CHRISTIE'S ANNOUNCES THE AUCTION OF A PREVIOUSLY UNDOCUMENTED MASTERPIECE BY THE GREAT ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST MARK ROTHKO, TO BE OFFERED AS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE POST-WAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART EVENING SALE AT CHRISTIE'S NEW YORK ON 11.MAY. THE BOLDLY COLOURED 1961 PAINTING UNTITLED #17 COMES TO AUCTION WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $18,000,000-$20,000,000. THE PRESENT OWNER OF UNTITLED #17 ACQUIRED THE WORK DIRECTLY FROM ROTHKO, AND THE WORK HAS REMAINED IN PRIVATE HANDS SINCE 1965. IT IS ONE OF ONLY 10 PAINTINGS THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT SINCE THE ROTHKO CATALOGUE RAISONNE WAS PUBLISHED IN 1998. THE DISCOVERED WORK WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE CATALOGUE RAINSONNE. DAVID ANFAM, AUTHOR OF THE CATALOGUE RAINSONNE, MARK ROTHKO THE WORKS ON CANVAS, HAS WRITTEN A TEXT ON THE PAINTING AND HAS NOTED: 'RECENTLY COME TO LIGHT AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD IN PRIVATE HANDS, UNTITLED #17 FITS SQUARELY AMONG THE 22 HITHERTO DOCUMENT OILS ON CANVAS FROM 1961. LARGE, CLASSIC CANVASES THAT MANAGED TO ELUDE MY CATALOGUE RAINSONNE ARE UNCOMMON, AND MOST WELCOME. AT ITS PUBLICATION IN 1998, I COMPARE THE CATALOGUE RAINSONNE PROJECT TO A SORT OF HOMECOMING, FOR A FAMILY OF WORKS THAT HAD BEEN SCATTERED AROUND THE WORLD BY TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCE INTO PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND EVEN FORGOTTEN PLACES. ABSENT FROM MY PAGES THEN, THE REDISCOVERY OF UNTITLED NO.17 ADDS ANOTHER INDELIBLE PRESENCE TO THE GREAT ROTHKO CANON.' ONE OF THE PRE-EMINENT ARTISTS IDENTIFIED WITH ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM, ROTHKO EVOLVED HIS CLASSIC STYLE AT THE END OF THE 1940s, CREATING LARGE-SCALE CANVASES IN WHICH FORM AND COLOUR ARE ONE. ALTHOUGH OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED THESE WORKS IN PURELY FORMAL TERMS, ROTHKO SPOKE OF THEM AS 'INTIMATE AND INTENSE', AND SAID THEY WERE MEANT TO BE EXPERIENCED AT CLOSE QUARTERS, SO THAT THE VIEWER GETS THE FEELING OF BEING 'WITHIN THE PICTURE', PARTICIPATING IN ITS HUMAN 'POIGNANCY'. UNTITLED #17 WAS PAINTED AT THE END OF THE DECADE ROTHKO'S CLASSIC WORK, WHEN HE RECEIVED THE MAJOR COMMISSIONS FOR THE FOUR SEASONS RESTAURANT, THE HOLYOKE CENTER AT HARVARD AND THE DE MENIL CHAPEL IN HOUSTON THAT ALTERED THE DIRECTION OF HIS OF HIS ART.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL NEWLY DISCOVERED ROTHKO PAINTING

CHRISTIE'S ANNOUNCES THE AUCTION OF A PREVIOUSLY UNDOCUMENTED MASTERPIECE BY THE GREAT ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST MARK ROTHKO, TO BE OFFERED AS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE POST-WAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART EVENING SALE AT CHRISTIE'S NEW YORK ON 11.MAY. THE BOLDLY COLOURED 1961 PAINTING UNTITLED #17 COMES TO AUCTION WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $18,000,000-$20,000,000. THE PRESENT OWNER OF UNTITLED #17 ACQUIRED THE WORK DIRECTLY FROM ROTHKO, AND THE WORK HAS REMAINED IN PRIVATE HANDS SINCE 1965. IT IS ONE OF ONLY 10 PAINTINGS THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT SINCE THE ROTHKO CATALOGUE RAISONNE WAS PUBLISHED IN 1998. THE DISCOVERED WORK WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE CATALOGUE RAINSONNE. DAVID ANFAM, AUTHOR OF THE CATALOGUE RAINSONNE, MARK ROTHKO THE WORKS ON CANVAS, HAS WRITTEN A TEXT ON THE PAINTING AND HAS NOTED: 'RECENTLY COME TO LIGHT AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD IN PRIVATE HANDS, UNTITLED #17 FITS SQUARELY AMONG THE 22 HITHERTO DOCUMENT OILS ON CANVAS FROM 1961. LARGE, CLASSIC CANVASES THAT MANAGED TO ELUDE MY CATALOGUE RAINSONNE ARE UNCOMMON, AND MOST WELCOME. AT ITS PUBLICATION IN 1998, I COMPARE THE CATALOGUE RAINSONNE PROJECT TO A SORT OF HOMECOMING, FOR A FAMILY OF WORKS THAT HAD BEEN SCATTERED AROUND THE WORLD BY TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCE INTO PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND EVEN FORGOTTEN PLACES. ABSENT FROM MY PAGES THEN, THE REDISCOVERY OF UNTITLED NO.17 ADDS ANOTHER INDELIBLE PRESENCE TO THE GREAT ROTHKO CANON.' ONE OF THE PRE-EMINENT ARTISTS IDENTIFIED WITH ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM, ROTHKO EVOLVED HIS CLASSIC STYLE AT THE END OF THE 1940s, CREATING LARGE-SCALE CANVASES IN WHICH FORM AND COLOUR ARE ONE. ALTHOUGH OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED THESE WORKS IN PURELY FORMAL TERMS, ROTHKO SPOKE OF THEM AS 'INTIMATE AND INTENSE', AND SAID THEY WERE MEANT TO BE EXPERIENCED AT CLOSE QUARTERS, SO THAT THE VIEWER GETS THE FEELING OF BEING 'WITHIN THE PICTURE', PARTICIPATING IN ITS HUMAN 'POIGNANCY'. UNTITLED #17 WAS PAINTED AT THE END OF THE DECADE ROTHKO'S CLASSIC WORK, WHEN HE RECEIVED THE MAJOR COMMISSIONS FOR THE FOUR SEASONS RESTAURANT, THE HOLYOKE CENTER AT HARVARD AND THE DE MENIL CHAPEL IN HOUSTON THAT ALTERED THE DIRECTION OF HIS OF HIS ART.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL NEWLY DISCOVERED ROTHKO PAINTING

ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S RENOWNED COLLECTION OF JEWELRY, WORKS OF ART, CLOTHING AND MEMORABILIA WILL BE SOLD AT A SERIES OF AUCTIONS, CHRISTIE'S RECENTLY ANNOUNCED. 'CHRISTIE'S WILL BE SELLING THE HISTORIC COLLECTION OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR', WHO DIED LAST MONTH IN LOS ANGELES AGED 79, THE AUCTION HOUSE SAID IN A STATEMENT. TAYLOR'S POSSESSIONS WILL BE SOLD IN A SERIES OF SALES, DETAILS AND THE TIMING OF THE SALES WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE, IT SAID. STEPHEN LASH, CHAIRMAN EMERITUS OF CHRISTIE'S AMERICAS, AND MARC PORTER, CHAIRMAN OF CHRISTIE'S AMERICAS WORKED WITH TAYLOR AND HER FAMILY 'OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, AND ARE MOST HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH COLLECTION OF THIS WORLD RENOWNED FILM LEGEND, HUMANITARIAN AND TASTE MAKER', SAID THE STATEMENT. TAYLOR, KNOWN FOR HER BEAUTY, LOVE OF DIAMONDS, EIGHT MARRIAGES AND WORK AS AN AIDS ACTIVIST, DIED OF CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE IN LOS ANGELES ON 23.MARCH AND WAS BURIED THE FOLLOWING DAY. CHRISTIE'S STATEMENT REGARDING THE SALE OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S COLLECTION IS AS FOLLOWS:

'STEPHEN LASH, CHAIRMAN EMERITUS OF CHRISTIE'S AMERICAS, AND MARC PORTER, CHAIRMAN OF CHRISTIE'S AMERICAS, TODAY CONFIRMED THAT CHRISTIE'S WILL BE SELLING THE HISTORIC COLLECTION OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR, INCLUDING HER COLLECTION OF JEWELRY, WORKS OF ART, FASHION AND MEMORABILIA, IN A SERIES OF SALES THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER THIS SEASON. FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. MESSRS. LASH AND PORTER AND THEIR COLLEAGUES WORKED WITH ELIZABETH TAYLOR AND HER FAMILY OVER THAT PAST TWO DECADES AND ARE MOST HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE COLLECTION OF THIS WORLD RENOWNED FILM LEGEND, HUMANITARIAN AND TASTE MAKER.'

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S COLLECTION

ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S RENOWNED COLLECTION OF JEWELRY, WORKS OF ART, CLOTHING AND MEMORABILIA WILL BE SOLD AT A SERIES OF AUCTIONS, CHRISTIE'S RECENTLY ANNOUNCED. 'CHRISTIE'S WILL BE SELLING THE HISTORIC COLLECTION OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR', WHO DIED LAST MONTH IN LOS ANGELES AGED 79, THE AUCTION HOUSE SAID IN A STATEMENT. TAYLOR'S POSSESSIONS WILL BE SOLD IN A SERIES OF SALES, DETAILS AND THE TIMING OF THE SALES WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE, IT SAID. STEPHEN LASH, CHAIRMAN EMERITUS OF CHRISTIE'S AMERICAS, AND MARC PORTER, CHAIRMAN OF CHRISTIE'S AMERICAS WORKED WITH TAYLOR AND HER FAMILY 'OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, AND ARE MOST HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH COLLECTION OF THIS WORLD RENOWNED FILM LEGEND, HUMANITARIAN AND TASTE MAKER', SAID THE STATEMENT. TAYLOR, KNOWN FOR HER BEAUTY, LOVE OF DIAMONDS, EIGHT MARRIAGES AND WORK AS AN AIDS ACTIVIST, DIED OF CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE IN LOS ANGELES ON 23.MARCH AND WAS BURIED THE FOLLOWING DAY. CHRISTIE'S STATEMENT REGARDING THE SALE OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S COLLECTION IS AS FOLLOWS:

'STEPHEN LASH, CHAIRMAN EMERITUS OF CHRISTIE'S AMERICAS, AND MARC PORTER, CHAIRMAN OF CHRISTIE'S AMERICAS, TODAY CONFIRMED THAT CHRISTIE'S WILL BE SELLING THE HISTORIC COLLECTION OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR, INCLUDING HER COLLECTION OF JEWELRY, WORKS OF ART, FASHION AND MEMORABILIA, IN A SERIES OF SALES THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER THIS SEASON. FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. MESSRS. LASH AND PORTER AND THEIR COLLEAGUES WORKED WITH ELIZABETH TAYLOR AND HER FAMILY OVER THAT PAST TWO DECADES AND ARE MOST HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE COLLECTION OF THIS WORLD RENOWNED FILM LEGEND, HUMANITARIAN AND TASTE MAKER.'

