Football Legend Lionel Messi’s Historic Napkin Up for Auction at Bonhams, Starting at £300,000Photographing Paradox: Exclusive Interview with Dustin Ha – Part 2Does Mark Zuckerberg’s Statue of His Wife Alienate the Asian Community?Bridget Riley Stuns Art World as Myrrh Soars to $2.36M at Bonhams
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

France

Rare $1 Million Japanese Whisky Collection to Hit the Auction Block in Paris

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Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Series whisky bottles, with an ace-of-hearts label prominent at the front.

One of the world’s most exclusive Japanese whisky collections, the Hanyu Ichiro Malt Full “Card” Series, is set to be auctioned in Paris this November. Expected to fetch between $750,000 and $1.28 million, the collection features 54 bottles, each representing a playing card and signed by master distiller Ichiro Akuto. Known for setting record-breaking prices, Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr will host this online auction from November 12 to 29, offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire a complete set of this historic Japanese whisky.

Harmony in Contrast: The Artistic Synergy of Katrin Fridriks and Jan Kaláb – Exclusive Interview

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Full view of CC Atlantean Thunderstorm, with flowing white and black bands across a large blue form and a smaller blue form below.

Katrin Fridriks and Jan Kaláb have achieved a remarkable synergy in their collaborative endeavor “PERFECT STORM,” seamlessly blending their individual artistic expressions to create mesmerizing pieces characterized by dynamic movement and vibrant color palettes. From their studios in the south of France and Prague, they collaborate closely, meticulously enhancing and refining each other’s work, resulting in a partnership marked by immaculate attention to detail.

Zdzisław Beksiński’s Artwork Fetches Nearly €100,000 at Surrealist Sale in Paris

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Painting by Zdzisław Beksiński showing tall red and orange architectural forms against a pale blue-green sky.

Zdzislaw Beksinski (1929-2005), the renowned Polish artist, continues to captivate art enthusiasts worldwide as one of his significant pieces, an oil on panel, soared to a remarkable €91,840 at the recent Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Surrealist Sale in Paris on March 27, 2024. The painting, which had a pre-sale estimate ranging from €50,000 to €70,000, emerged as one of the highlights of the event, drawing attention for its profound artistic expression.

Musée d’Arts de Nantes Acquires Jane Graverol’s Painting for Over €71,000

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Detail of "Le bon bout de la raison" by Jane Graverol, showing an owl between two lit candles.

In a notable display of support for female artists, the Musée d’Arts de Nantes (France) exercised its right under French law to pre-empt the final bids on three paintings at the recent Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Surrealist Sale in Paris. The museum’s proactive stance in securing these artworks highlights its commitment to promoting gender diversity in the arts and enriching its collection with significant contributions from women artists.

The Discovery of Titanium White: Brief History of the Pigment

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Detail of Liubov Popova’s Tray, Bowl, Fruit (1915), with overlapping angular forms and lettering.

Journey through the historical evolution of Titanium White pigment, spanning the late 18th to early 20th centuries, as we unravel its fascinating narrative. From its humble beginnings as an artist’s tool to its pivotal role in industrial innovation, explore pivotal moments such as its integration into Impressionist masterpieces and its emergence as a non-toxic alternative to lead white. Delve into the pioneering experiments conducted in Norway and Niagara Falls, which paved the way for the mass production of Titanium White pigment. Join us as we uncover the captivating journey of Titanium White from artistic invention to industrial triumph.

Protesters Throw Soup at Mona Lisa Amidst French Farmer Demonstrations | VIDEO

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Yellow splashes on glass in front of a framed portrait.

In a bold act of protest, two climate activists from the “Food Riposte” group targeted the iconic Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday. As they hurled soup at the protective glass encasing Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the activists passionately advocated for a sustainable food system, questioning the prioritization of art over the right to healthy and sustainable food. The incident unfolded in a video shared on social media, featuring two women adorned with “FOOD RIPOSTE” on their T-shirts breaching security barriers to approach the painting. Their impassioned slogans echoed concerns about the agricultural system, claiming it to be ailing and causing harm to farmers. Louvre employees swiftly responded by placing black panels in front of the Mona Lisa and evacuating the room.

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.

Notre-Dame Cathedral: Rising from the Ashes with Global Solidarity

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Notre-Dame Cathedral during the 2019 fire.

In the heart of Paris, where history and artistry intertwine, a monumental effort is underway, one that embodies the resilience of human spirit and international solidarity. The Notre-Dame Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece that stood witness to centuries of history, faced a catastrophic trial on April 15, 2019, when a fierce blaze consumed its iconic spire and wooden roof, sending shockwaves across the globe.

Stunning Stingray Throne by Didier Guenard – An Oak Barrel Story

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Front detail of Didier Guenard’s Stingray Throne, showing its curved dark fins and red-brown supports.

Didier Guenard is a known artist, furniture maker, and restorer from France that specialized in wooden art and décor. His signature creations are works of fine furniture made from vintage and antique oak barrels. Didier uniquely repurposed, perfected, and mastered the wood of these vessels, teaching the world – the art of revealing a straight line within a curve.

For centuries oak barrels have been used to store and transport wine and spirits, but they also have a second life as a material for making artistic furniture. The sturdy and durable oak wood can be transformed into unique and beautiful pieces that add a rustic and vintage charm to any space. The process of making artistic furniture from these barrels is a creative and innovative endeavor that requires a skilled craftsman.

French Restorer & Furniture Maker, Didier Guenard, Tells His Story of Creativity and Innovation

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Upper section of Didier Guenard's Diaposaurus cabinet, with a dragon-shaped surround, mirror and fossil mosaic.

The different woods used in this piece were turned, sculpted, and include marquetry. It had six drawers, one cylindrical with a sprung ejection mechanism that can be used to store a bottle, and another with a retractable curtain closing. Pushing the button made of boxwood burl makes the midnight blue writing table advance, revealing a half-cylindrical pen holder. Opening the door with the horn handle reveals partitions and two small drawers with varnished interiors. It goes without saying that this piece also contains a secret space … location of which must remain a secret!