Christie’s – High End Weekly™

At Christie’s NY: A Fresh look at World-Class Masters

**Jan Cornelisz. Vermeyen (Beverwijk, Circa 1500 -C. 1559 Brussels). Portrait of Joost Aemszoon van der Burch.**

Top Picks from Christie’s Classic Week: April 8-15, 2016

Christie’s Classic Week overs an extraordinary look at some of the world’s top old masters – from Rubens masterpiece Lot and his Two Daughters which is in view for the first time in a century (the sale will take place at Christie’s London) to a fascinating exhibit named An Inquiring Mind: American Collecting of Japanese and Korean Art. The Classic Week goes from Antiquities, Sculpture, with a contrasting mix artists like Clyfford Still.

**Background: A Hendrik Frans Van Lint waiting. (Called LO STUDIO). Baccus and Ariadne on the Island of Naxos.**

**Elisabeth-Louise Vigee Le Brun: Portrait of Marie Antoinette (1755-1793), bust-length, in a trompe l’oeil stone niche.**

**A Kawari Kabuto (Exotic Helmet). Momoyama period (Late 16th century).**

**A Roman sleeping beauty at Christie’s Classic Week.**

**Foreground – Right: Elisabeth-Louise Vigee Le Brun (Paris 1755-1842). Maria Grigorievna Viazemskaia, Princess Golitsyna (1772-1865), seated three-quarter-lengh.**

**Jean-Leon Gerome (Vesoul. Haute-Saone 1824-1904 Paris) Washington a cheval (‘Washington on his horse’). Bronze, dark brown patina.**

**A tinted plaster bust of Napoleon Bonaparte as first consul by Joseph Chinard (Lyon 1756-1813), 1801.**

IMG_9336 (1) — **Domenikos Theotokopoulos, Called EL GRECO. (Crete 1541-1614) Toledo). The Entombment of Christ.**

**A colossal Roman marble portrait head of the emperor Hadrian. Reign 117-138 A.D.**

**An important large Roman inlaid bronze Bacchus. Circa 2nd Century A.D.**

**Christie’s Classic Week: April 8-15, 2016**

IMG_9413 (1) — **A Roman marble Venus. Circa 1st Century B.C., 1st Century A.D.**

**An important Egyptian wood figure of a lady. Middle kingdom. Early 12th dynasty. Circa 1981-1802 B.C.**

**Foreground: An attic red-figured Nolan amphora, attributed to the Berlin painter, circa 470 B.C.**

**Contemporary artwork by Clyfford Still mixed with Classic Week at Christie’s.**

Where To Buy Chinese Art

Christie’s Inc.

Asia Week New York – the nine-day Asian art extravaganza – ended on a stupendous note: $200 million in sales, exceeding last year’s number by $25 million. From the minute the 47 international galleries of Asia Week New York opened their doors on March 14, a whirlwind of activities invigorated the city. The annual event was celebrated with a magnificent reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on March 17, where the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed more than 600 collectors, curators and Asian art specialists. The event ignited excitement that burned for the entire week, and the Asian art world buzzed with exhibitions and record-breaking auctions that were thronged with international buyers from mainland China, Taiwan, India, Japan, Korea and the United States.

“With an increase in overseas Chinese buyers, combined with many American museum curators and their patrons, Asia Week New York was a tremendous success this year,” says Carol Conover, chairman of Asia Week New York. “A record number of 47 galleries – saw steady and heavy traffic throughout the week, and the four major auction houses saw sales reach new highs.”

Allimageswere taken at Christie’s, New York.