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S COLLECTION

AN ANDY WARHOL SELF-PORTRAIT PURCHASED IN 1963 FOR $1,600 ON AN INSTALLMENT PLAN IS POISED TO FETCH $30 MILLION OR MORE WHEN IT GOES ON THE AUCTION BLOCK AT CHRISTIE'S IN MAY. 'SELF-PORTRAIT', A FOUR-PANEL ACRYLIC SILKSCREEN DEPICTING THE POP ARTIST WEARING A TRENCH COAT AND SUNGLASSES, IS BEING SOLD BY THE FAMILY OF DETROIT COLLECTOR FLORENCE BARRON. BARRON FIRST COMMISSIONED WARHOL TO PAINT HER PORTRAIT, BUT CHANGED HER MIND AND SUGGESTED THE YOUNG ARTIST DEPICT HIMSELF, TELLING HIM, 'NOBODY KNOWS ME...THEY WANT TO SEE YOU'. THE RESULT WAS WARHOL'S FIRST SELF PORTRAIT, FOUR IMAGES TAKEN IN A COIN-OPERATED PHOTO-BOOTH RENDERED IN HUES OF BLUE. 'MY MOTHER DIDN'T LOOK AT COLLECTING IN TERMS OF 'IS THIS IMPORTANT OT NOT IMPORTANT', GUY BARRON TOLD REUTERS. SHE LOOKED AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHAT RESONATED WITH HER, AND OF 'I WANT TO LIVE WITH IT', IT WAS NOT DONE AS SOME PEOPLE DO TODAY, AS WALL POWER.' THE PORTRAIT GRACED THE LIVING ROOM WALL OF THE FAMILY HOME IN DETROIT. IT ALSO WENT ON PUBLIC DISPLAY, SERVING AS THE COVER IMAGE FOR CATALOGS FROM MAJOR WARHOL EXHIBITIONS AND RETROSPECTIVES AT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN NEW YORK AND THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM IN BILBAO, SPAIN. BRETT GORVY, CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL CO-HEAD AND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN FOR POST-WAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART, SAID THE WORK MARKED THE BEGINNING OF WARHOL'S OWN STARDOM. 'WITH DARK GLASSES AN OBLIVIOUS GAZE, WARHOL WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME IN CREATING A NEW ARCHETYPE OF GLAMOR', GORVY SAID. 'THE PAINTING IS REMARKABLE NOT ONLY FOR ITS VISUAL IMPACT AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PHOTO-BOOTH GENRE, BUT FOR MARKING A KEY MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF ART, WHEN WARHOL TAKES HIS PLACE IN THE PANTHEON OF CELEBRITY ALONGSIDE MARILYN, ELIZABETH AND ELVIS.' BARRON, WHOSE FAMILY INCLUDES TWO MARRIED SONS AND SEVERAL GRANDCHILDREN, SAID THEY WERE AUCTIONING THE WORK BECAUSE 'DIVIDING IS NOT POSSIBLE, SO SELLING MAKES THE MOST SENSE.' THE RECORD FOR A WARHOL SELF-PORTRAIT IS $32.6 MILLION SET LAST MAY AT SOTHEBY'S IN NEW YORK. THE RECORD PRICE FOR ANY WARHOL SOLD AT AUCTION IS 'GREEN CAR CRASH (GREEN BURNING CAR I)' WHICH CHRISTIE'S SOLD FOR $71.7 IN 2007.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL WARHOL SELF-PORTRAIT

AN ANDY WARHOL SELF-PORTRAIT PURCHASED IN 1963 FOR $1,600 ON AN INSTALLMENT PLAN IS POISED TO FETCH $30 MILLION OR MORE WHEN IT GOES ON THE AUCTION BLOCK AT CHRISTIE'S IN MAY. 'SELF-PORTRAIT', A FOUR-PANEL ACRYLIC SILKSCREEN DEPICTING THE POP ARTIST WEARING A TRENCH COAT AND SUNGLASSES, IS BEING SOLD BY THE FAMILY OF DETROIT COLLECTOR FLORENCE BARRON. BARRON FIRST COMMISSIONED WARHOL TO PAINT HER PORTRAIT, BUT CHANGED HER MIND AND SUGGESTED THE YOUNG ARTIST DEPICT HIMSELF, TELLING HIM, 'NOBODY KNOWS ME...THEY WANT TO SEE YOU'. THE RESULT WAS WARHOL'S FIRST SELF PORTRAIT, FOUR IMAGES TAKEN IN A COIN-OPERATED PHOTO-BOOTH RENDERED IN HUES OF BLUE. 'MY MOTHER DIDN'T LOOK AT COLLECTING IN TERMS OF 'IS THIS IMPORTANT OT NOT IMPORTANT', GUY BARRON TOLD REUTERS. SHE LOOKED AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHAT RESONATED WITH HER, AND OF 'I WANT TO LIVE WITH IT', IT WAS NOT DONE AS SOME PEOPLE DO TODAY, AS WALL POWER.' THE PORTRAIT GRACED THE LIVING ROOM WALL OF THE FAMILY HOME IN DETROIT. IT ALSO WENT ON PUBLIC DISPLAY, SERVING AS THE COVER IMAGE FOR CATALOGS FROM MAJOR WARHOL EXHIBITIONS AND RETROSPECTIVES AT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN NEW YORK AND THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM IN BILBAO, SPAIN. BRETT GORVY, CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL CO-HEAD AND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN FOR POST-WAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART, SAID THE WORK MARKED THE BEGINNING OF WARHOL'S OWN STARDOM. 'WITH DARK GLASSES AN OBLIVIOUS GAZE, WARHOL WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME IN CREATING A NEW ARCHETYPE OF GLAMOR', GORVY SAID. 'THE PAINTING IS REMARKABLE NOT ONLY FOR ITS VISUAL IMPACT AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PHOTO-BOOTH GENRE, BUT FOR MARKING A KEY MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF ART, WHEN WARHOL TAKES HIS PLACE IN THE PANTHEON OF CELEBRITY ALONGSIDE MARILYN, ELIZABETH AND ELVIS.' BARRON, WHOSE FAMILY INCLUDES TWO MARRIED SONS AND SEVERAL GRANDCHILDREN, SAID THEY WERE AUCTIONING THE WORK BECAUSE 'DIVIDING IS NOT POSSIBLE, SO SELLING MAKES THE MOST SENSE.' THE RECORD FOR A WARHOL SELF-PORTRAIT IS $32.6 MILLION SET LAST MAY AT SOTHEBY'S IN NEW YORK. THE RECORD PRICE FOR ANY WARHOL SOLD AT AUCTION IS 'GREEN CAR CRASH (GREEN BURNING CAR I)' WHICH CHRISTIE'S SOLD FOR $71.7 IN 2007.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL WARHOL SELF-PORTRAIT

