The long anticipated wait for the sale of Italian white truffle came to an end lately when Macau billionaire Stanley Ho made the highest bid of record $330,000 for a white truffle at a charity auction across the three cities of London, Florence and Macau. The bid thrashed the contending bids from the U.K-based artist Damien Hirst and Sheik Mansoor Bin Zayed al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi.
The 1.5-kilogram (3.3 pounds) tuber magnatum pico, a largest truffle was identified on 23 November by an italian truffle hunter who spent almost an hour digging down 80cm (2.6ft) uncovered in half a century near Pisa. Later, Cristiano and Luciano Savini donated the truffle to the International Tuscan Truffle Auction. The event, in its fifth year, was held simultaneously ON 1 December in London, Florence and Macau. The previous record for a truffle was $212,000.
The sales generation has beaten a previous record of $212,000. The total sales generated out of this auction stood at $453,000 and the earnings would be donated to diverse charities across countries including the Consortium for Street Children in the U.K; the Telethon in Italy and Caritas in China.
Via Bloomberg

We have being unveiling pricey yachts. Also, there were talks about antique yachts. And the boat-lovers are busy satisfying themselves by tagging big yachts to their name. But here comes an open invitation for them as a model of the British Royal Navy ship HMS Victory is all set to eye pround owner. The ingredients used to erect this model include beef bones and human hair and the unique boat reside at Bonhams for auction. It is anticipated that it will fetch nearby $60,000 (£30,000). Expected to be sold today, this 28-inches long model is a creation by French prisoners-of-war incarcerated in British jails during the Napoleonic Wars.
Making:

The left-over beef bones gathered from the meals of prisoners’ behind the bars to pay for their maintainence were used to form this structure. The hull stands on the core of the bones while human hair added weight to rigging and paper tissue formed the flags. Other specks incorporates anchors, belfry and ship’s boats. The model is packed with pull cords and bone finials responsible for operating the guns. The model was preserved in the private custody of the renowned collector of antique Dutch weapons, Henk Visser.

Via DailyMail

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Xiling Group, U.S. art-investment fund made up to the headlines by dropping HK$30.6 million ($3.9 million) for buying a Ming Dynasty blue-and-white jar that was set to be auctioned at Christie’s Hong Kong art auction. This portray of 16 boys singing in a Chinese garden featured on the jar was grabbed by a New York-based art dealer John Berwald during a two-minute contest over the phone. The sales generation of $3.9 mn (including commission) is the highest generated by porcelain jar from the Jiajing era (1522-1566). On 27 November, the auction for Qing Dynasty white-jade brushpot fetched HK$54.1 million, which is the highest value for a white-jade carving against Christie’s pre-sale estimate of HK$15 million. A whooping growth in demand for antiques and artworks is being witnessed in China.
Via Bloomberg

Whilst 54 days back all eyes were on Fabergee Egg that reached the auction block with a mood to set a record by fetching $18 mn, today the mission got successful. This 1902 Faberge egg was purchased by some anonymous buyer for £8 million ($16.5 million) at Christie’s auction house in London. The bidding of the egg started with £4.8 million ($9.9 million). Festooned with diamond, gold and enamel, this state-of-the-art work was signed by the expert craftsman Karl Faberge. It reached the auction block through Rothschild banking family, who was holding this egg since 1905.

It features a popping cockerel with diamond studded wings that resides at the tip of the egg. Considered one of the grand beauties of the art world, the eggs of this masterpiece were commissioned from Faberge by the Russian Tsars. Faberge and his goldsmiths produced the first egg in 1885 for Tsar Alexander III.

The work was appreciated by Russian royals to an extent that they were asked to produce one egg on yearly basis to be gifted on Easter to the Tsar’s family. Counted 68 eggs were produced during 1800s and early 20’s, out of which 54 were given to the Russian royal family and the remaining were given to the private collectors.

Via CNN

Whilst ministers from India and US are facing the addiction of global warming (never-ending discussion), the Canadian residents would have the benediction to enjoy their luxurious stay in the eco-friendly houses positioned right in the green vicinity. Tom Chudleigh, a Canadian carpenter has erected Ewok-style tree houses that can offer a comfy sleep for a small family (at least four-members). This hand crafted state-of-the-art free spirit spheres are formed using wood with fiberglass covering that offers waterproof exterior. The raising of this much-in-demand estate demands three people to be at work for continuous three days.

The interior of the house features a working kitchen with accessories including microwave, refrigerator and sink, and can be tailored by including beds and bronze doors. The witty mind behind this creation has disclosed that the sturdy spheres offer a worthy invitation to the people to fly to this rainforest and enjoy their stay here. Tom also has plans to design a sphere equipped with a washroom, bathe and sauna. But my dear pals, you have to pay the worthy cost to bring feel the magical experience of this luxurious house. You are expected to shell out $45,000 for the sphere alone but in case you love buying complete sets then free feel to enter into this with your beloved by dropping $152,000.

Gallery: Ewok-Houses by Tom Chudleigh

Via BornRich

The much-in-news fine, exceptional and antique 18K gold, enamel and diamond-set hunter case ‘petite souscription à tact’ watch that was owned by Empress Josephine, wife of French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte lately got sold for $1.3 mn at Christie’s auction house in Geneva. This amount is seven-fold of the anticipated price during its pre-auction.

