Lewis Hamilton’s IWC Schaffhausen Watch Sells for Seven Times Its Pre-Sale EstimateExclusive Interview with New Orleans Ceramicist Aurora Daigle | Part 2Meissen Porcelain Prices Surge, Nearly Doubling Pre-Sale EstimatesExclusive Interview with German Sculptor & Videographer freaky-Deek | Part 2
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.

Custom ‘Elvis Presley’ Triumph Motorcycle and Guitar Hit Auction Block for Charity

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Front three-quarter view of the red and silver Elvis Presley tribute Triumph Bonneville T120 motorcycle.

In a crazy blend of art, rock ‘n’ roll, and motorcycling history, Bonhams|Cars is gearing up to unveil a show-stopping duo at The Amelia Island Auction on February 29th: a bespoke ‘Elvis Presley’ Triumph Bonneville motorcycle and a matching Gibson Les Paul Guitar. And it’s all for a good cause! Estimating a value between $12,000 to $16,000, the star-studded lot is not just a collector’s dream but also a philanthropic endeavor. The proceeds will be channeled to The Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation, an organization perpetuating the generous spirit of the King of Rock and Roll in the Memphis community.

Tretchikoff’s Missing “Lost Orchid” Re-emerges at Bonhams African Art Sale In London

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Detail of Lost Orchid by Vladimir Tretchikoff, showing an orchid and safety pin on blue-green steps.

It is considered to be one of Vladimir Tretchikoff’s great masterpieces and is one of the best-known and most reproduced of his works. Yet for years his Lost Orchid was itself considered lost. Having not been seen in public since it was acquired from the artist in 1955, the painting has finally re-emerged and will now be offered at Bonhams’ Modern and Contemporary African Art sale on 27 March at New Bond Street, London. It has an estimate of £150,000 – 200,000.

1904 NAPIER SAMSON L48: The First Car to Break 100MPH in America Goes to Auction

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Early racing car with green wire wheels, copper-colored bodywork and an open cockpit, photographed on a sandy road.

The 1904 Napier Samson L48 is set to make a triumphant comeback to Florida, where it made history by breaking the 100 miles per hour record on American soil over a century ago. This legendary vehicle, famous for its illustrious racing background, will be unveiled at Ormond-Daytona Beach on February 10, ahead of the Bonhams|Cars Amelia Island Auction on February 29, where it’s anticipated to fetch a price ranging from $900,000 to $1,100,000.

Football Legend Lionel Messi’s Historic Napkin Up for Auction at Bonhams, Starting at £300,000

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

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 £300,000 ($380,000 US).

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

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Low front view of the black 2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ with orange stripes.

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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Front view of the EMI TG12345 Mk I recording console, with rows of faders, control knobs and meters.

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 €406,800 at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Auction in Paris

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Pink footed bowl by Lucie Rie with fine vertical grooves, a dark rim, and a turquoise band.

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 €406,800, nearly 10 times its initial estimate of €40,000-60,000, 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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Close view of Virupaksha’s ornate headdress and armour, with blue and green decorative details.

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 Crown promotional portrait of a woman in a teal gown and tiara, with a man standing behind her.

The award-winning series, The Crown, is one of Netflix’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 – including those inspired by Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Robes and Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge dress’ – 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 –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.