Category: Collectibles

Unfinished sketch by David Hockney fetches US$90.3 million

Even David Hockney, that most celebrated of British Pop Art painters, couldn’t have envisaged so fanciful a notion as a canvas he left incomplete some 47 years ago one day commanding a record sum at auction, while being universally hailed as a modern-day masterpiece. Inconceivable or not, fact has outpaced fancy, with Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), the unfinished fine art-ery in question, fetching a truly monumental winning bid of US$90.3 million (HK$706 million) when it came up for auction at Christie’s New York.

David Hockney
Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) by David Hockney

Bidding for this half-finished Hockney opened at a more-than-respectable US$18 million, before rapidly soaring to US$90 million, a figure some US$72.3 million higher than its clearly conservative reserve. Pretty much in one bound, this established Hockney’s experimental piece as one of the high-water marks of post-World War II creativity, while catapulting the artist himself to the all-time pantheon of preeminent painting practitioners. One can only wonder how much it would have fetched had David Hockney ever actually deigned to complete his design.

Photos: Renaud Camus

Star Wars Sketches: Darth drafts to go under the gavel on 11 December

Movie-minded auction-goers wouldn’t want to miss one of Bonhams London’s sales later this month (December 11), especially if they want to secure some truly stellar movie memorabilia. Up for grabs is no less than a 62-lot archive featuring many of the personal notebooks, sketches and drawings that once belonged to John Mollo, the Oscar-winning British costume designer whose Star Wars sketches laid the foundation for the distinctive look of the best-known characters in the Star Wars’ universe.

Early Star Wars sketches sold at recent Bonhams auction
Early Star Wars sketches to sell at upcoming Bonhams auction

Perhaps the most coveted item among this veritable treasure trove is Mollo’s personal sketchbook, which covered the period April 1975 to July 1976 and features many the initial sketches of the costumes ultimately destined for such Star Wars stalwarts as Darth Vader, Han Solo, Chewbacca and, of course, the franchise’s ever-iconic stormtroopers. Alongside these provisional sketches are scribbled details of costume budgets, brainstorming sessions and notes from meeting with Star Wars creator George Lucas

Putting this lot into due perspective, Katherine Schofield, Head of Entertainment Memorabilia at Bonhams, said: “Without a doubt, John Mollo created costumes that elevated many characters to cult cinematic status. These sketchbooks are a unique part of cinema history – in my experience nothing like this has ever been seen at auction before.”

Peacock Necklace: Kashmir sapphire and higher valuations

While Kashmir may have been a hotbed of unrest for several decades now, such turmoil is yet to taint the reputation of the region’s stunning sapphires, famous the world over for their rich deep blue colouring. Now a truly fine example of these most precious stones, as featured in the Peacock Necklace – a stunning sapphire-and-diamond necklace – was just auctioned by Christie’s Hong Kong. The piece, which originally featured an estimate price of between US$12 million and US$15 million, did not disappoint when it went under the hammer last week. The Kashmir sapphire and diamond necklace’s final sale price stood at a staggering US$14.96 million. 

Sapphire

All originally mined from the remote Padder region in Kishtwan district, some 21 dazzling shards of Kashmir sapphires, together with an array of brilliant diamonds, adorn this unique necklace, with the gems said to total some 109.08 carats. The centre stone alone weighs an astonishing 10.56 carats, which makes it extremely rare and valuable among sapphires, as finding a single stone of such quality and weight is almost unheard of. And when you also factor in the masterly craftsmanship behind the entire suite of gems, it’s no surprise that the attention of the whole haute joaillerie world was focused on this most luxurious of lots.

 

 

Rare 1830 pocket watch by Edouard Bovet up for auction

It’s no secret that China and Hong Kong are the very heartlands of the world of haute horology, home to the keenest collectors and the biggest buyers. How, though, did this fixation with the world’s finest Swiss timepieces begin? The answer is engagingly simple – it’s all down to the bold ventures of one young enterprising precision engineer – Edouard Bovet.

Rare 1830 Edouard Bovet watch fetches top dollar at auction

Back in 1818, Edouard Bovet, a Swiss-born apprentice watchmaker working at London’s Magniac company, was transferred to Guangzhou in a bid to drive the sale of Swiss watches across China. Quickly gauging the size of the potential market, in 1822, he formed his own company – Bovet Fleurier – a luxury watch manufacturer specialising in high-quality timepieces for the Far East market.

