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Maurice Leloir’s Four Historical Scenes Sell for €128,600 at BonhamsJacob Jordaens’s Portrait of His Wife Sells for €154,200 at BonhamsRenaissance Portrait Attributed to Conrad Faber Sells for €295,000 at BonhamsJodi the Nanotyrannus Sells for US$47.3 Million at Sotheby’sQianlong Emperor’s Jewel-Encrusted Gold Ewer Sells for US$7.11 Million at Christie’sHockney’s €282,200 Print Leads Warhol and Banksy in €1.06 Million Bonhams SaleMV Agusta Sells for $1.3 Million, Setting an Italian Motorcycle Auction RecordEnigma Machine Sells for £203,600 at Bonhams: Inside the 1941 Cipher DeviceUzo Egonu’s Will Knowledge Safeguard Freedom I Sets Auction Record at £198,900Yusuf Grillo’s One Man Band Sets Artist Auction Record at £461,300Ben Enwonwu’s Anyanwu Sells for £602,100, Setting a Sculpture Record at BonhamsRare Gandhi Portrait Achieves £152,800, Tripling Its EstimateBanksy’s British Cool Mickey Snake Triumphs at Bonhams, Selling for £330,600Whistler’s First Portrait Commission Sells for Five Times Estimate, Fetching $495,000Bridget Riley Stuns Art World as Myrrh Soars to $2.36M at Bonhams

Bonhams

Auction previews and sale reports from Bonhams, covering paintings, decorative arts, jewellery, books and collectors’ objects. Follow the works offered, published estimates, reported results and the histories attached to notable lots.

Just Like James Dean’s! Ultra-Rare $4 Million 1956 Porsche 550RS Spyder to Hit Auction Block

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Black-and-white composite of a man's portrait above a Porsche 550 RS numbered 60 on a racetrack.

On October 6, automotive enthusiasts and collectors will turn their attention to the Bonhams|Cars Zoute Sale in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, where a true gem of racing history will be up for auction: the ex-‘ECURIE NATIONALE BELGE’ 1956 Porsche 550RS Spyder, Chassis 550-0082, just like the one that once belonged to Hollywood legend James Dean. While this iconic vehicle, with a storied past on European racing circuits, has no direct connection to the American actor who tragically lost his life in a similar model, it is still expected to fetch between €3,500,000 and €4,000,000, reaffirming its status as one of the most expensive classic sports cars in the world.

Rare 1959 Aston Martin DB4 Prototype ‘DP2155’ Set to Hit Auction with an Estimated Value of Over $1.5 Million

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Front detail of the 1959 Aston Martin DB4 DP2155, showing the grille, bonnet scoop and wire-spoke wheel.

Automotive enthusiasts and collectors are eagerly anticipating the Bonhams|Cars Zoute sale, set for October 6 in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. One of the highlights of the auction is the Works Prototype Design Project ‘DP2155’ 1959 Aston Martin DB4, which carries an estimated value of €1,300,000 to €1,600,000. This engineering marvel, distinguished as the last to bear the DP prefix, represents a significant chapter in Aston Martin’s storied history.

$1.5 Million 1926 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Two-Seater to be Auctioned in Belgium

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1926 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Two-Seater, pictured for Bonhams|Cars.

The Bugatti Type 35, produced at Bugatti’s Molsheim factory between 1924 and 1930, is renowned for its innovative design and racing prowess. The car’s distinctive arch-shaped radiator and tapered ‘Bordino tail,’ possibly influenced by the Fiat 804 driven by Pietro Bordino, are emblematic features. The Type 35 was also pioneering in its use of cast alloy wheels, a first in automotive history.

$2,000,000 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss 75/75 to Hit the Auction Without Reserve

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2010 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss.

The SLR Stirling Moss, named after the legendary British racing driver, debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. Designed by Yoon Il-hun, the car features a unique speedster style with no roof or windscreen, reminiscent of the 300 SLR race car. The interior, crafted by Dutch designer Sarkis Benliyan, complements the car’s distinctive exterior.

Magnificent Japanese Inlaid Jar from the Meiji Era Sells for $146,000

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Meiji-era inlaid iron jar and cover by Yano Katsumine, circa 1890.

A notable inlaid iron jar and cover, decorated with intricate designs of birds and flowers representing the four seasons and commissioned by the renowned Meiji-era crafts entrepreneur Kawaguchi Yohei of Tokyo, sold for £114,700 ($146,000) at Bonhams New Bond Street. The item significantly exceeded its estimated value of £50,000-80,000 ($63,000-102,000) during the Fine Japanese Art Sale, which featured Meiji Masterpieces from a Distinguished Deceased Estate this May. The auction comprised 166 lots, achieving a total of £1,065,816 ($1,363,000), with a remarkable 98% sold by value.

Rare Georges Jouve Caryatides Sell for Over $160,000, Doubling Pre-Sale Estimate

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Caryatid by Georges Jouve, circa 1946.

A pair of rare Georges Jouve caryatides, circa 1946, originating from L’Institut Harriet Hubbard Ayer et Alexandre de Paris on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, sold for £127,400 ($162,000) at Bonhams Design and Contemporary Ceramics Sale held online this April. The final price far exceeded the pre-sale estimate of £50,000-70,000 ($63,000-89,000). Jouve’s contributions to the field of ceramics were significant, and he played a key role in the post-war resurgence of interest in ceramic art. His works are celebrated for their elegance, craftsmanship, and the innovative use of materials and techniques. Today, Georges Jouve is considered one of the leading figures in 20th-century ceramics, and his pieces are highly sought after by collectors and museums worldwide.

Football Legend Lionel Messi’s Napkin Sold for Nearly $1,000,000

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Detail of the napkin recording FC Barcelona’s commitment to sign Lionel Messi.

A pivotal document in football history, the napkin on which the first promise of a contract was written to secure 13-year-old Lionel Messi for FC Barcelona, sold for £762,000 ($964,000) at Bonhams in an online auction that was held this May 17, 2024. The auction began with a starting price of £300,000 ($380,000). This napkin significantly impacted both the club and Messi, who went on to become one of the greatest footballers of all time. The original napkin, written in blue ink, was offered by Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli.

Taylor Swift’s Rare Handwritten Interview Sold for $18,000 – Read Her Answers, See Her Signature, Discover Her Secrets!

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Close-up of Taylor Swift on a 2009 MIZZ magazine cover, with a black marker signature across the lower half.

A rare handwritten questionnaire filled out by Taylor Swift for MIZZ Magazine in 2009 has been sold at Bonhams auction in London for £14,200 ($18,000). This is a significant leap from its initial estimate of £2,000 ($2,500) to £3,000 ($3,700), highlighting the enduring popularity and cultural impact of the global pop superstar. Swift, who has since become one of the best-selling music artists of all time, continues to captivate audiences worldwide. This early piece of memorabilia serves as a nostalgic reminder of her journey from a rising country singer to a global pop icon.