CHRISTIE'S WILL OFFER A GEORGE STUBBS HORSE PAINTING FOR SALE IN LONDON ON 5.JULY AND EXPECTS IT TO MAKE MORE THAN £20 MILLION, POTENTIALLY PUTTING IT IN THE OLD MASTERS AUCTION ELITE. 'GIMCRACK ON NEWMARKET HEATH, WITH A TRAINER, A STABLE-LAD, AND A JOCKEY' WAS PAINTED BY STUBBS, RENOWNED FOR HIS ANATOMICALLY PRECISE PORTRAYALS OF HORSES, IN 1765, AND IS DESCRIBED BY THE AUCTIONEER AS 'A TRUE MASTERPIECE'. IT DEPICTS GIMCRACK, ONE OF THE MOST ADMIRED 18th CENTURY RACEHORSES WHICH WON 28 OF HIS 36 RACES AND FINISHED UNPLACED ONLY ONCE. THE PAINTING SHOWS GIMCRACK TWICE, IN THE BACKGROUND WINNING A 'TRIAL' AND IN THE FOREGROUND WITH HIS TRAINER AND JOCKEY, A STABLE LAD RUBBING HIM DOWN. SHOULD THE PAINTING EXCEED PRE-SALE EXPECTATIONS, IT WOULD PLACE STUBBS AMONG THE MOST VALUABLE OLD MASTER PAINTERS IN AUCTION HISTORY, ACCORDING TO CHRISTIE'S. THE MOST EXPENSIVE OLD MASTER PAINTING AT AUCTION REMAINS 'THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS' BY PETER PAUL RUBENS WHICH FETCHED £49.5 AT SOTHEBY'S IN 2002. THAT IS FOLLOWED BY TWO WORKS BY J.M.W. TURNER, A PAINTING BY PONTORMO AND IN FIFTH PLACE, REMBRANDT'S 'PORTRAIT OF A MAN WITH ARMS AKIMBO' WHICH SOLD FOR £20.2 MILLION AT CHRISTIE'S IN 2009.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL STUBBS PAINTING FOR ESTIMATED £20 MILLION

CHRISTIE'S WILL OFFER A GEORGE STUBBS HORSE PAINTING FOR SALE IN LONDON ON 5.JULY AND EXPECTS IT TO MAKE MORE THAN £20 MILLION, POTENTIALLY PUTTING IT IN THE OLD MASTERS AUCTION ELITE. 'GIMCRACK ON NEWMARKET HEATH, WITH A TRAINER, A STABLE-LAD, AND A JOCKEY' WAS PAINTED BY STUBBS, RENOWNED FOR HIS ANATOMICALLY PRECISE PORTRAYALS OF HORSES, IN 1765, AND IS DESCRIBED BY THE AUCTIONEER AS 'A TRUE MASTERPIECE'. IT DEPICTS GIMCRACK, ONE OF THE MOST ADMIRED 18th CENTURY RACEHORSES WHICH WON 28 OF HIS 36 RACES AND FINISHED UNPLACED ONLY ONCE. THE PAINTING SHOWS GIMCRACK TWICE, IN THE BACKGROUND WINNING A 'TRIAL' AND IN THE FOREGROUND WITH HIS TRAINER AND JOCKEY, A STABLE LAD RUBBING HIM DOWN. SHOULD THE PAINTING EXCEED PRE-SALE EXPECTATIONS, IT WOULD PLACE STUBBS AMONG THE MOST VALUABLE OLD MASTER PAINTERS IN AUCTION HISTORY, ACCORDING TO CHRISTIE'S. THE MOST EXPENSIVE OLD MASTER PAINTING AT AUCTION REMAINS 'THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS' BY PETER PAUL RUBENS WHICH FETCHED £49.5 AT SOTHEBY'S IN 2002. THAT IS FOLLOWED BY TWO WORKS BY J.M.W. TURNER, A PAINTING BY PONTORMO AND IN FIFTH PLACE, REMBRANDT'S 'PORTRAIT OF A MAN WITH ARMS AKIMBO' WHICH SOLD FOR £20.2 MILLION AT CHRISTIE'S IN 2009.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL STUBBS PAINTING FOR ESTIMATED £20 MILLION

