Tag: Bonhams

Football Legend Lionel Messi’s Historic Napkin Up for Auction at Bonhams, Starting at ยฃ300,000

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One of the most pivotal documents in the history of football (soccer) is the famous and unique napkin on which the first promise of a contract was written to secure 13-year-old Lionel Messi for FC Barcelona. It changed the fortunes of both the club and Messi himself, who went on to become one of the greatest players of all time. The original napkin in blue ink is being offered at Bonhams on behalf of Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli in an online auction running from March 18 to March 27. The starting price is ยฃ300,000 ($380,000 US).

$5M Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, Clocking Over 300MPH, Storms onto the Auction Block

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In a thunderous revelation set to captivate automotive enthusiasts, Bonhams|Cars is gearing up to showcase the world’s fastest road-going car, the 2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, at the highly anticipated Scottsdale Auction. Following Bugatti’s awe-inspiring achievement of shattering the 300mph (483 km/h) barrier, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ emerged in a scarce production of merely 30 cars, solidifying its status as a groundbreaking hypercar.

Beatles’ Historic Abbey Road Console to Hit the Auction Block

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In a historic auction set to take place at Bonhams Knightsbridge in London on Thursday, December 14, the iconic EMI TG12345 Mk I console used by The Beatles to record their legendary album, Abbey Road, will be offered for the first time. The console, the first solid-state transistorized desk built by EMI, played a pivotal role in shaping the distinctive sound of Abbey Road, which has since become one of the most groundbreaking albums of all time.

Lucie Rie’s Ceramic Bowl Shatters Records, Sells for โ‚ฌ406,800 at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Auction in Paris

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In a riveting event at the Ceramic Masterpieces sale in Paris on Tuesday, December 6, 2023, a Footed bowl by Lucie Rie (1902-1995) stole the spotlight, executed circa 1980 with inlaid pink radiating lines, turquoise, and manganese bands. The intense bidding war that ensued saw the bowl fetching an astonishing โ‚ฌ406,800, nearly 10 times its initial estimate of โ‚ฌ40,000-60,000, setting a new world auction record for the renowned artist.

Record-Breaking Sale: Ancient Tibetan Sculpture of Virupaksha Achieves $4.85 Million at Bonhams Hong Kong Auction

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In a recent auction event at Bonhams Hong Kong featuring Images of Devotion, an extraordinary Early 15th Century Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Virupaksha from the renowned Densatil Monastery in Central Tibet commanded a staggering price of HK$37,964,000 (approximately USD $4,855,000). This masterpiece, considered the pinnacle of the order’s sculptural tradition, surpassed its estimated value of HK$35-55 million (USD $4.5-7 million), contributing significantly to the overall auction total of HK$75 million (approximately USD $9,632,000).

Bonhams Announces A Once-In-A-Lifetime Costume Auction of Netflix’s Award-Winning Series ‘The Crown’

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The award-winning series, The Crown, is one of Netflixโ€™s most prestigious and acclaimed shows. Now, as the final series premieres, Bonhams announces a once-in-a-lifetime auction of close to 450 props, furniture, and costumes โ€“ including those inspired by Queen Elizabethโ€™s Coronation Robes and Princess Dianaโ€™s โ€˜Revenge dressโ€™ โ€“ from all six series of The Crown, written and created by Peter Morgan and produced by Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television. A live sale of approximately 150 lots will take place on Wednesday 7 February 2024 at Bonhams, New Bond Street, London, followed by an online auction of around 300 lots commencing on 30 January to 8 February on bonhams.com. Proceeds from the live sale will go towards establishing the Left Bank Pictures โ€“The Crown Scholarship programme at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) which has training sites across the UK in Buckinghamshire, London, Leeds, Scotland, and Wales.

Dutch Collection of Art & Antiques Fetches ยฃ2.86m at Bonhams Auction

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In a dazzling spectacle of high-stakes bidding, the illustrious collection of the late Dutch connoisseur-collector Cornelis Paulus van Pauwvliet took center stage at Bonhams New Bond Street on Tuesday, November 21. The auction, a crescendo of anticipation, saw a remarkable total of ยฃ2.86 million change hands as passionate art enthusiasts vied for a piece of cultural history.

Max Verstappen’s Championship-Winning F1 Race Suit to be Sold by Bonhams for Red Bull Charity Auction

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The dark blue Oracle Red Bull Racing overalls worn by three-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen over the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix weekend will be offered in the Bonhams | Cars Abu Dhabi Auction Online from 17 โ€“ 30 November. Driving his Red Bull RB19, Verstappen finished in 1st position at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix weekend in Zandvoort, in front of his home crowd, marking his 46th Grand Prix race victory. Signed by the World Champion with a Certificate of Authenticity from the Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula One Team, and estimated at ยฃ60,000 – ยฃ70,000, the overalls will be sold to benefit Red Bullโ€™s Wings for Life charity. Verstappen is only the fifth driver in the sport’s history to win three consecutive championships, as well as joining an elite club of drivers who have won three or more World Championships.

Record-Breaking Sale: Magnificent World Map Fetches ยฃ1.86 Million at Bonhams, Setting New Benchmark for Islamic Scientific Instruments

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A magnificent and extremely rare Islamic Mecca-centred world map, a masterpiece from Safavid Persia, sold for ยฃ1.86 million at Bonhams Islamic and Indian Art Sale today (Tuesday 14 November). It had an estimate of ยฃ1,500,000-2,000,000. The map, formerly on display at the Harvard Museum of Art, and dating from the last quarter of the 17th century, is the finest and most complete Mecca-centred world map of only three surviving examples (the other two were discovered in 1989 and 1995) and is the most important Islamic scientific instrument ever offered at auction.

High-End Ceramics: Timeless Masterpieces by Hans Coper, Lucie Rie, and Jennifer Lee from an Exquisite Private French Collection at Bonhams

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A selection of 15 exceptional ceramics by Hans Coper, Lucie Rie, Jennifer Lee, Ewen Henderson, Colin Pearson, Duncan Ross and Walter Keeler from a private French collection will be offered at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris on Wednesday 6 December 2023. Hans Coper (1920-1981) was a leading figure in the field of studio pottery โ€” the production of unique ceramic wares made by individual artist-potters in small batches. Together with Lucie Rie (1902-1995), he was instrumental in revolutionising British ceramics, adopting a style which was increasingly sculptural.