It’s not often one sees a drunken courtesan portrayed in a classic Indian painting but that’s what Bonhams is selling as a 17th Century illustration to the Sanskrit love poetry of the ‘third’ Rasamanjari of Bhanu Dutta. The courtesan with crossed eyes reportedly is so upset about her lover’s absence “that she spends the day intoxicated to numb the pain.”The painting, a watercolor on paper with gold, silver and beetle wing cases, is considered important for establishing a model and inspiration to future Indian artists. High estimate is $80,000. It will be auctioned as part of Bonhams Indian, Himalayan, and South East Asian Art sale on Sept.11.
Inebriated Courtesan Illustrates Sanskrit Poetry
August 20, 2012
“Paul Newman” Rolex May Fetch Half-Million
May 10, 2013When the “Daytona Paul Newman” Rolex watches first came out they didn’t cause much stir and were relatively inexpensive. Today, some call them the “Holy Grail” of Rolexes. Antiquorum will auction one with a low serial number and its distinctive lemon yellow coloration this Sunday in Geneva. High estimate is $550,000.
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Rodin Statue Something To Think About At $15.3m
May 9, 2013There are only 28 casts of Auguste Rodin’s iconic “The Thinker” known to exist. One originally commissioned by Ralph Pulitzer in 1906 sold this week for $15.3m at Sotheby’s in New York. The statue bears a plaque certifying that Rodin, himself, supervised the casting. A similar cast sold for $12m three years ago.
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Rare Manuscript From 1st Published African Author At Swann’s
March 5, 2013As a 16th century student at University of Grenada , the former slave Juan de Sessa, who’d been captured as a boy near Guinea, showed such prodigious talent in Latin that he became known as Juan Latino. Offered a Chair in Latin Grammar at the University , Latino went on to write three books, the first published works by an African author. “Ad Catolicum,” as its very long Latin title begins, is the third of these, one of only three copies recorded. It’s sure to be a highlight at Swann Galleries’ auction of Printed and Manuscript African American works on March 26 in New York, where it’s expected to sell for $40,000-$60,000.
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Rising Value of Unrestored Cars
By Malcolm Welford, Vintage Car Specialist