A PAIR OF SPECTACULAR EAR-PENDANTS FEATURING THE WORLD'S RAREST DIAMONDS FROM THE LEGENDARY GOLCONDA MINES WILL BE OFFERED AT CHRISTIE'S HONG KONG MAGNIFICENT JEWELS SALE, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON 31.MAY AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE. THE IMPERIAL CUSHIONS, A PAIR OF D POTENTIALLY FLAWLESS GOLCONDA TYPE IIa DIAMONDS EAR-PENDANTS, IS ESTIMATED AT $7-$10 MILLION. THE OCCURRENCE OF SUCH A PAIR OF GALCONDA GEMSTONES, WITH A LIMPIDITY THAT IS PARTICULAR TO THE WORLD'S FINEST TYPE IIa DIAMONDS, IA A NATURAL MARVEL. AT 23.49 AND 23.11 CARATS EACH, THE PAIR IS OF EXCEPTIONAL CALIBER PROPORTIONS. WITH TYPE IIa DIAMONDS BEING LESS THAN 2% OF THE WORLD'S PRODUCTION, THE SUPERBLY MATCHED PAIR OF THE IMPERIAL CUSHIONS IS A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF MAGNIFICENCE AND RARITY. WHILE THE PRESENT DIAMONDS DO NOT ACTUALLY COME WITH AN IMPERIAL PROVENANCE, THE QUALITY, WORKMANSHIP, SIZE, AND RARITY ARE CERTAINLY OF A CALIBER WORTHY OF A ROYAL COLLECTION.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL RARE GALCONDA DIAMOND EAR-PENDANTS

A PAIR OF SPECTACULAR EAR-PENDANTS FEATURING THE WORLD'S RAREST DIAMONDS FROM THE LEGENDARY GOLCONDA MINES WILL BE OFFERED AT CHRISTIE'S HONG KONG MAGNIFICENT JEWELS SALE, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON 31.MAY AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE. THE IMPERIAL CUSHIONS, A PAIR OF D POTENTIALLY FLAWLESS GOLCONDA TYPE IIa DIAMONDS EAR-PENDANTS, IS ESTIMATED AT $7-$10 MILLION. THE OCCURRENCE OF SUCH A PAIR OF GALCONDA GEMSTONES, WITH A LIMPIDITY THAT IS PARTICULAR TO THE WORLD'S FINEST TYPE IIa DIAMONDS, IA A NATURAL MARVEL. AT 23.49 AND 23.11 CARATS EACH, THE PAIR IS OF EXCEPTIONAL CALIBER PROPORTIONS. WITH TYPE IIa DIAMONDS BEING LESS THAN 2% OF THE WORLD'S PRODUCTION, THE SUPERBLY MATCHED PAIR OF THE IMPERIAL CUSHIONS IS A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF MAGNIFICENCE AND RARITY. WHILE THE PRESENT DIAMONDS DO NOT ACTUALLY COME WITH AN IMPERIAL PROVENANCE, THE QUALITY, WORKMANSHIP, SIZE, AND RARITY ARE CERTAINLY OF A CALIBER WORTHY OF A ROYAL COLLECTION.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL RARE GALCONDA DIAMOND EAR-PENDANTS

AUCTION HOUSE CHRISTIE'S WILL PUT ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST PEARLS ON THE BLOCK AT ITS DUBAI SPRING JEWELRY SALE ON 19.APRIL IN A NOSTALGIC REMINDER OF THE EMIRATE'S PEARL DIVING PAST. THE AUCTION HOUSE IS SHOWCASING AN ARRAY OF PEARLS, DIAMONDS, FINE GEMS AND GOLD JEWELRY AHEAD OF THE SALE. PEARLS ARE ESPECIALLY UNIQUE TO DUBAI, AS PEARL HUNTING WAS A MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME A CENTURY AGO IN THE PORT CITY. CHRISTIE'S, WHO HAVE BEEN HOLDING REGULAR AUCTIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST SINCE 2006, SAW REGIONAL SALES REACH $51 MILLION LAST YEAR, UP FROM RECESSION LOWS OF $18-20 MILLION IN 2009. THE STUNNING PEARL IS DROP-SHAPED IN A SILVER AND GRAY SHADE AT ALMOST 60 CARATS. ONE OF TEH LARGEST NATURAL SALTWATER PEARLS RECORDED TO DATE, IT IS MOUNTED AS A PENDENT ON A DIAMOND-STUDDED CHAIN NECKLACE. CHRISTIE'S HAS ESTIMATED IT AT UP TO $250,000. 'THIS PART OF THE WORLD LIKES THINGS THAT ARE UNIQUE AND RARE', SAID DAVID WARREN, HEAD OF CHRISTIE'S MIDDLE EAST JEWELRY DEPARTMENT. CLOSE TO ONE HUNDRED JEWELRY LOTS, ESTIMATED AT A TOTAL $5-$6.5 MILLION, WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE AUCTION NEXT MONTH. ITEMS RANGE FROM AN ELEPHANT-SHAPED GEM RING WORTH $4,000-$6,000 TO A DIAMOND FLOWER NECKLACE WHICH CONVERTS INTO A TIARA WITH MATCHING EARRINGS WORTH $450,000-$550,000.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL WORLD'S LARGEST PEARL

