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Auctions

A view of Sotheby’s new space in Hong Kong. Photo: Facebook
Hong Kong property

Art houses Christie’s, Sotheby’s show off flashy new Hong Kong showrooms

The auction houses’ glammed up spaces are a reflection of their desire to change the way they conduct business.

Art

Duct-taped banana artist says US$6.2 million work a ‘provocation’

Special Report - Jewellery

Bidders set the bar high at Hong Kong’s buoyant autumn auctions

Art

Chinese crypto entrepreneur pays US$6.2 million for banana taped to wall

Sotheby’s confirmed that Justin Sun was the buyer of artist Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian sculpture at its auction yesterday.

FILE - Artist Maurizio Cattelan’s piece of art “Comedian” hangs on display during an auction preview at Sotheby’s in New York, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)
Art

Hopes Magritte and Monet masterpieces can shake up stale auction market

Christie’s and Sotheby’s New York auctions this week also include works by Ed Ruscha and Keith Haring and one of Maurizio Cattelan’s bananas.

Art

Mark Rothko painting goes for 30% less than in 2015 in Hong Kong sale

Untitled (Yellow and Blue) by Mark Rothko, once owned by fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low, fetches US$33 million at Sotheby’s auction.

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Books and literature

Copy of The Little Prince worth US$1.25 million for sale at art fair

For sale in the UAE, the typescript, one of only three known to exist, contains handwritten corrections by author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

A rare typescript of The Little Prince, one of only three known copies, is going on sale for US$1.25 million at Abu Dhabi Art, an art fair that runs from November 20 to 24. Photo: Reuters
Art

Humanoid robot’s artwork of Alan Turing sells for US$1.3 million

Portrait by the world’s first ultra-realistic robot artist smashed presale expectations of US$180,000.

Hong Kong

Why scientists have a bone to pick with dinosaur fossil in Hong Kong

Hector the Deinonychus highlights how, like works of art, fossils too can be sold to the highest bidder. That has palaeontologists worried.

Timepieces

Meet the co-founder and CEO of Jay-Z-backed Wristcheck, Austen Chu

Comedian Kevin Hart also used the marketplace to find the Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Grande Sonnerie he recently wore on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

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Austen Chu, co-founder of watch marketplace Wristcheck, went from learning of Audemars Piguet through Jay-Z’s songs to having the rapper as an investor. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Music

Michael Jackson jacket, Noel Gallagher guitar in music-themed auction

Beatle John Lennon’s first Vox amp, a Michael Jackson jacket, handwritten lyrics and a synthesiser Prince used are among lots in UK auction.

Michael Jackson’s autographed tour rehearsal Thriller jacket, and his black-and-gold military-style jacket are up for auction in the UK in November. Photo: DPA
Art

Why you should invest in alternative assets – experts share their insights

Rise Art, Cask Trade and Wristcheck founders describe the benefits of betting on secondary luxury investments, while investors seek transparency and meaningful connections.

Artificial intelligence

Portrait by robot Ai-Da to sell at auction in art world first

The ‘haunting’ piece depicts Alan Turing, one of the fathers of modern computing, who had warned about the use of artificial intelligence.

TV shows and streaming video

US$1.5m plastic replica Iron Throne tops Game of Thrones auction

Replica throne from HBO series among more than 30 lots that sold for in excess of US$100,000 at three-day auction in Dallas, Texas.

Heritage Auctions chief executive officer Steve Ivy sits on the moulded plastic replica of the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones before its sale for US$1.49 million. Photo: Facebook/Heritage Auctions
Hong Kong culture

Editorial | Auction promotes Hong Kong’s art hub status

The results of a Christie’s sale should be an incentive for the sector to focus on recovery after years of economic malaise.

Bids are taken on “Les canots amarrés” by Vincent Van Gogh from 1887, which recently sold at auction at Christie’s Hong Kong headquarters for HK$215,000,000 (US$27.7 million) in Hong Kong. Photo: AFP
Music

Guitar George Harrison played as a teen could sell for US$1m

Futurama guitar, which Harrison’s mum paid for in instalments and which he played at hundreds of Beatles gigs, could fetch over US$1 million.

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong singer Kelly Chen’s Hermes bags bring in over HK$3 million for charity

Part of proceeds from 10 bags will be donated to actress’ Kelly Chen Children Education Fund, founded to help students from low-income families.

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Hong Kong society

Opinion | More pandas are great, but let’s also grow Hong Kong as a city of art

While Hong Kong remains one of the world’s leading auction capitals, the worth of having a healthy arts scene must also be recognised.

A Sotheby’s art expert speaks in front of Chinese artist Chang Dai-chien’s masterpiece “The Giant Lotuses” in Hong Kong on September 13. At over 3 metres tall and 8 metres wide, it is the largest known work created by the artist. This was the first time it had been seen in Asia. Photo: AFP
Art

Christie’s CEO on Asia expansion and hopes for rebound in Europe

Guillaume Cerutti explains Christie’s move to year-round sales at new Asia headquarters in Hong Kong, and challenges facing European market.

Art

This artist is using AI to put ‘Asian aunties’ in seriously surreal situations

The Singaporean artist was an architect before getting into AI-driven art which has since led to a Ted talk, a Christie’s 3.0 charity auction, and billboards in New York’s Times Square and now Hollywood

Art

Low Van Gogh price sets tone for debut Christie’s sale at new Asia HQ

US$27.6 million for early Van Gogh work a good price, observer says as Christie’s talks up results of auction where most bidding was low.

Auction staff hold up painting Les canots amarrés by Vincent Van Gogh, which sold at auction at Christie’s Hong Kong headquarters for HK$215 million (US$27.6 million) on September 26, 2024. Photo: AFP
Major League Baseball (MLB)

Shohei Ohtani 50th homer ball goes to auction – or yours for just US$4.5 million

Japanese star’s performance against Miami Marlins set him apart from any player in the history of the game.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani celebrates hitting his 50th home run of the season against the Miami Marlins. Photo: AP
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong to host auction of Mark Rothko piece once owned by fugitive Jho Low

Sotheby’s says sale of Untitled (Yellow and Blue) represents Asia’s first auction of late artist’s major work.

Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Van Gogh painting owned by princess may fetch US$50 million at Hong Kong auction

Les canots amarrés, owned by Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies, will set record for most expensive painting sold in Asia if work fetches US$50 million estimate.

Art

Christie’s unveils lavish new Asia HQ at Hong Kong’s The Henderson

The new venue, which spans 4 floors in The Henderson and will hold first sales on September 26, signals a commitment to ‘prestige’ and Hong Kong.

The clients’ lounge at Christie’s new Asia headquarters in Hong Kong’s The Henderson. Photo: Christie’s
Luxury cars

Christie’s merger with classic car dealer ‘great news’ for industry

With art sales down, the auction house’s merger with Los Angeles-based Gooding & Co is expected to breathe life into the classic car market.

The 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Gooding & Company sold for US$18 million in 2023. Photo: courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.
Timepieces

What went on in the world of watches in July and August 2024? 7 highlights

Catch up on Chanel’s MB&F stake, LVMH’s corporate moves, Olympians’ and A-listers’ wrist candy, Watches and Wonders hitting Shanghai, and the finalists of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

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Masterpieces

Why jewellery remains a shining investment during troubled times

Jewellery was the second-highest performer on the latest Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index, with period pieces, coloured gemstones and single-owner collections the strongest subsectors.

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Auctions
Reporting on the latest auctions of luxury goods, including watches, handbags, high jewellery and fine art
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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