceeding estimates.

Antiquorum Ticks to $2.8m Result

If current economic instability has affected watch collectors, there was no sign of it yesterday in New York, where a mix of buyers from Asia, Europe, Russia, and U.S. powered Antiquorum to a $2,792,050 result. After a lively competition between room, phone and Internet bidders, a 1980  “third series” Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 in gold emerged as the auction’s top seller at $374,500.

Will Capt. Kidd Hijack Swann Sale?

Swann Galleries open a series of auctions tomorrow featuring one of the most eclectic—and extraordinary–collections of historical ephemera ranging from King Charles II’s signed authorization to take over New York from the Dutch (1674), to the trial announcement of William Capt. Kidd, executed for “Murther and Piracy.” UPDATE: The Charles II document sold for $120,000. The Capt. Kidd trial “tryal” report went  for $7,200.

Francis Ford Coppola’s Best…Wine

Inglenook wine, said California wine expert James Laube, “is to Napa what Margaux is to Bordeaux—one of the crown jewels.”  Some of those jewels will be on display at Christie’s on September 24^th , when a selection from the private cellar of new Inglenook owner Francis Ford Coppola will be offered. The standout at the New York sale with be a rare two-bottle lot of what Laube calls “among the greatest red wines ever made:” 1941 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s estimated at $8,000-$12,000.

Update: The sale brought in $1,888,000. A case of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 was the top lot at $50,000.

29-Cent Stamps Worth A Fortune

Sometimes the Postal Service can be as unpredictable as the stock market. In 1992, the Post Office came out with a stamp to commemorate the Stock Exchange’s Bicentennial, but 56 were misprinted and the buildings in the center were upside down. A single today is listed at $76,000. At its September 13 sale in New York, Cherrystone’s is selling a rare block of four.

James Dean Letters At Christie’s

For two years, Barbara Glenn was actor James Dean’s on-again, off-again girlfriend. They corresponded through the period of his early success, writing about their volatile relationship as well as his blossoming career, and emotional ups and downs. Never before offered for sale, the handwritten letters will be sold at Christie’s on November 23 as part of their Popular Culture auction in London.

Auction Houses Target Asian Buyers

As with wine and art, much of the activity in the auction watch market has shifted to Hong Kong. Early next month, Sotheby’s will kick off its autumn season of sales with what it promises will be its largest selection of timepieces ever offered in that city. More than 470 lots worth some $13m will be available at the October 6^th sale. The highlight: a 1951 Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph in pink gold that estimated at $410,000 to $610,000.