Update: Umm Kulthoum’s antique necklace fetched $1.3 mn, almost 10 times of its pre-estimated sales amount at Christie’s auction house.
An antique necklace embedded with around 1,888 pearls, a pricey possession of Egyptian Singer Umm Kulthoum is all set to go under hammer in Dubai on 29 April. The necklace was once gifted to Kultham by Sheik Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late president of the United Arab Emirates and is anticipated to fetch $80,000-$120,000 during the Jewels and Watches auction in Dubai.

Christie’s spokeswoman Clare Roberts said Umm Kulthoum received this nine-row necklace from Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1970s. Born in 1904, Umm learnt singing from her father and debuted her first footage in the mid-1920s and by 1930s; she reached the top of Cairo’s composition panorama.

Via IHT

Melted down is not a painting but an antique bowl that have reached the auction block. This gold Ming Dynasty bowl is anticipated to sell off for $30,000, which is almost two-fold of its estimated price around four years ago. Sotheby’s disclosed that at a scheduled Hong Kong auction on 11 April, this masterpiece w would be inviting bids not less than HK$60 million ($7.7 million). Emblazoned with dragons and fitted pearls, turquoise, rubies and sapphires, the three-legged vessel is bejeweled with 1.3 kilograms of 18K gold, which makes it the highlight of Sotheby’s auction amongst 25 other gold and precious-metal objects. Total auction value expected to be generated from this New York-based auction is d HK$100 million.

Via Bloomberg