Contemporary Chinese Art

Important Classical Chinese Furniture

The ‘Min’ Fanglei

Fat Lady from the Tang Dynasty

G. Ravinder Reddy

Vyna St. Phard, Asia Week New York, Christie’s

Images by High End Weekly™

Old World Splendor: The Michael Smith’s Sale at Christie’s

A Palladian Villa by Michael S. Smith

Photo via Christie’s

Classical Sensibility, Modern Context

The unbelievable art and furniture gathered together at the Palladian-style villa auction at Christie’s span the past 500 years. Going through the sale, it’s hard to imagine that such an extraordinary amount of art and design were put together for a single auction. But given that they’re from a private property that was designed by the Obamas’ White House interior designer, Michael S. Smith, it came at no surprise. There are over 450 lots of museum-quality pieces, including Asian art and antiques, Old Master paintings and historic European furniture. Walking through this “Palladian villa”, it became apparent why the designer is planning on bidding on some of the items that he himself have been putting together for this sale for the past five years.

Yes, the overall collection is old world, but the pieces offer an extraordinary level of comfort that one can easily live with in modern times. Further, what I also liked about this sale was that the estimated prices were quite varied, and they offer an excellent opportunity to bid between some of the fairly reasonable pieces to the most lavish ones. Michael is said to be so passionate about this sale, that he even wrote a book about it, “Building Beauty: The Alchemy of Design” (Rizzoli).

Vyna St. Phard, Christie’s 2013

Background: A group of five African masks from the Ivory Coast/Liberia/Democratic republic of Congo (including a Lega-style mask, a Guro mask, and two Dan masks)

Counting sheep: Francois-Xavier Lallane ‘Mouton De Pierre’ A pair of sheep, designed circa 1979, welcome visitors to the Palladian Villa Sale

Pair of sheep from Francois-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008)

Dramatic: Background Painting – Fedele Fischetti (Naples 1732 – 1792) La toilette de Psyche, oil on canvas

Christie’s presents a two-day sale of a Palladian Villa on April 23-24, 2013

A ‘Zanzibar’ mother-of-pear and pewter inlaid hardwood chest, late 19th/Early 20th century

Top: Two Bamileke Style masks, Cameron

A Chinese black-lacquered altar table

Top center: Chinese Scroll Fragments, in and color on silk, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

The first portrait of a scholar

Left: A pair of oak folding theater chairs, modern

Each with a padded back and seat, covered in suede leather. Right: An Irish Regency mahogany open armchair, circa 1815, attributed to Gillingtons

Top drawings: Pable Picasso (1881 – 1973), Alphabet anthropomorphe, signed ‘Picasso’ (on the fourth sheet) pencil on paper

Bottom: A pair of French oak dinning chairs, mid-20th century

Top: Sam Glankoff (1894-1982), Untitled, PP 2067, signed and dated “Glankoff 73” (lower right) ink and cassein on Japanese handmade paper

A pair of George III mahogany side chairs, circa 1780

Background painting: Leon Polk Smith (1906-1996), Correspondence Green, Signed, titled and dated

Laurence Fayard

Background painting: Sean Scully (b. 1945) signed “Scully” oil on two attached canvas. Executed in 1989

Left: A Chinese Rootwood Table, 19th Century

Top: Jean-Pierre Pincemin (b. 1944), Canto IV (Paris Generation Plus, collection Grand Format). A pair of George III Elm Ladderback Side Chairs, Late 18th/19th Century

Forefront: A circular marble table with baluster support, 19th century

Left: Central European silvered and cream painted side chairs, German or Northern Italian, circa 1780. Right: Follower of William Larkin, Portrait of a lady,
full-length, in black embroidered gown with lace collar

Left: A brass boat propeller sculpture, 20th century

Photos courtesy High End Weekly™

Greenberg’s Art Deco: The Splendor Of The Sublime

Art Deco

MASTERFUL CRAFTSMANSHIP

The Steven Greenberg collection of Art Deco art, furniture, and accessories represents the magnificence of a time relived through the eyes of this special collector. Capturing the Art Deco zeitgeist through selective acquisition, with an acute eye towards exquisite beauty, Greenberg amassed works by Dupas, Dunand, and Ruhlmann.

