NEW YORK, NY.- Rockefeller Center Galleries to Host Sales of: A Park Avenue Interior by Mark Hampton, 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Oriental Carpets, Old Master Paintings, Antiquities, Fine and Rare Wines, Important Jewels, Important Watches, Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design,
Christie's Interiors and Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts this June.
A Park Avenue Interior by Mark Hampton – June 6, 2011
On June 6, Christie's will present a special collection of furnishings and works of art from a Manhattan residence by legendary interior designer Mark Hampton. This superb collection of 18th to 20th century furniture, silver, antiquities, paintings, carpets, and decorative works was housed in a Park Avenue residence, located in one of Manhattan's most chic neighborhoods. Highlighting the sale is a pair of Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Five-Light Candelabra, circa 1810 (estimate: $70,000-90,000). The collection of 140 lots is expected to realize in excess of $1 million.
500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Oriental Carpets – June 7, 2011
On June 7, Christie’s will present 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Oriental Carpets, which encompasses over 600 lots with estimates that range from $300-$300,000. The sale will also include French Classicism: Selections from the Private Collection of Michael Simon, a special section that is comprised of over thirty superb examples of French furniture and decorative arts of the Ancien Régime. The pieces selected are characterized by the many hallmarks of Michael Simon’s professional work as an interior designer, including: a meticulous attention to detail, exquisite craftsmanship and beautifully selected fabrics for the fine array of seat furniture within the group. The Michael Simon collection is highlighted by a Louis XV Gilt-Tole and Wrought Iron Mirror (estimate: $30,000-50,000).
Old Master Paintings – June 8, 2011
The June 8 Sale of Old Master Paintings will feature a selection of works by the great French, Italian, Flemish and British masters of the 15th through the 19th century including Pieter Breughel II, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, and Sir Joshua Reynolds, among others. This dedicated sale of Old Master Paintings – the first at Christie’s New York since early 2008 – offers collectors and dealers the opportunity to acquire important examples of European Art at very approachable price levels. The cover lot of the sale is a masterpiece portrayal of Saint Mary Magdalene by the anonymous 16th century artist referred to as the Master of the Parrot (estimate: $600,000-800,000). Estimates for the sale begin at $3,000 and range upwards to $600,000 for the most significant offerings. The sale is expected to achieve in excess of $5 million.
Antiquities – June 9, 2011
Christie’s spring sale of Antiquities will take place on June 9, and will offer over 200 lots with a magnificent selection of Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Near Eastern works of art. Leading the sale is the de Clercq Pan and Hermaphrodite, a Roman marble group that depicts a struggle between the goat-legged god Pan and Hermaphrodite, who is portrayed with a sensuous female body and male genitalia (estimate on request). The group was sculpted during the early Roman Imperial period, circa 1st century A.D., but is based on an original from the mid-2nd century B.C., when illustrations of the struggles between bestial forces and a nymph or Hermaphrodite were immensely popular. The sale is estimated to realize in the region of $9 million.
Fine and Rare Wines – June 10, 2011
For its final wine auction of the Spring 2011 season, Christie’s New York to offer a selection of fine and rare wines sourced from prominent private and professional collections. The wine auction market has continued its upward climb throughout the spring season, and Christie’s salerooms in Hong Kong, Geneva, London and New York have all witnessed strong prices and sell-through rates, including last week’s “white glove”, 100%-sold auction of Rarities from the Cellar of Château Latour in Hong Kong, which achieved US$ 7.7 million. On Friday, June 10, Christie’s New York will offer nearly 700 lots of wines from around the globe, including both young and mature vintages of classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, California cult wines, and Spanish favorites. With estimates ranging from $150 up to $60,000, the sale offers exceptional wines to suit every collector, with ample opportunity to purchase the blue-chip classics that will appreciate in value over time. Among the highlights is an imperial of the stellar 1961 vintage of Château Latour (estimate: $40,000-60,000), multiple lots of six-magnum cases of the recently released 2008 Château Lafite-Rothschild (estimates: $20,000-30,000 per lot), and a swatch of rare white Bordeaux, including 1989 Château Haut-Brion Blanc ($12,000-18,000 per case).