The rare Edouard Bovet pocket watch still remains in near-mint condition

Now, one of his hugely-rare watches – an 1830-made Bovet Fleurier centre seconds pocket watch – has come up for sale via the Hong Kong branch of Heritage Auctions. Encased in 18K gold, with figures of Venus and Cupid painted on translucent blue enamel, its near-mint condition is expected to help it fetch staggering figures, if certain horology experts are to be believed.

Positivi-Tea in a Cup: The benefits of tea and our eight favourite luxury tea sets

Since our afternoon champagne tea at The Conrad with Perrier-Jouët, it is, perhaps, unsurprising that we’ve had tranquili-tea and wellness on our minds here at Gafencu. Long a firm favourite in households all around the world for millennia – this somewhat innocuous-seeming beverage actually boasts countless health benefits. Take a gander below to see exactly what your morning cuppa actually holds. 

The Benefits of Tea

Contains Stroke- and Heart Attack-Decreasing Antioxidants

The aromatic beverage is the essentially a miracle in a porcelain cup. Tea contains antioxidants that keep us young and protect us from harmful pollution. Another benefit to its herbal magic is its ability to reduce our risks of heart attacks and stokes. Studies have actually found that individuals who drank one to three cups of green chai a day were 35 percent less likely to experience a stoke.

tea

Prevents Bone Loss

The magic doesn’t stop there, this medicinal beverage has also been proven to prevent bone loss. With more calcium than milk, it also contains healthy doses of iron, and vitamins A and K. 

Boosts Your Immune System

We’re sure this is a surprise to no Hongkonger, but this marvellous drink is also a mega immune system booster. Containing anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties, tea has been the go-to cure for sore throats and runny noses for generations.

Keeps Your Teeth Shining

While the leafy beverage may contain less caffeine than its coffee counterpart, it more than makes up for this shortcoming by being much gentle on your teeth. Unlike a cup of Joe, it does not erode tooth enamel or leave behind unsightly stains. 

tea

It Keeps Us Social

Beyond its countless health benefits, tea-drinking also makes for a wonderfully soothing activity. For some, it may even evoke a tinge of nostalgia, with childhood memories of mothers and grandmothers teaching us how to set up the china, fold the napkins and prepare the perfect pot of tea coming to the fore. 

With Christmas less than a month away, many of this city’s over-stressed denizens could surely benefit by setting aside time for a well-deserved tea party with friends and family. But first, we must find the perfect set for our parties. Below we have carefully curated a selection of our favourite tea-sets from such renowned brands as Wedgewood Prestige and Fornsetti that are sure to bring creativi-tea and sereni-tea to your leisurely gathering.

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Lots of History: The Best Moments of 2018 from Auction Houses Worldwide

It’s been a big year for auction houses world over. Despite the ever-changing economic climate, it seems that big-ticket jewels, fashions and artworks cannot fail to draw the attention, and the cash, of bidders. And so as the hammer falls on 2018, we look at some of the stand-out moments from our favourite auctioneers.

The Record-breaking Sale of The Pink Legacy Diamond

Pink Legacy Auction houses

We’ve mentioned The Pink Legacy Diamond at Gafencu before but we love any excuse to have a look at it! The diamond sold at Christie’s in Geneva and set the record for highest price paid per carat for a pink diamond. You can read more about The Pink Legacy here.

Jenny Saville and David Hockney become the World’s Most Expensive Living Artists

Auction houses

Christie’s New York made headlines when Hockney’s Portrait of an Artist (pool with two figures) sold for US$90.3 million to an unknown buyer making the British painter a record holder as no other art work has ever been sold for more during the artist’s lifetime.

Auction houses

Meanwhile at Sotheby’s in London, Jenny Saville became the world’s most expensive female artist after her groundbreaking self-portrait Propped was sold for £9.5 million, Making it the most expensive work by a living female artist.

The Sale of the First Artwork Authored by AI

Auction houses

It wasn’t just human artists breaking records in 2018. This year Christie’s became the first to auction an AI-generated artwork. Although the move was considered rather controversial, Portrait of Edmond Belamy sold for $432,500, almost 45 times more than it’s original estimate.

Sotheby’s held their first watch auction in Dubai

You don’t get to be one of the oldest and most prolific auction houses around without keeping an eye on the future. With the market in Dubai continuously expanding, Sotheby’s hosted its first watch auction with grand sales of US$2.6 million. 

China Guardian Made Their Highest Ever Sales 

Auction houses
Pictured is the highest selling Colombian emerald and diamond ring which was part of a larger collection featuring similar stones.

The second-largest auction house in Hong Kong reported HK$1.1 billion in annual sales, their highest-ever annual total. Highlights from their Autumn auctions included a collection of Jade Carvings which achieved rare “white glove” status and a 19.69-carat natural Colombian emerald and diamond ring which went for HK$ 20.62 million.