Written by Gail Green

As Kathryn Hausman, president of the Art Deco Society of New York, who was both a close personal and professional friend of Steven Greenberg notes, “When it came to his collection, Steven had both an eye for attention to detail and an appreciation for the masterful craftsmanship and beauty that epitomized the Art Deco period. He lived and worked amongst these works of beauty as though each piece spoke to him of a time and artist still alive. Stevenʼs ability to create such a collection illustrates his profound knowledge and love of the period.” With the majority of his exemplary collection centered on the works of these three titans of the times, Greenberg sets the Christieʼs stage with a feast for the splendor of the sublime.

A COLLECTOR’S PASSION FOR BEAUTY

Paul Bonetʼs hand-tooled leather binding with George Barbierʼs lively illustrations

Talking sublime, Paul Bonetʼs hand-tooled leather binding with George Barbierʼs lively illustrations is artistic virtuosity. Influenced by Pierre Legrain, Bonetʼs work exhibits a three dimensionality that is highly innovative. This black Morocco gild leather binding, whose cover is encrusted with a “sunk-in lacquer panel in black, red, gold, silver, and eggshell, and whose lower cover is gilt and decorated with red morocco inlay and golden iridescent silk end leaves” exhibits the whimsy and fanciful decoration of the illustrations within. Encapsulating the beauty and materials of the Art deco period, Bonet was both highly imaginative and daring.

Unlike any Eileen Gray I have ever seen, this rare six panel 1923 dark brown colored lacquer screen is a wonderful example of the designerʼs art moderne style. Incised and painted wood panels display linear and arced shapes reminiscent of the De Stijl movement, Grayʼs work shows a sympathetic alliance to the international artists of her time, both in innovation and technique. The work is about as much as the spaces she defined within the lines as it is about the process and genius that these lines distinguished.

Jean Dupasʻ pair of wall panels, dated 1934/5, define Greenbergʼs taste for the period as well as epitomize the Art Deco period itself. The allegorical themes which it portrays in full splendor are as bold and magnificent as the work itself. Sea monsters, sirens, waves – a drama played out verre eglomise display a boldness of line and spirit that raise this work to magnificent artistic heights. Originally designed for the Grand Salon of the Normandie, the gold, silver and palladium leafing palette must have made a grand gesture matched only by the ship itself.

Steven Greenbergʼs masterpiece collection of French Art Deco artistry highlights the unfaltering eye of a collectorʼs passion for beauty and genius. Best Wishes! Gail.

Six panel 1923 dark brown colored lacquer screen

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The Weekender: The September Issues

How do I keep up with the latest trends from the world of Design, Fashion, to the Luxury Market? Not only does my head stays buried in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times during the week, but on the weekend, I like to indulge in some of the finest magazines like The World of Interiors, Good House Keeping, The Robb Report, Interior Design, Vanity Fair and many others.

O The Oprah Magazine has long been one of the few magazines I’ve subscribed to over the years

The World of Interiors is a mind blowing, little gem of a design magazine. It stays ahead of its times,

and truly one of the best around

From Paris to Provence, all of the “Cotes” by-monthly issues can often be found inside my tote bags.

Christie’s started to send me their International Real Estates magazines, and quite frankly, it’s fast becoming a new favorite

America’s Darling: Architectural Digest is Numero Uno for many designers that I know. And the apparent reasons are written in every page

I believe Good Housekeeping has one of the largest subscribers, and month after month, I can see why that is. I’m a

subscriber of their Indian (yes, that’s right) issue as well

There’s something exceedingly appealing about House Beautiful. America’s oldest decorating magazine carries many treasures and inspirations

What can I say? It’s Vogue Paris. It is avant garde, and always elegant

How Can You Drop Your Stress & Your Dress Size? Well, all you have to do is read the September issue of Essence,

and you won’t have to worry about another thing – ever

What do I have on my bedside table at the moment? The September issue of Vanity Fair. And it’s lovely seeing the modern princess on the cover. For September, VF also came out with a supplemental issue on travel. Reading the section on The Palm Beach Lifestyle was truly riveting

Always tres chic. British Vogue is fast becoming a favorite

My friend Harry swears by this magazine.