AUCTION HOUSE CHRISTIE'S WILL PUT ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST PEARLS ON THE BLOCK AT ITS DUBAI SPRING JEWELRY SALE ON 19.APRIL IN A NOSTALGIC REMINDER OF THE EMIRATE'S PEARL DIVING PAST. THE AUCTION HOUSE IS SHOWCASING AN ARRAY OF PEARLS, DIAMONDS, FINE GEMS AND GOLD JEWELRY AHEAD OF THE SALE. PEARLS ARE ESPECIALLY UNIQUE TO DUBAI, AS PEARL HUNTING WAS A MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME A CENTURY AGO IN THE PORT CITY. CHRISTIE'S, WHO HAVE BEEN HOLDING REGULAR AUCTIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST SINCE 2006, SAW REGIONAL SALES REACH $51 MILLION LAST YEAR, UP FROM RECESSION LOWS OF $18-20 MILLION IN 2009. THE STUNNING PEARL IS DROP-SHAPED IN A SILVER AND GRAY SHADE AT ALMOST 60 CARATS. ONE OF TEH LARGEST NATURAL SALTWATER PEARLS RECORDED TO DATE, IT IS MOUNTED AS A PENDENT ON A DIAMOND-STUDDED CHAIN NECKLACE. CHRISTIE'S HAS ESTIMATED IT AT UP TO $250,000. 'THIS PART OF THE WORLD LIKES THINGS THAT ARE UNIQUE AND RARE', SAID DAVID WARREN, HEAD OF CHRISTIE'S MIDDLE EAST JEWELRY DEPARTMENT. CLOSE TO ONE HUNDRED JEWELRY LOTS, ESTIMATED AT A TOTAL $5-$6.5 MILLION, WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE AUCTION NEXT MONTH. ITEMS RANGE FROM AN ELEPHANT-SHAPED GEM RING WORTH $4,000-$6,000 TO A DIAMOND FLOWER NECKLACE WHICH CONVERTS INTO A TIARA WITH MATCHING EARRINGS WORTH $450,000-$550,000.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL WORLD'S LARGEST PEARL

THE INVITATION TO A 1960s 'HAPPENING' WAS INTRIGUING: PAY $10 TO ENTER A LOTTERY FOR THE CHANCE TO GET A KEY TO A PENN STATION LOCKER CONTAINING AN ORIGINAL ARTWORK. FOR ONE NEW YORKER WHO ATTENDED THE 1965 EVENT, THE KEY REVEALED A ROY LICHTENSTEIN DRAWING THAT CHRISTIE'S AUCTION HOUSE ESTIMATES WILL FETCH AROUND $1 MILLION AT ITS 11.MAY AUCTION. 'KISS V' IS A STUDY FOR ONE OF LICHTENSTEIN'S MAJOR PAINTINGS OF THE SAME NAME, WHICH IS IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION AND BELONGS TO HIS DREAM-GIRL SERIES CREATED BETWEEN 1961 AND 1965. MEASURING 6 INCHES BY 6 INCHES, THE STUDY IS A COMIC BOOK-INSPIRED CLOSE-UP OF A MAN AND WOMAN, EXECUTED IN GRAPHITE AND WAX CRAYON. THE ARTIST, WHO DIED IN 1997, WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS CARTOON-INSPIRED STYLE THAT HELPED LAUNCH, ALONG WITH ANDY WARHOL, JASPER JOHN AND OTHERS, THE POP ART MOVEMENT. 'HAPPENINGS', SPONTANEOUS AND FUN ARTS AND PERFORMANCE EVENTS, SPRUNG UP ALL AROUND THE CITY DURING THE HEADY DAYS OF THE 1960s. THE MARCH 1965 ONE WAS ORGANIZED BY A GROUP OF EMERGING POP ARTISTS. IT INVITED PARTICIPANTS TO COME TO THE HOTEL CHELSEA, HOME TO NUMEROUS LEGENDARY WRITERS AND ARTISTS, TO ENTER INTO THE $10 LOTTERY FOR A KEY TO ABOUT 20 LOCKERS AT THE OLD PENN STATION, WHICH WAS THEN BEING TORN DOWN. THIRTEEN ARTISTS PARTICIPATED IN THE ARTIST'S KEY CLUB EVENT. BESIDES LICHTENSTEIN, THEY INCLUDED WARHOL, CHRISTO AND ARMAN. 'IT WAS A LARGE PARTY FOR ARTIST AND PEOPLE WHO WERE PART OF THE HIP DOWNTOWN GROUP HAVING FUN', SAID CHRISTIE'S POSTWAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART EXPERT BRETT GORVY. LATER, HE SAID, THE GROUP PARTIED AT A RESTAURANT ON THE PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT. PARTICIPANTS DID NOT KNOWN WHICH KEY OPENED WHICH LOCKER. AND NOT EVERYONE WAS AS LUCKY AS THE WOMAN WHO CLAIMED THE LICHTENSTEIN DRAWING. 'ONE ARTIST PUT UP A GROUP OF VERY PUNGENT CHEESES' FOR HIS CONCEPTIONAL PIECE AND ANOTHER 'HAD SPICES AND HERBS AS HIS ART WORK' SAID GORVY. IN 1965, THE LICHTENSTEIN DRAWING WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN VALUED AT ABOUT $50. THE CURRENT OWNER, WHO DECLINED TO BE IDENTIFIED, DECIDED TO SELL IT BECAUSE SHE HAD IT RECENTLY APPRAISED AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WAS WORTH. GORVY SAID LICHTENSTEIN'S 'CRYING GIRL', A DRAWING OF SIMILAR SIZE AND FROM THE SAME SERIES, SOLD AT CHRISTIE'S ON 2007 FOR $1.7 MILLION. HE SAID HE EXPECTED 'KISS V' TO SURPASS ITS PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF $800,000 TO $1.2 MILLION BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE PROVENANCE. THE AUCTION RECORD OF LICHTENSTEIN IS $42.6 MILLION FOR HIS 'OH...ALRIGHT', A COMIC BOOK IMAGE OF A FORLORN WOMAN CLUTCHING A TELEPHONE. IT SOLD AT CHRISTIE'S IN NOVEMBER.

