A portrait painted by Pablo Picasso of his “golden muse” and secret lover has sold for $139.4m (£114m) at an auction by Sotheby’s in New York. Femme à la Montre becomes the second most valuable work by the artist. Painted in 1932, the picture was described by the auctioneers Sotheby’s as the “prized jewel” of about 120 artworks owned by Emily Fisher Landau, one of the greatest art collectors of the 20th century. The sale...
Global auction specialist Sotheby’s has started a monthly newsletter aiming to spotlight areas it thinks collectors should be particularly excited about. As Sotheby’s Global Chairman and Head of Global Fine Art, Brooke L Lampley says she has “A front row seat to watch our auctions evolve each season” She adds: “It’s a rare privilege to facilitate the connection between creators and collectors. This month we’re starting a newsletter to tell you, our top clients, what...
Brora Iris, donated by Diageo to the Distillers One Of One Charity Auction, has sold for £400,000 / $483,080 (including buyer’s premium), breaking the record for the highest price ever paid for a single bottle from the distillery. Sold at Hopetoun House, Edinburgh in partnership with Sotheby’s, the stunning work of art represents the eye of a Scottish Wildcat, the emblem of Brora Distillery, and is the oldest whisky ever to be released from the...
The Last Drop Distillers will be auctioning a rare experience as a Founder Donor in The Distillers’ One of One Auction, taking place on Thursday 5th October 2023. In partnership with Sotheby’s, the Distillers One of One brings together an unparalleled collection of one-off, never-to-be-repeated Scotch whiskies from distillers and bottlers across the length and breadth of Scotland. The Last Drop has devised an exceptional offering which not only celebrates the art of Scotch Whisky...
Sotheby’s is presenting the Emily Fisher Landau Collection to be sold across dedicated evening and day sales in New York this November, marking a historic auction event. The total value of the collection is estimated at $400m, and it features works by Picasso, Mondrian and Jasper Johns. The star lot of the group is Pablo Picasso’s Femme à la Montre (Woman With a Watch), a 1932 portrait of the artist’s young lover Marie-Therese Walter, which...
The Sealed Auctions platform provided by Sotheby’s provides a secure and safe environment for buyers from all over the world to bid on high-end vehicles, luxury products, and fine art. Select the amount you would like to bid and click “Place Bid.” If your bid is greater than the current high bid ¹, you will be the new high bidder, otherwise you will see where your current bid ranks. If your bid is ranked 11th...
When Chris Levine unveiled The Lightness of Being in 2008, the work took the world by storm and overnight became one of the most iconic and sought-after portraits of Queen Elizabeth II. The image was subsequently reproduced in a limited number of different editions, ranging from large lenticular lightboxes to pop-coloured silkscreen prints. The present version on sale until November 20th from Sotheby’s constitutes the very last iteration of this body of work. Released to commemorate the...
Found on the easel in his studio at the time of his death, a captivating depiction of a nude figure by Gustav Klimt explores a new approach to colour and form, resulting in a masterpiece by an artist at the height of his powers. After a ten-minute bidding battle between four clients on the phones and in the room, the painting was sold by Sotheby’s for £85.3 million, setting a new auction record for a...
This summer, Sotheby’s is presenting Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, a once-in-a-lifetime series of auctions in which Queen singer’s prized possessions go up for sale. Alongside his legendary public persona, Freddie Mercury was a deeply educated collector with a connoisseur’s eye, honed over years of careful research and exploration of the artists and movements that sparked his intellectual and aesthetic curiosity. This collection, given on his death in 1991 to his friend Mary...
A pair of sneakers worn by basketball icon Michael Jordan at the 1998 NBA finals have achieved more than $2.2m (£1.8m) in an auction at Sotheby’s, making them the most expensive pair of trainers ever sold. The Air Jordans beat the previous record of $1.8m (£1.45 million) held by a pair of Kanye West’s Nike Air Yeezy 1s. The Air Jordan 13s were worn by Michael Jordan for the second game of the finals during...