According to him, Elle Decoration is the brightest star for every well appointed home

Although I am most seriously displeased with the person on the cover of this issue, I must admit that the Fall Fashion issue of

New York Magazine is pretty exciting. I’ve been subscribing to this one for as long as I can remember

Fashion Central: Vogue keeps it fresh, Vogue keeps it young, Vogue keeps it relevant

It’s interesting that many Interior Design Magazines are having celebrities on their covers more and more now.
Elle Decor is a dream magazine for so many, and the inspirations it contains are endless

Of course it’s one of my dreams to be on the cover of Town & Country Magazine.

Isn’t it everyone’s dream?

W is a great big magazine full of Fashion sense and the latest news on Celebrity Culture.

I can’t get enough of those two subjects

It’s great to see Zoe Saldana on the September issue of Gotham Magazine. Good for her. Good for Gotham

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Picasso’s Madoura Years

Christie’s London June Sale

The fortunate few had their last chance of owning Picasso’s Madoura Collection last month at Christie’s June 25th Sale. Over 550 ceramic works were presented and they spanned a total of 24 years, between 1947 and 1971. Those were the years that the master spent with his second wife, Jacqueline Roque at the Madoura Pottery in Valluris. According to Christie’s, this coveted collection was the last opportunity for collectors to purchase them directly from where they were made.

Pictured: Pablo Picasso at the Madoura Pottery in Vallauris, France

Madoura Ceramic

Pablo Picasso with his wife, Jacqueline Roque (directly from his left)

Madoura Ceramic from Picasso

Fantastical Form and Shape

Rare Bird
Madoura Ceramics from Christie’s June 2012 Sale

Pablo Picasso at work on one of his Madoura Ceramics

Picasso was a lover of nature, animals, and of people too

Madoura Ceramics

Pablo Picasso

Form As Fantasy

The conventional shapes and faces of the figures formed a fantasy. This was Picasso at one of his best periods. Experimenting with a new medium and making it work – his way, of course.

Photos courtesy Christie’s

More images of Picasso’s Madoura Ceramics can be found at our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/highendweekly.

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Living with Art: Christie’s Private Sale

Our Selections from Christie’s upcoming evening sale in London, Kings Street

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Left: Fernand Léger (1881-1955) Femme au vase, signed with the initials and dated ‘FL 25’ (lower right) gouache, watercolour and pencil on paper, 12 3/8 x 9½ in. (31.3 x 24 cm.) Executed in 1925

Bottom: Alexander Calder (1898-1976), Two Legs and a Belly. Signed with the artist’s initials ‘CA’ (on the top of the brass element) standing mobile: painted sheet metal, brass and wire, 16 x 17 x 6 in. (40.6 x 40.8 x 14.4 cm.), Executed circa 1959

Gabriel Orozco (b. 1962), Samurai Tree Invariant 4. Signed, titled and dated ‘SAMURAI TREE INVARIANT 4 GABRIEL OROZCO 2005’ (on the reverse); signed ‘GABRIEL OROZCO’ (on a paper label affixed to the stretcher) acrylic on canvas, 47 3/8 x 47 3/8 in. (120.3 x 120.3 cm.), Painted in 2005

Left: BAMANA FIGURE, JONYELENI. Mali, Wood. 21 in. (53 cm.) high. Right: Julio González (1876-1942). Homme étrange, signed with the initials and dated ‘j.G.1937’ (lower left), watercolour and pen and India ink on paper, 12 5/8 x 9½ in. (32 x 24.2 cm.) Executed in 1937

Miquel Barceló (b. 1957)

Brega de cans (Dog Fight)

