Category: Collectibles

Thangkas Very Much! Tibetan thangkas revealing a hidden culture surfaces at auction

The Richard R. & Magdalena Ernst Collection of Himalayan Art – one of the most comprehensive collections of Tibetan thangkas – was recently unveiled at Sotheby’s New York, much to the delight of the art world.

Thangkas, or traditional Tibetan paintings on silk or cotton, are intricate pieces of ancient art, awe-inspiring in their vivid colours and detailed miniature iconography. Painted mostly by monks and their disciples, they have more than just aesthetic value and are an integral meditative tool in Tibetan Buddhist religion.

This particular collection, acquired by Nobel Laureate Richard Ernst and his wife over five decades, features 88 paintings spanning the 12th to the 19th century. Speaking about what drew them to this niche art practiced by spiritual gurus tucked away on mountains with harsh climes, Richard says, “From the moment we laid eyes on the thangka of four Arhats in Kathmandu, we knew that Tibetan art would form the heart of our collection. The region’s rich culture, spontaneous nature of creativity, and philosophical strength drew us in, and has kept us firmly engaged over the last fifty years.”

Of varying sizes and depicting different periods, this widely-published collection includes everything from hypnotic mandalas and rare portraits of early Buddhist masters to prevalent hierarchies in monasteries. According to Sotheby’s experts, quite a few of them are deeply influenced by Lhasa high-court influences, and provide a rare window to a hidden – and almost lost – culture.

Bejewelled beauties: Our top 5 picks ahead of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction

Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction is taking place in Hong Kong on 3 April. Whether an avid jewellery collector or a gem connoisseur, this one’s a bidding war that you can’t afford to miss. Here we spotlight on five exquisite pieces that – in our opinion – are worth fighting for.

Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction

Ruby, Diamond and Emerald Brooch, Van Cleef & Arpels
Lot 1778

A classic bejewelled brooch in Van Cleef & Arpels’ signature extravagant style, the piece is estimated to fetch between HK$2,200,000-2,800,000. A beautiful swan in 18-carat gold, it features brilliant-cut diamonds with ruby feathers and an emerald eye, all brought to life by Van Cleef & Arpels’ exquisite craftsmanship, and is signed by the haute joaillerie maison.

Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction

Fancy Blue Diamond and Diamond Ring
Lot 1776

As gem connoisseurs would be only too aware, blue diamonds happen to be the most-sought after diamond category after red diamonds. So it should come as no surprise that this beautiful ring starring a fancy blue diamond worth 14.18 carats is estimated to go under the gavel at anywhere between HK$46,200,000 and HK$60,000,000. The surrounding bezel of pink diamonds mounted in platinum and 18-carat pink gold adds to the supreme value of the piece.

Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction

Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond and Diamond Ring
Lot 1621

With the craze for yellow diamonds on the rise, this exquisite ring – which boasts a brilliant-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond weighing 15.69 carats as its centrepiece – will probably be snapped up only after a closely contested battle. Add to that the two heart-shaped GIA-certified D-colour diamonds each weighing 1.01 carats, and the platinum and 18-carat yellow gold real estate of the ring, and we have a big scorer that’s estimated to fetch between HK$5,500,000-6,500,000.

Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction

Diamond and Emerald Bracelet, Cartier
Lot 1505

Featuring six prancing diamond horses created out of pavé-set brilliant-cut diamonds, with emerald eyes, this Cartier bracelet is expected to fetch anything between HK$320,000-480,000. Set in 18-carat white gold and 165mm long, this one’s sure to gallop to glory in the auction ring.

Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction

Diamond and Gem Set Necklace, Dior
Lot 1628

With a sizeable pear-shaped diamond worth 5.82 carats as its central anchor, this link chain necklace is a floral affair with coloured gemstones including rubies, sapphires, yellow sapphires, pink sapphires and emeralds and brilliant-cut diamonds, mounted on 18-carat white gold. Signed and case-stamped by Dior, this fetching piece is estimated to bring around HK$950,000-1,800,000.

