A 1000-year-old carved rock crystal ewer from the Fatimid royal treasury is all set to generate a sale of 3 million pounds ($5.3 million) at Christie’s sale of Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds on 7 October. Dating back to late 10th to early 11th century AD, the Fatimid ewer is one of counted seven fully-carved recognized extant examples and the foremost one to be available for sale in an open market. Undoubtedly, it is a notable occasion for private collectors and institutions across the world. The auction is anticipated to sport an amazing grouping of exceptional artworks ranging from diverse geographical areas, materials and time and is expected to generate over £11 million.

Engraved from an individual piece of flawless rock crystal (hard as toughened steel), the ewers were first unfilled and then carved by hand with astonishing elegance, leaving a surface in the thinner areas that is only a few millimeters wide.

Designed and developed in 1854 by the French silversmith Jean-Valentin Morel, the Ewer is auxiliary embroidered with enamelled gold mounts that is clearly visibile on its right.

Via MiddleEastEvents

Lately, a change of taste is being witnessed in the likings of the filthy-rich or those belonging to elite section of society. Against their routine thought of exhibiting their riches over walls by hanging valuable art, now they wish to sit on it. And boosting high this spirit stands the Russian oligarch and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich. Respecting this new art discipline, they seem to have lost their heart to a creation of something christened as “functional sculpture”. Designed and developed by architects and artists, the demand for this furniture item can well be calculated during its inviting visibility at the first auction dedicated exclusively to modern design scheduled at Christie’s this autumn.

The auction at Christie’s is expected to feature items like polyurethane table designed by the Iranian architect Zaha Hadid and highly polished steel sofa by the British-born Israeli designer Ron Arad priced at £100,000 and £150,000 respectively. Word is around that Arad’s work will be displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2009. Wishful buyers of this world’s priciest art creation include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Via Independent

Another auction for charity! News is Tony Soprano’s boxers; black leather jacket, tan bathrobe and velour tracksuit falling amongst the old-fashioned mobster’s clothes are set to be auction at Christie’s International on 25 June in New York. James Gandolfini, who enacted the lethal yet oddly engaging New Jersey hooligan in “The Sopranos,” has plans to sell off 25 lots of clothing his character wore on the TV series that ended in June 2007. The profits, anticipated around $36,500 hence would be donated to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, a Jacksonville, Florida-based nonprofit that aids injured soldiers. As a part of auction comes black leather Harley Davidson motorcycle jacket owned by Elvis Presley sporting Elvis’ initials EP stitched on the inside breast along with his diamond encrusted “Chief Deputy, Shelby County, Tennessee” badge. The jacket is expected to sell for $2,000 on 25 June at Christie’s.

Via Bloomberg

I don’t mind if the world’s most expensive rug is designed using silk, Persian or is centuries old but for sure the challenge is if it manages to tie the room together. An unnamed buyer inked a deal with a 16th-17th Century Persian rug that got sold for $4.45 million. Measuring 7’ 5” by 5’ 7”, it was formerly possessed by Doris Duke, a tobacco heiress and before she died left it to the Newport Restoration Foundation. The record selling price that it demanded was $700 per square inch.

One thing is for sure that the proud buyer should mention: “Wipe your feet” next to this rug so that it gets iits worthy respect.

Via MostExpensive/ Deluxe

News is two of the last ever shotguns developed by 200-year-old London luxury goods firm Asprey generated a sales of over $120,000 at Christie’s. The extraordinarily delicate firearms exhibited at the Christie’s Fine Sporting Guns and Rifles sale marked the end of a custom of faultlessly accomplished gun craft.

Asprey engaged in supplying aristocracy and longtime holder of Royal Warrants shut down its gunrooms in 1996 for good, soon after the company was acquired by Prince Jefri of Brunei. After holding this you can stand next to Prince Charles and George Bush as both take pride in owning one.