Signed, titled and dated ‘BARCELÓ BREGAde CANS NOV. 81’ (on the reverse) Mixed media on canvas, 38¼ x 51 1/8 in. (97 x 129.7 cm.) Executed in 1981

René Magritte (1898-1967)

Shéhérazade

signed ‘magritte’ (lower right), gouache and watercolour on paper laid down on card

9¼ x 7½ in. (23.5 x 19 cm.) Executed in 1947

Left: PENDE MASK, MBANGU. Democratic Republic of Congo. Wood. 9 in. (23 cm.) high, not including stand. Right: Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Buste d’homme, signed ‘Picasso’ (upper left); dated and numbered ‘28.5.64.III’ (upper right); dated ‘28.5.64.’ (on the reverse), pastel and crayon on card, 10 5/8 x 8¼ in. (27 x 21 cm.) Executed on 28 May 1964

Photos courtesy: Christies

The Weekender: Elizabeth Taylor auction featured at Christie’s

The auction house devoted all 300,000 square feet of its facility to this museum-quality exhibit of Elizabeth Taylor’s Collections of jewelry, fashion, accessories, fine art, film memorabilia, costumes and decorative items. What can one expect to see at this once in a lifetime exhibition which is divided into four major sections?

Left: La Peregrina, a natural pearl, diamond and ruby necklace by Cartier. Right: Pair of Natural Pearl and diamond ear pendants by Bulgari

The Diamond Room: Which offers an up-close tour through Ms. Taylor’s most iconic jewelry, boasts an exquisite 33.19 carat D-color stunner, called the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. The Lifetime Achievement Room: A special display of Elizabeth Taylor’s impressive honors and humanitarian awards, intermingled with memorabilia and costumes from her many beloved film roles.

The Icon’s Closet is an awe-inspiring walk through. It is a treasure trove of flawlessly-maintained haute couture and ready-to wear fashion and accessories (many of which the actress brought herself with her own money, and without help from a throng of stylists), with over 200 designer handbags alone. Finally, The Art Gallery – the first comprehensive exhibition of her most impressive fine art collection, includes master works by Van Gogh (valued at $12 Million, it is the priciest item from the entire collection), Frans Hals, Degas, Pissaro, Renoir, and Warhol.

The auction is expected to exceed $50 million in total (I believe that the actual realized figure will quadruple that number). Tickets to the landmark exhibition are on sale now at www.christies.com/elizabethtaylorviews. Portion of the profits generated by the exhibition admissions, events and select publications related to the exhibitions will be donated to The Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation, which was founded by the beloved actress in 1991. Ms. Taylor passed away on March 23 from congestive heart failure at the age of 79.

Christie’s

20 Rockefeller Plaza

New York City

212-636-2000

The Essentials: The little black dresses
Photos credited to: Associated Press

Lot 347

A Tiziani black velvet ‘Scorpio’ evening cape labeled ‘Tiziani Roma’, 1968-1969

Estimate: $2,000-$3,000

Lot 52

“The Night of the Iguana Brooch”

A diamond and multi-gem brooch by Jean Shlumberger, Tiffany & Co, circa 1964

Gift from Richard Burton upon the occasion of the premiere of the film Night of the Iguana, August 11, 1964

Estimate: $200,000-$300,000

Lot 1758

A black patent leather shoulder bag labeled ‘Lanvin’, probably 2000s, with an acrylic green marbled handle, magnetic closure and chunky goldtone chain strap, with a black ribbon tie and an interior integrated swivel mirror: 8″ High, 12″ Wide, 3″ Deep

Estimate $300-$500

Photos courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2011

Making a Statement

Photo credited to: Getty Images

The jaw-dropping Elizabeth Taylor Jewelry Collection which is up for auction this month, finally made its grand appearance at Christie’s. The show is open to the public tomorrow, Saturday, December 3, and ends on Monday, December 12. Among other things, this exhibit reveals that not only was Dame Taylor a genuine Hollywood icon, but she was also a connoisseur of art and fashion, and of course, her lifetime passion – jewelry. The auction starts on the evening of December 13 with Elizabeth Taylor’s most iconic jewelry. Orianne Collins, jewelry designer and owner of OC Concept Store, hosted the preview event at Christie’s (check out my interview with Ms. Collins).

