SOTHEBY'S FIRST DESIGNER SHOWHOME

I love to see Sotheby's expanding their marketing into non-traditional auction house realms, with their recently opened gallery and now their first designer showhome in New York.  And what a wonderful concept, with six designers able to raid the upcoming sales lots and select items for the showhome!  Can you imagine having full access to the Sotheby's warehouse for furniture and art shopping?!  What a dream come true for any designer that appreciates antiques and fine art.  Yes, I would be in absolute heaven.

And the best part about what Sotheby's is doing, is that they are promoting the use of antiques in a contemporary context, a philosophy and cause very close to my heart, and they actually make a wonderful statement about this on their website-

"We hope that these spaces will demonstrate how good pieces of fine and decorative art can transcend time and space and that the dialogue between these pieces within a contemporary context not only allows the viewer an opportunity to reflect upon the pieces’ historical and art historical importance, but also gives these pieces new meaning and significance in the world of today."

My only regret is that I am not going to be there in time to see it this spring.  My next NY trip just barely misses it.  Oh well, its on the calendar for next year! (Oh, and of course, there is the other regret that I will likely never be asked to be a contributing designer... but one can always dream!)

More info on the showhome here.

LITTLE BABY KENOS

I have had this book on the shelf for several years now, and have finally gotten around to reading it, with all my attentions focused on my new furniture venture.  It is such fun learning more about the Keno bros and their start in the field of American furniture and dec arts, my true love in the world of antiques.  I was lucky enough to have both of them as guest lecturers when I attended Sotheby's Institute, and had the bizarre experience of attending an auction with one Keno brother at the front of the room selling American furniture, and the other standing at the back of the room buying American furniture.  One would think such a practice would not be allowed... can't identical twins read each others thoughts?!

While I have only made it through the start of their careers in the 1980s, I am completely hooked, and also more than a bit creeped out by the descriptions of two blond, seven-year-old, identical twins (often dressed identically as well) roaming the New England countryside poking around abandoned barns looking for 17th century antiques.  Isn't that the beginning of several horror films?  Oh no, just the beginning of the extraordinary lives of two of the greatest antiques experts of our day.

Despite the somewhat unsettling narratives in the first chapters of the book, I find it absolutely fascinating, learning about their first acquisitions as young dealers, rising through the ranks of Sotheby's and Christies auction houses.  I can't get enough of this stuff...yes, I am a furniture geek through and through.  Any other furniture geeks out there, I would highly recommend it!

A GOOD TIME TO BE A NORWEGIAN

I have to say it is a great time to be a Norwegian (or half a Norwegian) when the most expensive piece of art ever sold at auction happens to be by a Norwegian painter.  While Munch's "Scream" might not hold this illustrious title for too long, I imagine it will be for a little while.  The last painting to hold this title was Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust" which sold of 106 million in 2010.  So I hope "The Scream" has a good few years of glory.

I just love the fact that the recent owner, now no longer an owner Petter Olsen, that grew up with the piece, thought the person in the painting to be a pretty girl with chin-length golden hair...not a man (read: Munch) holding his hands to his face and screaming in horror.  What an amazing view into the world of a child....it ALMOST makes me want one (a child that is, not a Scream which of course I want).

Now, what I am about to comment on is likely controversial (in the small world of auctioneering), however, I must have my say.  I was a bit disappointed, however, not surprised to see who the auctioneer was for this sale.  The poster-boy of Sotheby's modern and contemporary sales- Tobias Meyers- someone that honestly, I find somewhat dull on the auction podium.  Sure, he is European, and sophisticated, but not really full of much life.  I have seen a number of less well-known auctioneers at Sotheby's that have packed a much bigger punch.  However, I must admit, I would have LOVED to be in the room when Tobias said that he "had all the time in the world" at 99 million.  Well done.  I guess I am not that bitter after all, Tobias.  Still a great day to be Norwegian.

ANOTHER AUCTION I WOULD LOVE TO ATTEND

The last of the 'Robber Baron' heiresses, Hugette Clark, died about a year ago.  Her jewels are to be auctioned off at Cristie's on April 17th.  Hugette spent most of her life as a recluse, from 1930 onwards.  However, she did enjoy her wonderfully over-the-top jewels prior to (and I suspect after) her self-imposed confinement.  Here is a wonderful photo of her wearing two of the bracelets that will be auctioned:

 And here is one bracelet:

And then there are the two massive diamonds, both of which were worn as rings by Hugette, estimated to sell for $6-8 million and $2-3 million respectively:

"I STOOD STILL, DEATHLY TIRED-"

I am both very excited and somewhat upset that the only privately held version of The Scream by Munch will be sold at Sotheby's New York on May 2nd.  Excited because I cannot wait for it to make a record-breaking sale (which I know it will, it is currently estimated to sell for around $80million), and upset because it is currently owned by a Norwegian, and will now likely be sold to someone outside of Norway.  It is always a bit sad when a great masterpiece leaves its homeland.  However, Norway does hold the other 3 versions, all in Norwegian museums.

I love that Sotheby's is featuring it so prominently on the website (as it should be), and that they include Munchs wonderful words associated with the work-
"I stood still, deathly tired-
Over the blue-black fjord and city hung blood and tongues of fire
My friends walked on-
I remained behind- Shivering with anxiety-
I felt the great Scream in Nature"

Learn more here or here.

"THE CROWN JEWELS OF HOLLYWOOD"

Christie's has dubbed Liz Taylor's jewels "The Crown Jewels of Hollywood", and I can see why.

And you have to get some sense of scale with this ring...

Wow.  This is some pretty amazing stuff...certainly rivaling anything the British have on display at the Tower of London. 

And despite the fact I am disappointed Sothebys did not get this sale, I am happy to see there will be a worldwide tour of the 269 jewels (with an estimated worth of over $30 million) for all us regular folks to view.  Alas, I am not in Moscow, London, LA, Dubai, Geneva, Paris or Hong Kong.  And the most disappointing is that I will be in NYC just about a week after they are on show there...by then all these jewels will have already found new homes.  And my home will not be one of them.  Sigh.  A girl can dream though...