There isn’t any information available about the anonymous buyer. The watch is a replica of the ‘montre a tact’ or ‘tactile watch’ pattern designed by Abraham Louis Breguet in 1790, when it was inappropriate to ask for time in public. The USP of the watch is its very ability to enable wearer identify time by its mere feel from outside as the watch hand resides outside.

In 1799, Josephine placed an order for this watch at 3,000 francs. Later, in 1804, diamonds were embedded when Napoleon was bestowed with the crown of Emperor of France. Later this watch was given to Hortense, wife of Napoleon’s brother Joseph Bonparte. Hortense stepped on to the pedestal of the Queen of Holland when Napoleon made his brother King in 1806, and it was then this watch the watch was then imprinted with an alphabet ‘H’.

Via NewsInfo

Here comes autumn and auction houses are bombarded with an array of old-aged, contemporary artwork that is eternal in nature. A hoard of Asian art, Chinese jade and porcelain is set to go under hammer at Christie’s auction house on 28 October in Hong Kong. The international auction house is anticipating it to be the record-breaking auction in this voracious market. The Sales generation expected out of this auction is net $231 million. The items would be on display from 25-29 November and would feature gamut of top-notch modern and contemporary art, regal ceramic, a renowned compilation of Chinese jades as well as jewels, necklaces and watches.

Among the attractions of the auction, there is a set of 15 Chinese objects of art enthused by the West including a rare Beijing enamel glass brushpot, a blue and white “Boys” Ming jar, a large bronze figure of Guanyin, the goddess of mercy and a tranquil creation of Taiwan port oil painting by Chen Cheng-Po. The auction is all set to drive the curiosity of its visitors by offering a stunning medley of innovative creation of frenzied smirking sketches by Yue Minjun and a colossal sequence of “gunpowder” paintings by Cai Guoqiang. “Market Scene” by the Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet would also get worthy respect here. The great work carrying prominent sauce and grease marks on a browning print is expected to fetch $500,000.

Below are the featured artworks that are inviting eyeballs:

A rare Beijing enamel glass brushpot adorned with European “mother and child” pictures from the Qianlong period on the four-sides is expected to generate $3.8 million.

A blue and white “Boys” Ming jar that would generate nearly $5 million.

A huge bronze sculpture of Guanyin, the goddess of mercy that is expected to be sold for $4.5 million.

“Danshui at Sunset,” a calm Taiwan port oil painting by Chen Cheng-Po might earn the label of being the most expensive Chinese paintings ever sold at an auction.

Via Reuters

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Lately NYT reported that Marion True went under investigation last week for holding 29 couched antiquities in her Greek island in Athens. The news revolves around the acquirement of an antique gold funerary wreath that Greek officials claim was illicitly detached in July 1993 by the J. Paul Getty Museum. The cost of this Hellenistic-era gold wreath was calculated around $1.5 million. And finally the wreath was delivered to Greece earlier this year. An accurate wreath confirms that wreath was originated from an elite grave in Macedonia but unfortunately those archaeological reports are missing.

Featured above is that Macedonian gold wreath at the Archaeological museum of Thessaloniki during its official return to the museum. I don’t care what archaeological facts convey as my doubt still lingers what made it so pricey? Is it Diamonds, Gold, Crystals or its Old Age, which is becoming a common USP for any antique valuable that exist today.
Via LootingMatters

In an ongoing auction season, we have come across gamut of paintings, artwork, and sculptures being sold. Amongst others one cannot afford to sideline their USP which shares a great amount of commonality. Most of the items that have reached auction hall share the similar behavior as that of a wine—that becomes much bitter as it grows old.

Following this, proud owners of the first edition books along with auction houses have been making big bucks by bestowing the masterpiece to the deserving candidate who has a heart to value its real price. Realizing this way of making an investment, lately first edition of Emily Bronte novel Wuthering Heights written in 1847 got sold for an astounding $228,000 (£114,000).

This is the clear indication that the maintenance of the belongings can offer you big returns. Telegraph has much more to share if you plan to enter the valued book souk.

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A fragmentary sketch owned by the Bowood Estate is expected to fetch up to £3m at an auction scheduled on 22 November in London. The plot of the oil painting produced in the 1760s by artist Sir Joshua Reynolds is the women Kitty Fisher from the 18th Century. The portrait was with the Lansdowne family since past 150 years. Later it was bought by the third Marquess of Lansdowne in May 1846. Lord Lansdowne (1780-1863) shaped a grand chronicles and art collection at Bowood and now thanks to its trustees who have made an effort to put this painting up for auction.

Kitty Fisher was commemorated in the kindergarten rhyme, Lucy Locket and Reynolds produced her portrait at least four times. As per the Dictionary of National Biography the rumors claim that they were in love. If you asked about Kitty Fisher from auctioneers at Sotheby’s who are engaged with the sale then they consider it as an object of pleasure for men and this is what Reynolds has rightly portrayed her.

Via WiltShrineTimes