LICHTENSTEIN DRAWING ACQUIRED FOR $10 EXPECTED TO SELL FOR $1 MILLION

THE INVITATION TO A 1960s 'HAPPENING' WAS INTRIGUING: PAY $10 TO ENTER A LOTTERY FOR THE CHANCE TO GET A KEY TO A PENN STATION LOCKER CONTAINING AN ORIGINAL ARTWORK. FOR ONE NEW YORKER WHO ATTENDED THE 1965 EVENT, THE KEY REVEALED A ROY LICHTENSTEIN DRAWING THAT CHRISTIE'S AUCTION HOUSE ESTIMATES WILL FETCH AROUND $1 MILLION AT ITS 11.MAY AUCTION. 'KISS V' IS A STUDY FOR ONE OF LICHTENSTEIN'S MAJOR PAINTINGS OF THE SAME NAME, WHICH IS IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION AND BELONGS TO HIS DREAM-GIRL SERIES CREATED BETWEEN 1961 AND 1965. MEASURING 6 INCHES BY 6 INCHES, THE STUDY IS A COMIC BOOK-INSPIRED CLOSE-UP OF A MAN AND WOMAN, EXECUTED IN GRAPHITE AND WAX CRAYON. THE ARTIST, WHO DIED IN 1997, WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS CARTOON-INSPIRED STYLE THAT HELPED LAUNCH, ALONG WITH ANDY WARHOL, JASPER JOHN AND OTHERS, THE POP ART MOVEMENT. 'HAPPENINGS', SPONTANEOUS AND FUN ARTS AND PERFORMANCE EVENTS, SPRUNG UP ALL AROUND THE CITY DURING THE HEADY DAYS OF THE 1960s. THE MARCH 1965 ONE WAS ORGANIZED BY A GROUP OF EMERGING POP ARTISTS. IT INVITED PARTICIPANTS TO COME TO THE HOTEL CHELSEA, HOME TO NUMEROUS LEGENDARY WRITERS AND ARTISTS, TO ENTER INTO THE $10 LOTTERY FOR A KEY TO ABOUT 20 LOCKERS AT THE OLD PENN STATION, WHICH WAS THEN BEING TORN DOWN. THIRTEEN ARTISTS PARTICIPATED IN THE ARTIST'S KEY CLUB EVENT. BESIDES LICHTENSTEIN, THEY INCLUDED WARHOL, CHRISTO AND ARMAN. 'IT WAS A LARGE PARTY FOR ARTIST AND PEOPLE WHO WERE PART OF THE HIP DOWNTOWN GROUP HAVING FUN', SAID CHRISTIE'S POSTWAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART EXPERT BRETT GORVY. LATER, HE SAID, THE GROUP PARTIED AT A RESTAURANT ON THE PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT. PARTICIPANTS DID NOT KNOWN WHICH KEY OPENED WHICH LOCKER. AND NOT EVERYONE WAS AS LUCKY AS THE WOMAN WHO CLAIMED THE LICHTENSTEIN DRAWING. 'ONE ARTIST PUT UP A GROUP OF VERY PUNGENT CHEESES' FOR HIS CONCEPTIONAL PIECE AND ANOTHER 'HAD SPICES AND HERBS AS HIS ART WORK' SAID GORVY. IN 1965, THE LICHTENSTEIN DRAWING WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN VALUED AT ABOUT $50. THE CURRENT OWNER, WHO DECLINED TO BE IDENTIFIED, DECIDED TO SELL IT BECAUSE SHE HAD IT RECENTLY APPRAISED AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WAS WORTH. GORVY SAID LICHTENSTEIN'S 'CRYING GIRL', A DRAWING OF SIMILAR SIZE AND FROM THE SAME SERIES, SOLD AT CHRISTIE'S ON 2007 FOR $1.7 MILLION. HE SAID HE EXPECTED 'KISS V' TO SURPASS ITS PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF $800,000 TO $1.2 MILLION BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE PROVENANCE. THE AUCTION RECORD OF LICHTENSTEIN IS $42.6 MILLION FOR HIS 'OH...ALRIGHT', A COMIC BOOK IMAGE OF A FORLORN WOMAN CLUTCHING A TELEPHONE. IT SOLD AT CHRISTIE'S IN NOVEMBER.

LICHTENSTEIN DRAWING ACQUIRED FOR $10 EXPECTED TO SELL FOR $1 MILLION

A PRISTINE MONET MASTERPIECE FROM THE ARTIST'S CELEBRATED 'POPLARS' SERIES WILL BE FEATURED AT CHRISTIE'S IN MAY, WHEN IT IS EXPECTED TO SELL FOR AS MUCH AS $30 MILLION, THE AUCTION HOUSE SAID RECENTLY. 'LES PEUPLIERS', THE LARGEST FROM MONET'S FAMED PAINTINGS DEPICTING POPLAR TREES EXECUTED DURING HIS YEARS IN GIVERNY, IS BEING SOLD BY AN ASIAN COLLECTOR WHO PURCHASED IT AT AUCTION IN 2000 FOR JUST OVER $7 MILLION. AFTER A PRECIPITOUS DECLINE FOLLOWING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT HIT IN LATE 2008, THE ART MARKET CAME ROARING BACK LAST YEAR WITH WORKS BREAKING THE $100 MILLION MARK, ARTISTS' RECORDS BEING BROKEN AND AUCTION HOUSES RAKING IN CASH ONCE AGAIN. 'THE APPEARANCE OF THIS MASTERPIECE QUALITY WORKS MARKS THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE THAT A MAJOR 1890s SERIES PAINTING HAS COME TO AUCTION', SAID CONOR JORDON, CHRISTIE'S HEAD OF IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ART. 'WE ANTICIPATE GREAT ENTHUSIASM FROM MANY COLLECTORS, DEALERS AND MUSEUM DIRECTORS WHO HAVE BEEN EAGER FOR A QUINTESSENTIAL MONET SCENE SUCH AS THIS', JORDON ADDED. PRICES FOR TOP QUALITY WORKS BY MONET HAVE SOARED IN RECENT SEASONS, CHRISTIE'S NOTED. THE AUCTION RECORD FOR A MONET IS $80.4 MILLION SET IN MAY 2008 BY 'LE BASSIN AUX NYMPHEAS' FROM THE ARTIST'S RENOWNED WATERLILIES SERIES, WHICH WAS ABOUT TWICE THE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE. THE MAJORITY OF THE 24 WORKS FROM THE POPLARS SERIES HANG IN MAJOR ART MUSEUMS INCLUDING LONDON'S TATE GALLERY, THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART AND BOSTON'S MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. 'LES PEUPLIERS' WILL BE SOLD IN NEW YORK ON 4.MAY AFTER TOURING IN MOSCOW AND LONDON IN APRIL. MONET PAINTED 'LES PEUPLIERS' DURING THE SUMMER OF 1891 AFTER STRIKING A DEAL WITH A WOOD CUTTER NOT TO CUT DOWN A STAND OF POPLAR TREES ON THE RIVER NEAR HIS HOME UNTIL HE COULD FINISH PAINTING THEM.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL MONET'S 'LES PEUPLIERS'