Photo credit: Getty Images

Christie’s Interiors Sale

Low-key elegance ruled at Christie’s Interiors Sale

In case you missed this month’s Christie’s Interiors Sale, I encourage you to keep their next one in mind, by visiting their website’s calendar. It was the kind of sale that was right for just about anyone’s budget, and this year, like the preceding ones before it, didn’t disappoint.

A pair of massive bone-inlaid oak vitrine cabinets Mid 20th Century

During the three day sale, the gavel went down on several items for as low as $65! Now that’s what I call Recession Art. Darling, don’t we just love a bargain?

Although I personally didn’t buy a single item for myself during the July sale, I did familiarize myself with what was “on the menu” by rummaging through the pages of their catalogue, while I was traveling, a few weeks back. Two words stuck out on my mind, when I thought about writing this post – Easy Elegance. These pieces are perfect for the young art collector, or the individual with a secondary home in the country. The bone-inlaid oak vitrine above is massive, yes, but it can be a good fit for a big or moderately sized room, providing that it remains the leading presence.

Charles Arnoldi (American, b. 1946)

Suitor

Enough spark to light a fire! This piece from Arnoldi is a great conversation piece, and adds just the right amount of color for a muted interior or a space that is in desperate need for some ambiance.

A sepik river mask from Papua New Guinea

Coming across the unexpected in any interior can be refreshing. I truly like the sense of whimsy, the geometric shapes and natural colors of this mask. I must admit that I envy the one who got away with it!

Claire Falkenstein (AMERICAN, 1908-1998)

Centrifugal III

I love art which carries a sense of movement. This shadow box from Falkenstein is a good beginning for those who are looking to start collecting some of her work.

A gilt-brass and textured brown leather circular coffee table,
by William (Billy) Haines, Mid circa 1950
There was a fair amount of furniture from legendary Hollywood designer, William Haines, at the Interiors Sale, this year. So if you were able to snag a couple of his works, more power to you. I found this coffee table to be extremely sexy. With its gilt-brass geometric shaped legs, it fits right at home in the country or the city. And what’s more, it’s small enough to move around , when the occasion calls for it.

A set of six bronze, copper and gilt metal circular ashtrays,
by William (Billy) Haines and Michael Morrison, circa 1050
Rustic chic! Instead of using these as ashtrays, I would have them around as serving trays when entertaining guests, or simply use them in the bathroom as soap dishes.

A red lacquered two tiered side table,
by William (Billy) Haines, circa 1950
There’s a primitive look to this table which is right for just about any type of interiors. A little red is just the right amount of color to accentuate any space. Plus it’s small enough to use as a bench when you’re in a pinch.

A pair of French oak and rush low chairs, Mid 20th Century

This pair brings to mind a “Provencal” setting. Giving the simplicity of its clean lines, the silhouette is quite alluring and believe it or not, they’re very comfortable (I sat on those myself during the viewing).

A set of three French oak stools,
late 19th/Early 20th Century

These circular top antique French stools could be quite useful in a library, don’t you think? Whenever I buy a table or a chair, I always look at its legs since that usually determine the common thread I’m seeking for the project. With their modern sensibilities and Eastern adaptations, these stools are a crowd pleaser.

A French oak curved bench, attributed to Guillerme et Chambron, Mid 20th Century

I can easily picture this bench with one of Ralph Lauren’s “summer house” colors which he currently carries. Either the bright orange, or the sultry yellow fabric will do. Yes, even William Morris would of been proud of this piece.