To check out the full catalogue of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction, click here.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Philanthropist’s Cellar vintage wines auction to help charity in China

Philanthropist's Cellar

The Philanthropist’s Cellar, a unique collection of 800 vintages, is going under the hammer at Sotheby’s Hong Kong on 31 March. Estimated at approximately HK$60 million, the collection is pitted to be the company’s largest-ever single-owner wine sale in Asia.

Owned by a private collector, the Philanthropist’s Cellar is distinguished by the combination of depth and breadth of the greatest wines ever made in Bordeaux and Bugundy. Some of the highlights include Chateau Lafite (1986), estimated at HK$85,000 to HK$120,000, Chateau Haut-Brion (1989), estimated at HK$120,000 to HK$180,000 and Montrachet Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (1989), estimated at HK$450,000 to HK$600,000.

All proceeds will be donated to improve health and education conditions of children in rural China, thanks to the efforts of the Rural Education Action Program (REAP) of Stanford University, the major beneficiary of the sale. REAP has earlier done similar work in rural parts of China, like setting up education centres and providing basic sanitation facilities.

Natural Beauty: Gafencu’s top 8 picks of brooches inspired by Mother Nature

Despite technology cocooning all aspects of modern life, Mother Nature is an inevitable presence. Time and again, art has borrowed from nature, with artists singing paeans of praise to all aspects of nature through diverse art forms. Jewellery too has come a long way, from actual elements of nature adorning the human body (think seashell jewellery by Neanderthals) to jewellery designers mimicking natural elements in their designs. 

Here, we’ve put the spotlight on eight such high joaillerie brooches that have captured some of the most striking feats of nature. Elaborate, intricate and exquisitely beautiful, these brooches are only second to nature’s originals. 

Curator Conversations: Inside Hong Kong’s Opera Gallery

Originally founded by Gilles Dyan in 1994, Opera Gallery has established 12 locations around the world including London, Geneva and New York. With museums as well as private clients worldwide, Opera Gallery is one of the leading dealers in modern and contemporary art. 

In celebration of Art Month, we talked to Sharlane Foo, Director of Opera Gallery Hong Kong to learn more about life as a curator.

Inside Hong Kong’s Opera Gallery

Having started your career at the Museum of Contemporary Art Loewen in Singapore and then relocating to the UK for further studies at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, it is clear that you have always had a passion for art. What are your earliest memories and experiences with art and what were your main inspirations behind these pieces? 

My father travelled a lot for work and he always brought a book home. For me, I treasured the art books the most and I would read them until I wore them out. During one of our family trips to London for the summer, while in my early teens, a poignant moment for me occurred on a visit to the Tate Modern. Entering the Mark Rothko room was such an incredible experience and that was when I decided that I wanted to be in an industry that allowed me access to such beauty.

What inspires you to drive awareness for collectors and emerging artists?

My role in the gallery is to bridge the gap between artists and collectors. I find that collectors gain the most satisfaction when they have the utmost understanding and a true connection to the artist. I feel extreme happiness when I can bring both sides together. You have a wealth of experience in contemporary and modern art.

Opera Gallery

How do you use this to strengthen collaborations with artists?

I am blessed to have had great experiences with artists, and feel doubly fortunate to be part of the Opera Gallery group led by Founder and Chairman Gilles Dyan. As a global organisation with 12 galleries worldwide, we (collectively) have a wealth of experience and knowledge of the industry that we all call upon. I also work very closely with the group’s Art Director David Rosenberg to bring on new artists to our Hong Kong gallery roster.

Have you observed any recent trends among Hong Kong art collectors and more specifically, at Opera Gallery?

Opera Gallery Hong Kong has gone through a number of changes over the past year. We are progressing and moving with the times and our collectors. One trend that has become apparent is a slight shift in the demographic of the clientele. We are now seeing more of a younger crowd walking through our doors, which is exciting. We are always keen to meet new collectors and to learn more about their interest in the works on our walls.

