And Sotheby’s is again heads up for another jewelry auction at its Geneva-based auction house. Scheduled for 15 May, the auction accessories include an oval-shaped diamond ear clip, diamond encrusted tiara, diamond corsage ornament, fine enamel and diamond cocktail watch by Cartier, cabochon sapphire-set ring and many others.

The diamond ear clips from the collection of Lily Marinho comprises of two clusters of pear-shaped diamond, weighing 11.08 and 11.66 carats and are expected to fetch between $ 1,200,000 and $ 2,000,000.

Set with diamonds in the shape of oak leaves dating back to 19th century, the tiara is expected to generate sales of $60,000-$100,000.

The diamond corsage ornament signed by Vever is from the French Belle Epoque jewelery collection and are anticipated to reach $ 155,000-$235,000.

Another highlight of the auction is a fine enamel and diamond cocktail watch made by Cartier in 1924.

The watch was given in the 1930’s by the Duchess of York Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon to her personal companion Katta Maclean and today is expected to fetch $6,000-$ 10,000.

The facsimile autograph of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon is featured on the overturn of a very fine enamel and diamond cocktail watch.

Also, the cabochon sapphire-set ring dating from 1930 (L), a fancy vivid purplish pink diamond ring (C) and a fancy vivid blue pear-shaped diamond are expected to reach between $ 20,000 and $ 30,000, between $ 2,350,000 and $ 2,850,000 and between $ 2,800,000 and $ 3,500,000 respectively at Geneva-based auction on 15 May.

Via Sotheby’s

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

Tom Devenish is an established name in the English furniture industry based in New York. He died in 2002 and had left ample 18th-century antiques (typically furniture and mirror) in his packed, cigar-smoke-occupied shop at 929 Madison Avenue. He was little interested in selling any of his collectible. Earlier he made up to the news on the basis of one oft-told story, perchance mythical, when one fine day Anne Bass, the patron cum collector, rang his bell and Devenish unbolted the door and said: “I don’t deal with blondes” and banged it.

And today he has again reached to the headlines as his entire catalog, one-of-its-kind English furniture collections would be up for auction at Sotheby’s on 24 April. The luminary lots comprise of three impressive japanned bureau cupboards from the 1700s (two in red, one in green), a pair of George II gilded armchairs with eagle-head armrests, an 18th-century Irish side table with a lion mask and a George III semi-elliptical marquetry-inlaid commode that hides a desk.

In total, there are 203 products to be sold and it is anticipated that it will fetch $14- $21 million. The presale analysis starts on 19 April. The top lot, likely at $800,000 to $1.2 million, was Devenish’s favorite: a George II Chippendale style carved mahogany open armchair, from around 1755.

Via NYT

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