The Girl With A Balloon Became Love Is In The Bin 

Auction houses

It would be highly remiss of us to publish a round-up of auction news without mentioning the infamous sale of Banksy’s Girl with a Balloon, now retitled Love is in the Bin. The world watched in a mixture of horror, humour and wonder as the hammer came down on the £1,042,000 sale and the painting promptly began to  self-destruct. The buyer decided to keep the partially shredded artwork and the piece was duly renamed. Banksy later admitted that, despite many rehearsals, the prank had actually gone wrong. The painting was supposed to be completely shredded but the mechanism jammed part way through.

Text: Alice Duncan

The Magic of Mickey: 7 luxury items to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 90th anniversary

We’ve had Mickey on our mind a lot lately! Just last week, we attended the release and collaboration between SCAD Hong Kong and Disney for Mickey’s 90th anniversary. Much to our delight, SCAD aren’t the only ones participating in Mickey’s birthday. The celebration continues as many luxury brands have come together with Disney, offering an assortment of limited-edition items and accessories. 

Marc Jacobs
Mickey Mouse Denim Jacket

Mickey Mouse Denim Jacket

Marc Jacobs has splashed a retro-washed Mickey across this bleached denim jacket, combining two eras of nostalgia – the righteous ’80s and the abstract ’20s – turning sweet memories into a very special fashion statement.

Yves Saint Laurent
Mickey’s 90th Anniversary Silk Shirt 

mickey's 90th anniversary

Saint Laurent’s Parisian silky button-up is bursting with Mickey. With the icon’s happy nature patterned in small prints across the shirt’s sophisticated mature base, there’s no reason why you can’t bring the magic of Disney to work with you!

Bésame Cosmetics
Mickey’s 90th Anniversary Collection

Besame - Mickey Mouse

Bésame Cosmetics, no stranger to collaborations with vintage Disney, is also offering collections Mermaid Lagoon (Peter Pan) and Snow White! Debuting on Black Friday, the style and spirit of Mickey will be available in sure-to-be pretty pallets. 

Gucci
Mickey Mouse Handbag

Mickey's 90th anniversary

Gucci turned both human and mouse heads during its Spring 2019 Fashion Show with the adorable Mickey Mouse handbag. Designer Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s maverick creative director, hasn’t been shy to show his love for Disney, paying tribute to the brand with past collections of Donald Duck and The Three Little Pigs.

Poh Heng
Oh It’s Mickey & Minnie Earrings

OH IT'S MICKEY & MINNIE 90TH ANNIVERSARY EARRINGS

Poh Heng, Singapore’s leading gold jeweller is celebrating the 90th anniversary of Mickey with a collection of gold and silver accessories. Their darling silhouette earrings are crafted with 22K yellow gold, with a matching necklace and ring to pair with.

Rag & Bone
Mickey 90th anniversary sneakers

mickey's 90th anniversary

Rag & Bone is aboard the Mickey train as they celebrate with these classic low-top kicks. The sneakers with asymmetrical colour blocking, Mickey Mouse graphics in the footbed and the 90th anniversary logo on the back heel are a must-have in the wardrobes of all Disney fans. 

 

Swarovski
Mickey Mouse Necklace

mickey's 90th anniversary

Swarovski has bejewelled the treasured character this this stunning necklace for Mickey’s 90th anniversary. The necklace is rhodium-plated with an assortment of crystals in Mickey’s signature colours of red and yellow. 

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Let’s drink to the future with the all-new Louis XIII Smart Decanter

Luxury cognac brand Louis XIII is rather well known for embracing the rich history of the maison. But it seems the cognac house is equally adept at dabbling in new-tech as it is in nostalgia. Indeed, with the soon-to-be-released Louis XIII Smart Decanter, the iconic beverage brand is all set to usher in the future of drinking.      

Equipped with a smart NFC chip integrated in the cork stopper, the Smart Decanter will open up an exclusive world of privileges to customers, with a mere touch on their NFC-enabled smartphones. Each decanter will directly connect clients to the LOUIS XIII Society, a private club where members can enjoy exclusive content, unique experiences and personalised services through their smartphones.

Louis XIII Smart Decanter

Explaining the concept, Ludovic du Plessis, Louis XIII Global Executive Director, says: “As part of our latest attempt to offer our customers the very best experiences, every Louis XIII Smart Decanter will feature a smart solution. This innovation will be launched in first half of 2019 and will be deployed all over the world in the following months.”

