Those of you who are real 80’s baby then you can easily recall watching the live-action Batman show at Six Flag’s Great Adventure around 1989. That was a re-enactment of certain scenes from the flick, complete with an imitation of the Batmobile. But the one pictured above is above is a real deal. One ruthless eBay seller is gazing to get rid of one of the five actual Batmobiles from the Tim Burton classic demanding a sum of $500,000 at eBay. This operational coupe is structured like a spaceship that has tires attached onto it to make it street legal.

Some peep into the specks of the coupe: Measuring 20 feet long and 8 feet wide, this custom-built chassis has a Chevrolet 350 motor attached to it. To eneter into this vehicle, you have to jump from the top from where the canopy opens, likewise in the movie. Initially this coupe was owned by Warner Bros productions and thus the would-be buyer thinking to ink a deal has to sign a contract with them and some other legal items.

Jump onto gallery:

Via CarDomain/ ComplexBlogs

One can’t assist but speculate number of nattily decent citizens sitting countless nights at International auction houses viz. Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips de Pury in coming next two weeks. A good percentage could be of serious bidders and others would be voyeurs eager to observe an implosion of $$$$ art market. It’s now being years that collectors and media have been waiting for the day when prices would finally top. But this time auction houses are hopeful that time will take a toll and things will play out well as they did three months ago in London, when, in spite of global economic nausea, a Francis Bacon triptych painting fetched $51.6 million.

Some highlights of the upcoming auctions:

Artist: Francis Bacon

Artwork: “Three Studies for Self-Portrait,’’ Triptych 1976
Auction House: Christie’s
Ballpark Figure: $25 million and $35 million

Artist: Jeff Koons

Artwork: “New Hoover convertibles, New Shelton Wet/Drys 5-Gallon, Double Decker”
Auction House: Christie’s
Sales: Christie’s post-war and contemporary sales
Ballpark Figure: $10 million
Date: 13 May

Artist: Monet

Artwork: “Le Pont du Cheminde Fer à Argenteuil,” 1873

Auction House: Christie’s
Ballpark Figure:$35 million
Date: 6 May

Artist: Edvard Munch

Artwork: “Girls on a Bridge,” a 1902 oil canvas painting
Auction House: Sothey’s New York Impressionist and Modern Art - Part I auction
Ballpark Figure: $28 million
Date: 7 May
Artist: Alberto Giacometti

Artwork: “Grande Femme Debout II,” 1959-60
Auction House: Christie’s
Ballpark Figure: $18 million
Date: 13 May
Artist: Henri Matisse, French painter

Artwork: “Portrait au mateau bleu”
Auction House: Christie’s Spring Impressionist and Modern sales
Ballpark Figure: $17 million
Date: 6 May
Artist: Pierre Patel the Elder

Artwork: ‘A landscape at Evening with Travelers’ and a Hunter Near Classical Ruins’ painted around 1640
Auction House: Sotheby’s London
Ballpark Figure: $800,000-$1.2 million
Date: 9 July

Via NYT

The first of Sotheby’s bi-annual sales of Scottish Pictures is scheduled for 1 May at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. Paying tribute to 20th century, the sale would feature the masterpieces and artwork from all periods and movements of Scottish Art during last century. The highlights of the exhibition would be from the Scottish Colourists, the Glasgow Boys, the Edinburgh Group and the New Glasgow Boys together with a worthy collection by Alexander Goudie. Year 2008 would witness the second year of the sales hosted at the Assembly Rooms. The eternal Colourist section of the sale will be organized by Samuel John Peploe’s (1871-1935) Cassis Harbour and John Duncan Fergusson’s (1874-1961) Bathers with Mirror.

Peploe’s French harbor scene is anticipated to fetch £80,000-120,000 while Bathers with Mirror (pictured above) is expected to generate sales of £150,000-200,000.

It portrays numerous signature elements and it is a splendid case of the latter period of his work, a phase subjugated by his high-spirited images of bathers and n****.

Via AuctionPublicity

Who don’t want to offer the best of the breed to their growing young ones? Apparently, there would be few who can’t afford to offer but have heart to do so. But those blessed parents who are hunting for unique offerings to invest their money into could ink better deals here. News is an antique gold-plated pram dating back to 1877, lately got sold for £6,000.
This “Converted Silver Cross Silver Shadow baby pram” bathed in gold worth £4,000 with elegant wheels was picked by an unnamed South African businessman while its display at Harrods.

This Silver Cross brand was restored by Graham Richardson and Alison Murfet and have generations grown up being kindly wheeled around in its baby carriages. Offering a perfect bling to rich kids, it features a leather hood spruced with ultra lavish ermine fur and blue satin lining on the inside along with a clockwork music box that sings nursery rhymes.

No one is sure whether the pram is picked for a baby or just as collector’s fad to update its wardrobe. For sure, one can expect next Beckham baby riding on one of these blingy accessory.