Inside Hong Kong’s Opera Gallery

Will Opera Gallery feature any art exhibitions at Art Central in March?

We are thrilled to be a part of Art Central 2018 and will showcase a number of magnificent artists, one of which includes Manolo Valdes. Following the great success of Valdes’s monumental sculptures shown in Singapore and Paris, we are bringing the same energy to Hong Kong. During Art Month in March we will also have a group exhibition at Opera Gallery for three amazing Korean Artists: Yoo Bong Sang, Lee Gil Rae and Seo Young Deok. We consistently strive to bring unique talent to Hong Kong to engage local art enthusiasts.

Following the success of Mike Dargas’ exhibition, what’s in store for Opera Gallery this year?

The successful opening of Mike Dargas’ exhibition empowered us to take on more avant-garde works by young global emerging artists. We have a great 2018 ahead of us with a superb line-up for the coming year. With four floors of gallery space, we can bring Hong Kong a diversity of artists that work closely with us and we are always thrilled to see new faces through our door!

Change in plans for sale of world’s most expensive dinner

In our March issue, we highlighted the world’s most expensive dinner; a US$2 million epicurean extravaganza that was supposedly bought by Ville Oehman, founder of V Diamonds. The sinfully indulgent dining experience included a scenic helicopter ride over Singapore, a private luxury cruise, an 18-course meal and the gift of a stunning 2.08-carat blue diamond ring named after Hollywood actress Jane Seymour.

Oehman initially decided to resell the experience – with a lottery-style twist – by offering one million shares for partial ownership of the Jane Seymour ring at just US$2 apiece. Each share represented a one-in-a-million chance to win the revamped US$2 million dinner experience.

However, it seems plans have changed. A few days ago, it was announced that the lottery was cancelled and the overall sale had fallen through. Now World of Diamonds Group, the original sellers of the experience, are hoping to resell the entire package to just one lucky winner with the same price tag of US$2 million.

Expect a personal firework show

Included in the price is a three-night all-inclusive trip to Singapore. Two lucky winners will receive first-class tickets, five-star presidential suite accommodations, Michelin-starred meals throughout, a yacht cruise, a personal fireworks show and more.

The grand finale literally takes to the skies, where a specially-prepared degustation from renowned restaurant Jaan will be served aboard a private jet. The diners can even take home the diamond-studded, personalised chopsticks (valued at US$34,000) as a keepsake.

To assuage any potential guilt a potential buyer may experience for purchasing the world’s most expensive dinner, one quarter (or US$500,000) of the final price has been earmarked to aid a Danish humanitarian organisation to enrich the lives of orphans in Nigeria.

 

Shine bright: 910-carat diamond unearthed from Letšeng Mine

Although 2018 has just started, Gem Diamonds already has the gemology world buzzing by the first quarter of the year. The cause? Its announcement of the discovery of a staggering 910-carat D colour Type IIa diamond in Lesotho’s Letšeng Mine.

Gem Diamonds CEO Clifford Elphick commented, “This is a landmark recovery for all of [our] stakeholders, including our employees, shareholders and the Government of Lesotho, our partner in the Letšeng Mine.”

Elphick’s pride is well justified. The rough diamond has already been heralded as the fifth-largest gem-quality diamond ever found. It is also just the latest in a string of mammoth rough gemstones found at the Letšeng Mine.

Letšeng has grown to become one of the most prolific open-pit diamond mines in the world. Since 2006, it has produced five other gem-grade diamonds weighing above 300 carats, including the 603-carat Lesotho Promise. The stone was purchased by Graff and cut into 26 D-grade flawless white diamonds, the largest of which is a 76.41-carat pear cut diamond. The resulting Lesotho Promise necklace has an estimated price tag of US$60 million.

There’s no word yet on what final form, or forms, the hitherto-unnamed rough-cut 910-carat diamond will eventually take – but we all wait with bated breath.

Rare 1958 Porsche 550A shines at Bonhams auction, fetching US$5.17 million

A rare Porsche 550A from 1958 was snapped up at Bonhams’ Scottsdale Auction earlier this year. With its impeccable racing pedigree and well-documented provenance, the vintage sports car was a top attraction at the event.

