Auction News
| Auction Network News |
| Thursday, 26 January 2012 07:07 |
Stalin Death Mask Goes For $8,700He was one of the most monstrous tyrants of the 20th Century, but a rare bronze death mask of Stalin fetched only $8,700 when it was auctioned yesterday by Mullock’s Auction House in England. Also included in the deal were casts of Stalin’s hands, one of which he kept out of sight because it was badly withered.After Stalin’s death in 1953, somewhere between 9 and 12 bronzes were struck from a plaster cast and only 2 are believed to be in the West. Death masks of dignitaries are an ancient tradition. “These days,” an auction house spokesman said, “I suppose you’d just upload a picture to Facebook.” The bidder is anonymous. Source: http://www.auctionnewsnetwork.com/memorabilia/stalin-death-mask-goes-for-8700/6429/Juan Gris–And Elizabeth Taylor–Lead Impressionist SaleOf the 51 lots that Christie’s will offer at its Impressionist & Modern Art auction in London on February 7th, the standout is “Le livre (the book), ” a transitional work by Juan Gris that the painter created between the end of 1913 and the beginning of 1915. Not seen for some 30 years before its inclusion in a 2005 retrospective in Madrid, the painting is expected to bring $18.6m-$27.9m.Seven private collections are included in the offering, including Elizabeth Taylor’s. While her collection’s value isn’t expected to approach the $115.9m her jewelry achieved, it still features many of the leading lights of 19th & 20th century art. Among the highlights are Van Gogh’s “Vue de l’asile et de la Chapelle de Saint-Remy” from 1889 (est. $7.8m-$10.9m), Pissarro’s “Pommiers a Eragny, 1894” (est. $1.4m-$1.8m), and Degas’ “Autoportrait, circa 1857-1858” ($548,000-$704,000). Source: http://www.auctionnewsnetwork.com/art/juan-gris-and-elizabeth-taylor-lead-impressionist-sale/6432/ Over $1m Expected For 1961 Aston Martin ClassicIn 1958, Aston Martin introduced Britain’s answer to Italy’s automotive mastery. Engineered to be the ultimate Gran Turismo, the DB4GT was designed for competition. Only 30 left hand drives were produced, and the rare 1961 example that Bonhams will offer in Paris on February 2nd is the product of a ground-up restoration. Campaigned extensively–and successfully–on the historic race circuit, it’s estimated at $1.7m-$2.2m.An earlier British classic roadster likely to draw a lot of collector interest is a 1929 Bentley 6 1/2/8-Litre Tourer with a curious history. It was assembled from parts by Bentley collector and racer David Llewellyn, and sports a replacement chassis, as well as an upgraded 8-Litre engine. Notwithstanding its unusual provenance, it coasts into the auction with an estimate of $937,000-$1.1m. Source: http://www.auctionnewsnetwork.com/cars/a-gran-turismo-classic-aston-martin-db4-gt/6423/ |