Important Jewels – June 14, 2011
Christie's announces highlights of its upcoming sale of Important Jewels on June 14 in New York. This annual pre-summer event caps the spring season of Christie’s major jewelry auctions in New York, Geneva, Hong Kong, Paris and London, and features over 120 individual items, including a diverse array of colored and colorless diamonds, rare gemstones, and signed designer jewels. In keeping with Christie's strong track record of presenting the most exceptional diamonds and precious gemstones for sale, the top lot of the June 14 auction is a magnificent E color, oval-cut diamond ring of 46.51 carats. The main stone is flanked on either side by single carat D color, pear-shaped diamonds and mounted in platinum. Sourced from the collection of a distinguished lady, this stunning ring is estimated at $2,500,000-3,500,000 and will be offered as the auction's grand finale. Additional highlights include an important diamond ring set with a D-color pear-shaped diamond of 10.01 carats, flanked on either side by a pear-shaped diamond of 1.02 carats and mounted in platinum (estimate: $1,100,000-1,500,000). Estimates for the sale range from $2,000 up to $2.5 million, and the total sale is expected to achieve $8 million.
Important Watches – June 15, 2011
Christie's New York announces further highlights of its upcoming sale of Important Watches on June 15 in New York. This highly anticipated spring auction features over 400 individual timepieces, including investment-quality vintage and modern wristwatches, antique pocket watches, sports watches, ladies jewelry watches, and desk clocks. The sale is expected to realize in excess of US$ 5.5 million. The top lot of the sale is the iconic Patek Philippe Reference 2499 in 18 karat gold. Manufactured in 1960, this rare perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch is one of the greatest models produced by the venerable firm and continues to be the standard by which other watch makers measure their designs. Maintained in near-original condition and with its signature perfectly raised and intact, the exceptional example to be offered in New York on June 15 is estimated at $600,000-1,000,000.
Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design – June 16, 2011
Christie’s announces the sale of Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design to take place on Thursday, June 16. Estimated to realize upwards of $3.5 million, the 208-lot sale represents a wide range of works from 20th Century masters across the world, including furniture and light by Jean Royére, an original armchair by German master Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, Art Deco from Etienne Drian, Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann and Jean Dunand, whose Lacquer and Eggshell Gueridon, circa 1930 (estimate: $250,000 – 350,000) is the top lot in the sale. Hailing from property of a Boston Family, the table exemplifies Dunand’s sophisticated skills as a designer and craftsman with the geometric motifs on top, meticulously inlaid in eggshell. The stark and calculated motif, balances fragility with luxury.
Christie’s Interiors – June 21 & 22, 2011
Christie’s sale of Interiors will take place from June 21-June 22. Comprised of over 1000 lots, the two day sale will include an excellent selection of furniture, original art, silver, glass and decorative objects, with estimates that range from $100-20,000. The sale also includes a stately group of antique furniture from Amy Perlin Antiques. Ms. Perlin’s 10,000 square foot space on 61st Street was an eclectic homage to her constant travels to all corners of Europe, in pursuit of strong and unusual pieces. Ms. Perlin’s impeccable eye and tremendous enthusiasm for collecting distinctive antiques yielded a loyal following in interior designers and collectors alike. The selection being offered within the June Interiors sale is a reflection of the passion and adventure with which she conducted her business and her life. Highlighting the group is A Northern Italian Walnut and Faux Marble Painted Writing Table (estimate: $3,000-5,000).
Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts – June 23, 2011
On June 23, Christie’s is privileged to offer the sale of Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, including a treasure trove of Bob Dylan’s typescripts and manuscripts. This unique collection is comprised of Dylan’s early, formative versions of key songs including “Subterranean Homesick Blues”, “Maggie’s Farm,” “Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream,” “Love Minus Zero,” “Outlaw Blues,” “Visions of Johanna,” “Farewell Angelina,” and “I’ll Keep it with Mine.” Additional highlights from the sale include an exceptional group of documents and images of Winston Churchill, and a rare ensemble of nine “bagatelles”, elegant pamphlets and short texts by Benjamin Franklin, printed in 1778- 1784 (estimate: $250,000-350,000).
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium.