Other impresseive shortguns anticipated to go under hammer include a pair of 12-bore double-barreled shotguns from 1976 and a 1969 .375 magnum double-barreled rifle made by Holland & Holland for $118,000 and $94,000 respectively. Also, attracting eyeballs would be a double-barreled 1906 sporting rifle by Purdey, for $31,000; and a modern 12-bore Beretta shotgun, $16,000, all with gorgeous design and woodwork.

More pics:

Via Christie

Christie’s International is hoping to take deep breaths as it is focusing into the antique English furniture market by holding an evening sale of 12 “masterpieces” in London on 18 June. The discretely segmented selection that follows Christie’s evening sale of the anthology of the late Simon Sainsbury, is anticipated to fetch 10 million pounds ($19.7 million). The sale exhibits five works by Thomas Chippendale, the renowned English cabinetmakers.

Chippendale’s Kenure Cabinet from 1750s, an affluently stamped piece in a Chinese “fantasy” style is illustrated as the “finest example of his craft to ever appear at auction” by the auction house.

Since 1964, it was not seen in the market and news it this time at Christie’s it may generate a sale of record 2.5 million pounds to 4 million pounds ($3.9-$7.8 million) on 18 June.

Via Bloomberg

Available for auction, Princess Diana’s classic gown designed by Catherine Walker using chiffon is catching all eyeballs at ebay. Starting from today, the charity auction organized by WEtv runs till 22 August.
Celebrating the dual-purpose to memorize her charismatic style, the sales generated through this auction would go to America’s Promise Alliance.

After gaining Diana’s contribution for the upbringing of the destitute children in her living years, the alliance (a national non-profit organization) is still the concern for Diana’s soul.

During the earlier auction of Diana’s gown in June 1997 at Christie’s Auction House, WE tv was the privileged owner of the three of the 80 gowns auctioned. The present auction is to conserve her reminiscence.

Albeit starting bid is $125,000, all bidders have to pre-qualify.

Via ebay

The bulky amount of respect derived even by the dead-soul of India’s freedom fighters is worth saluting. Days back news was that the two-letters written by Mahatma Gandhi were available for auction at Christie’s auction house. The displayed letters might seem like two ordinary sheets of paper to other nationals but its value is well-identified by Indians.

The level of impatience or let me correct myself, the loyalty of the Indians for their “Bapu” doesn’t let those letters stay there for a long. As a result of this, the storyline today is that the Indian government has bought those letters from British auction house Christie’s through ICCR and presented it to the local NGO the Navjivan Trust.

To enhance your knowledge further, these letters were written by Mahatma Gandhi, 19 days prior to his assassination on 11 January 1948 . The bottomline says it all.

All eyeballs here: The letters were are bought for $ 37,500 (Rs1500,000).

With the upcoming new gadgets or updated version of the old models, one cannot overshadow the beauty of age-old and conventional. To exemplify this, today we have a Bell & Howell model 2709 motion picture camera available for the auction on 25 July 2007. Mind you, this is not an ordinary camera as it has an established reputation of personal movie camera used for Charlie Chaplin for the screening of his numerous classic films.

All set to invite all eyeballs, Samantha Ryan, Christie’s saleroom assistant poses with the camera. The expected amount generated out of its sales is $140,000 - $180,000.

So, are you planning to buy one? Well, if you cannot afford to grab it then at least respect this camera by visiting the Christie’s auction hall for window-shopping only.

This introduction of a new elite product is a value addition to my earlier updates. So dear friends, I am considering that you know Christie’s New York auction that are in news for long.

Also, the products displayed at Christie’s auction are inviting eyeballs. So, here is one more. Designed by Diego Rivera, the “silver metal headboard” is expected to fetch up to $40,000 during the Christie’s New York auction “Maria Felix: La Dona” on 17-18 July 2007.

Measurements: 51 inches (height) by 85 inches (width)

Now give me the honor to introduce you with some insights about this designer product. The work was made for Maria Felix, the iconic Mexican movie star nicknamed “La Dona,” and belonged the estate of Felix. And who knows, you might be the one to fit it right in your living room.

So, Are you ready to join the queue?