Via DailyMail

An antique ‘Satlada’ necklace embedded with 1,888 pearls, once a possession of Arab world’s most famous singer, Umm Kulthoum got sold for $1,385,000 at a Christie’s auction in this rich Gulf emirate. This nine-strand necklace was purchased by an unnamed buyer from the Middle East and has fetched almost 10-times the pre-estimated sales price of $1, 20,000. The necklace is a part of the valuables collected by the Egyptian-born singer.

The descendants of Arab’s diva had put this necklace for sale. This necklace was flaunted by Umm Kulthoum at number of her stage performances. The pearl necklace with its multihued enamel and white stone minutiae was designed in 19th century India. It was a gift to the Umm by diva by Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late president of the United Arab Emirates in 1975 when she was 70.

Via FoxNews

Can you imagine a sofa getting sold off for 80,000 pounds ($159,000)? If not then start convincing yourself as a Ron Arad sofa may fetch up to 80,000 pounds ($159,000) at a London sale this week. It is a clear symptom of growing demand for “design art.” But even after dropping this hefty dough you cannot afford to sit on this steel work.

Ben Williams, a design expert at Phillips de Pury engaged in selling the Arad couch, titled “Early Big Easy Volume 2 for 2 Sofa”1989 said: If you are carrying jeans, then it is suggestive to be actually cautious. Usually they serve as a sculptural element but can be used for sitting on occasionally. Other designer creation includes “Alligator Chair,” carved out of children’s cuddly alligator toys and anticipated to fetch 25,000 pounds at Phillips. Other highlights of the 246 objects featured at sale include a carbon-fiber table designed by Australian- born Marc Newson may fetch up to 200,000 pounds.

It is estimated that Phillips’s inaugural design sale in London would generate a sale of 1.4-2 million pounds.
The limited edition of Newson’s three-legged “Black Hole” table, dating back to 2006 may get sold off for 235,448 euros ($375,000).

Via WilliamVerdult

Here comes a perfect antique gift for your beloved. Featured above is a 206.82 carat sapphire pendant encrusted with diamonds to be auctioned at Sotheby’s auctyion house in Geneva, London. Designed by jeweller Cartier in 1951, the pendant formely was a part of collection of Britain’s Wallis, Duchess of Windsor. It is anticipated to fetch $1.1-1.5 million (Euros 6,97,000-9,50,000) on 15 May.

Robert A. Rosania, champagne collector king has managed to make up to the headlines and courtesy for this goes to Acker Merrall & Condit, who would be auctioning off a part of Rosania’s immense collection of vintage bubbly at New York’s Cru restaurant.

The collection counting 1,346 bottles, 303 magnums and 11 jeroboams include rare breeds of renowned effervesce like 1914 Pol Roger (estimated at $8,000 to $15,000 a bottle), 1966 Krug Blanc de Blancs ($10,000 to $15,000), 1964 Salon ($7,000 to $10,000) and Louis Roederer 1962 Cristal champagne. The Rosania sale is expected to generate a sales figure of record $5 million including red gems.

A deep insight into the April market report clearly reflects a rise over the past year for vintage of the big three spirits viz. 1982 Roederer Cristal up 113%, 1985 Krug up 70%, 1996 Dom Perignon up 48%. As an asset, champagne stays underrated in contrast with the largely fine-wine market.

Via Bloomberg

The most respected thing about vintage jewelry is the inheritance of history that comes with it. Featured above is an intricate Empress Eugénie’s brooch, an aged diamond bow brooch designed dated back in 1855 by the Parisian jeweler François Kramer for the French Empress. The brooch was the highlight of the scheduled auction at Christie’s called “Eye of a Connoisseur sale,” that came to standstill during last minutes because of some court orders involving Fred Leighton owner, Ralph Esmerian under the charge of outstanding loans of $178 million debt owned to Merrill Lynch & Co.

Esmerian has had hard times paying off his debts and thus had to give up the security (his collection). Merrill Lynch made quality efforts to cash in the jewels at a Christie’s auction but Esmerian managed to put an hold on the sale, thereby declaring bankruptcy.

Against the pre-sales estimated amount of $4 million to $6 million, the brooch generated $11 million and all thanks to Louvre, who inked this pricey deal in order to get back a piece of the crown jewels. Having auctioned first in 1887, the brooch remained in the custody of jeweler Emile Schlesinger throughout his stay of 100 years in the Astor family.
I think more than craftsmanship, it is the legacy factor that has led to such a pricey auction.

Featured above is a tiara bejeweled with a 101.27-carat shield-shaped diamond making up to Christie’s auction house based in Hong Kong. The diamond tiara is successful in inviting the attention of filthy rich and is anticipated to fetch $6,000,000-$7,500,000.

Via USAToday