Banksy’s Mickey Snake, a rare sculpture from the artist’s infamous Dismaland exhibition, stunned the art world this week by more than doubling its estimate at Bonhams. With its unsettling blend of pop culture and dark satire, the piece drew intense interest—and an even higher final bid. Here’s how this unexpected result is reshaping conversations around contemporary British art.
The late South African artist Gerard Sekoto has once again proven his lasting impact on the art world, with his masterpiece The Artist’s Brother selling for an astonishing £406,000 ($528,000) at Bonhams’ Modern & Contemporary African Art sale—more than four times its original estimate of £100,000-150,000 ($130,000-195,000).
A breathtaking imperial vase, once expected to sell for a fraction of its final price, has stunned collectors at Bonhams New York, igniting a fierce bidding war and shattering estimates. This extraordinary piece, with its intricate dragon and cloud motif, is so rare that only one other example exists—housed in the prestigious Beijing Palace Museum. With the market for Chinese antiquities surging, this sale marks a defining moment for collectors and connoisseurs alike.
New York’s Diamond District is a glittering maze of possibilities—where stunning deals and savvy negotiations meet high-pressure sales and hidden risks. Is it a treasure trove for jewelry lovers or a shopping trap for the unprepared? Whether you’re hunting for the perfect engagement ring or a unique custom piece, knowing what to expect can make all the difference. Here’s what you need to know before stepping onto 47th Street.
In a historic moment for bibliophiles and collectors, Bonhams New York achieved a white glove result—100% sold—at its December 17 auction of The Complete Kelmscott Press Collection of Joseph Mark Van Horn. The auction marked the first time in half a century that a complete collection of books from the renowned Kelmscott Press, founded by 19th-century designer and visionary William Morris, had been offered at auction. The collection included all 53 works published by the press during its seven-year existence, a remarkable feat of artistic craftsmanship and fine printing.
A long-lost collection of rare artworks and artifacts from the enthronement of the 14th Dalai Lama is about to make history at Bonhams. Featuring never-before-auctioned watercolours, personal archives, and cinematic footage from Sir Basil Gould’s diplomatic mission to Tibet, this extraordinary sale offers an intimate glimpse into one of the most pivotal moments in Tibetan history. With collectors and historians eagerly anticipating the event, the significance of these treasures cannot be overstated.
A piece of Red Sox history just sold for six figures—can you guess what it was? The late Larry Lucchino’s legendary memorabilia collection shattered expectations at Bonhams Skinner, with items from the curse-breaking 2004 World Series fetching jaw-dropping prices. From the Commissioner’s Trophy selling for an astounding $165,000 to a pair of old Fenway seats commanding 21 times their estimate, passionate bidding proved that Red Sox Nation is as strong as ever. But that’s just the beginning—some of the biggest surprises came from unexpected items. Read on to see the full list of record-breaking sales!
What appeared to be an ordinary hallway decoration in a central London home turned out to be an extraordinary treasure—an incredibly rare Chinese Famille rose ‘dragon’ vase. Recently rediscovered by Bonhams experts, the vase shocked the art world when it sold for €1,161,600 at auction in Paris, soaring past its estimate. With a fascinating history linked to an early 20th-century collector and a surprising connection to an identical twin vase sold in Hong Kong, this remarkable story is a testament to the enduring allure of hidden Asian masterpieces.
In a stunning moment for history and collectors alike, the oldest inscribed tablet of the Ten Commandments has achieved an extraordinary $5 million price tag at Sotheby’s New York, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate of $1-2 million. The artifact, a singular treasure from the Late Roman-Byzantine era (ca. 300-800 CE), is believed to be the only complete stone inscription of the commandments surviving from antiquity.
A dazzling relic from music history is about to command the global stage. The Joachim-Ma Stradivarius, a violin crafted in 1714 during Antonio Stradivari’s legendary “Golden Period,” is poised to set hearts racing when it goes under the hammer at Sotheby’s in February 2025. With a jaw-dropping estimate of $12–18 million, this rare masterpiece promises not only to rewrite auction records but also to transform the future of classical music education.