It’s safe to say that once the Louis XIII Smart Decanters hit the markets, we’ll not just be thinking – but also drinking – a century ahead!

Flash, Flush and Festive: The Most Expensive Spirits on the Market

Here at Gafencu we were very excited to hear that  ‘The World’s Most Expensive Gin” has just gone up for sale for a mere £4000, at the Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. British brand JamJar Gin has distilled its limited edition Morus LXIV from the leaves of an ancient mulberry tree and sealed it in handmade ceramic jars. Just in time for our Christmas party!

expensive spirits
The £4000 price tag includes one 70cl jar, one 3cl jar and a handmade stirrup cup in a leather case

We reckon Morus LXIV is going to sell pretty well, especially as compared to many of the other big ticket bottles out there it’s an absolute bargain.  If juniper isn’t your thing then have a look at the world’s most expensive… 

… Cognac

Surely the ultimate Christmas tipple, the festive season is not complete without a bottle of the classiest of fortified wines. Camus, the world’s largest independent producers of cognac, released 1,492 bottles of Camus Cuvee 5.150, an extraordinary blend of five rare spirits from five different cognac-growing regions to celebrate their 150th anniversary in 2013. The US$5,000 price tag includes an individually numbered Baccarat crystal decanter and two matching tasting glasses.

Expensive spirits

… Tequila

At US$3.5 million per bottle, Ultra Premium Ley .925 Pasion Azteca is not for knocking back with salt and lime. This is a six-year-old sipping tequila, and while you’re sipping why not take a moment to take in the bottle. Designed by Mexican artist Alejandro Gomez Oropeza, the bottle is handcrafted from platinum and studded with diamonds. Best get some swish glasses to match. 

Expensive spirits

… Vodka

Although the Billionaire Vodka brand sells its bottles for more, they have kept it locked up in bars and restaurants. However the good people at Hong Kong-based vodka brand Royal Dragon know that you might want to host your own Christmas cocktail party. And so for a mere US$5.5 million you can take home six litres of their silky smooth, charcoal distilled Eye of the Dragon vodka, which comes in a hand blown bottle decorated with 2 kilos of 18 karat gold and 620 karats of diamonds – including a round-cut yellow diamond pendant. The best part is of this show stopper is that your guests will be so enthralled by the bottle you probably won’t even have to talk to them. 

expensive spirits

… Whisky

We’re calling this one a tie. This is because, while Isabella Islay’s luxurious hand-crafted 40-year-old Original Scotch Single Malt Whisky is not to be sniffed at, it’s the bottle that really steals the show with an elegant white gold decanter studded with 300 rubies and 8,500 diamonds, which justifies the US$6.2 million price tag. However if you’re thinking more along the lines of “it’s what’s inside that counts” then keep an eye out for a bottle of this year’s Macallan’s Fine & Rare. Each year the distillery releases a small number of bottles containing its oldest and best whiskies from history. A steal compared to Islay’s bottle at approximately US$75,000.

expensive spirits
Left, Macallan Fine and Rare 1991 Edition. On the right the rather flashier Isabella of Islay Original Edition.

Text by: Alice Duncan

The Pink Legacy diamond sells for record-breaking numbers

Harry Winston was surely in the pink this Tuesday as the American luxury brand purchased the Pink Legacy diamond from Christie’s auction house in Geneva, for a record setting US$50 million.

Within five minutes at the auction, the 18.96-carat diamond known as the Pink Legacy became the world’s record holder for price paid per carat for a pink diamond.

The dazzling diamond is truly a rare find because it is singularly unique to find a pink diamond over 10 carats. Categorised as a “Fancy Vivid”, the Pink Legacy is of the highest grade of colour intensity, being 1 in 100,000 of its kind. 

Soon to be renamed Winston Pink Legacy, the diamond is reported to be in good health and continues the trend of rising prices of pink diamonds.

Pink Star

Last April, Hong Kong became the city where the largest polished diamond the Pink Star – 59.6-carat stone – was auctioned off for a cool US$71.2 million at Sotheby’s.

 

Pink Promise

Following the Pink Star was the cut and improved Pink Promise diamond that was auctioned off at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Hong Kong auction. The 15-carat diamond sold for US$32.5 million, at the time a record-beating price at US$2.176 million per carat. At US$2.637 million per carat, the sale of the Pink Legacy has surpassed the once-infamous Pink Promise.

The Pink Legacy is undoubtedly exceptional as it set forth a major moment in auctioneering history. The popularity of pink diamonds is coming up roses.

Text: Bailey Atkinson
Images courtesy: Christie’s