The rare Porsche has a strong racing pedigree

Built in 1958 as the penultimate model of a limited 40-car release, this Porsche was first purchased by Dutch nobleman, Count Carel Godin de Beaufort. Under his ownership, it scored a class win and was sixth overall at the Nürburgring 1000 Kilometers. It also proved its mettle at the grueling Le Mans 24 Hours race, placing second in class and fifth overall.

These victories marked the beginning of a prodigious and long-lived racing career that continued well into the 21st century, and spanned both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Most recently, the 550A participated in ten consecutive Mille Miglia races in Italy.

Rare Porsche 550A hits the market

When it went under the hammer, this rare Porsche 550A was smartly outfitted in its historic #32 livery from the 1958 Le Mans. Under the hood lay a period-accurate engine and a 4-speed gearbox. Given its impressive provenance and near-mint condition, it came as no surprise that the vintage sports car fetched a final price of US$5.17 million.

 

 

Sotheby’s hosts ‘Women in Art: Hong Kong’ exhibition to celebrate the city’s female artists

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Sotheby’s Hong Kong is hosting a special exhibition, Women in Art: Hong Kong, in collaboration with New Hall Art Collection, displayed at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge University.

At a time when there’s global attention on women empowerment, Sotheby’s hopes to create a dialogue around women’s visibility in art through exploring the rich heritage of female artists in Hong Kong.

The exhibition showcases diverse works by female artists from Hong Kong spanning the last 50 years. The works displayed cover a wide range of mediums, including traditional ink paintings by Fang Zhaoling and Irene Chou, video art by Ellen Pau and Angela Su, film posters by Ho Sin Tung and installation art by contemporary artists Ko Sin Tung and Jaffa Lam.   

The artworks displayed are steeped in Hong Kong’s culture and politics, from Ko Sin Tung’s ‘Closed 24hrs’ neon sign that comments on Hong Kong’s consumerist excesses to Jaffa Lam’s ‘Starry Day’ installation, that is made using white umbrella scraps gathered during the iconic Umbrella Movement of 2014.

According to a research conducted by Eliza Gluckman, curator of New Hall Art Collection, and independent researcher Phoebe Wong, a very high percentage of women (around 70%) graduate from art programmes in Hong Kong, but only a mere fraction of them survive in the male-dominated market. Phoebe pointed out many female artists take up teaching as a more viable option, due to a lack of proper infrastructure and funds to support emerging female artists in Hong Kong.

Through the Women in Art: Hong Kong exhibition, Sotheby’s has started a discussion which we hope will not only bring awareness to the work of leading female artists but will also inspire future generations.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Photos: Sotheby’s

Picasso’s Muse: Rare Picasso portrait makes auction debut

Picasso

Pablo Picasso’s Femme au béret et à la robe quadrillée (Marie-Thérèse Walter) surfaced on the market for the first time ever. The painting debuted as a star attraction at Sotheby’s London’s Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale in February.

While the painting definitely celebrates Picasso’s signature Cubist style and portrait skills, it also hides a rather scandalous back story. The oil-on-canvas artwork features Picasso’s ‘golden muse’ and mistress of over 15 years, Marie-Thérèse Walter. However, it clearly lacks the soft brightness so prominent in other Walter-inspired works such as Le Rêve. Instead, there are angular lines and an ominous darkness lurking in the background. It is a perfect example of art imitating life. When Picasso painted this piece in 1937, he was on the cusp of leaving Walter for his new lover, Dora Maar. 

While Picasso may have had trouble juggling his women, he has had no trouble selling their portraits. Sotheby’s London set the asking price for this particular artwork at a staggering HK$390 million.

Thomas Bompard, Head of Sotheby’s London’s Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale, said, “Of all of the artist’s styles and decades, this is the one that most epitomizes the legacy of Picasso as a portraitist of women.”

Photo credit: Sotheby’s