A PRISTINE MONET MASTERPIECE FROM THE ARTIST'S CELEBRATED 'POPLARS' SERIES WILL BE FEATURED AT CHRISTIE'S IN MAY, WHEN IT IS EXPECTED TO SELL FOR AS MUCH AS $30 MILLION, THE AUCTION HOUSE SAID RECENTLY. 'LES PEUPLIERS', THE LARGEST FROM MONET'S FAMED PAINTINGS DEPICTING POPLAR TREES EXECUTED DURING HIS YEARS IN GIVERNY, IS BEING SOLD BY AN ASIAN COLLECTOR WHO PURCHASED IT AT AUCTION IN 2000 FOR JUST OVER $7 MILLION. AFTER A PRECIPITOUS DECLINE FOLLOWING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT HIT IN LATE 2008, THE ART MARKET CAME ROARING BACK LAST YEAR WITH WORKS BREAKING THE $100 MILLION MARK, ARTISTS' RECORDS BEING BROKEN AND AUCTION HOUSES RAKING IN CASH ONCE AGAIN. 'THE APPEARANCE OF THIS MASTERPIECE QUALITY WORKS MARKS THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE THAT A MAJOR 1890s SERIES PAINTING HAS COME TO AUCTION', SAID CONOR JORDON, CHRISTIE'S HEAD OF IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ART. 'WE ANTICIPATE GREAT ENTHUSIASM FROM MANY COLLECTORS, DEALERS AND MUSEUM DIRECTORS WHO HAVE BEEN EAGER FOR A QUINTESSENTIAL MONET SCENE SUCH AS THIS', JORDON ADDED. PRICES FOR TOP QUALITY WORKS BY MONET HAVE SOARED IN RECENT SEASONS, CHRISTIE'S NOTED. THE AUCTION RECORD FOR A MONET IS $80.4 MILLION SET IN MAY 2008 BY 'LE BASSIN AUX NYMPHEAS' FROM THE ARTIST'S RENOWNED WATERLILIES SERIES, WHICH WAS ABOUT TWICE THE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE. THE MAJORITY OF THE 24 WORKS FROM THE POPLARS SERIES HANG IN MAJOR ART MUSEUMS INCLUDING LONDON'S TATE GALLERY, THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART AND BOSTON'S MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. 'LES PEUPLIERS' WILL BE SOLD IN NEW YORK ON 4.MAY AFTER TOURING IN MOSCOW AND LONDON IN APRIL. MONET PAINTED 'LES PEUPLIERS' DURING THE SUMMER OF 1891 AFTER STRIKING A DEAL WITH A WOOD CUTTER NOT TO CUT DOWN A STAND OF POPLAR TREES ON THE RIVER NEAR HIS HOME UNTIL HE COULD FINISH PAINTING THEM.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL MONET'S 'LES PEUPLIERS'

PERHAPS NO GREATER PHENOMENON HAS ELECTRIFIED THE GLOBAL JEWELRY MARKET IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THAN THE SKYROCKETING PRICES ACHIEVED FOR LARGE PINK DIAMONDS AT AUCTION. IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS, FOUR PINK DIAMONDS HAVE FETCHED MORE THAN 41 MILLION PER CARAT AT AUCTION, CHRISTIE'S LEADING THE WAY WITH THE VIVID PINK, A 5 CARAT CUSHION-CUT DIAMOND THAT SOLD FOR MORE THAN $2.1 MILLION PER CARAT AT CHRISTIE'S HONG KONG IN DECEMBER 2009, A RECORD PRICE PER CARAT FOR ANY DIAMOND SOLD AT AUCTION. NOW, CHRISTIE'S IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE IT WILL OFFER A 10.09 CARAT FANCY VIVID PURPLISH-PINK DIAMOND AS THE HIGHLIGHT OF ITS 12.APRIL MAGNIFICENT JEWELS SALE IN NEW YORK. THE EXCEPTIONAL DIAMOND, WITH ITS HIGHLY DESIRABLE CUSHION CUT, IS ESTIMATED AT $12-15 MILLION. 'COLLECTOR DEMAND FOR LARGE COLOURED DIAMONDS HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER, ESPECIALLY WHERE PINK DIAMONDS OF THIS SIZE AND QUALITY ARE CONCERNED. FEWER THAN 10% OF ALL PINK DIAMONDS MINED WEIGH MORE THAN 0.20 CARATS, AND EVEN FEWER EXHIBIT THE EXCEPTIONAL COLOUR SATURATION AND BRILLIANCE OF THIS EXCEPTIONAL GEM. IN ALL MY YEARS AT CHRISTIE'S, I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A VIVID COLOUR IN A STONE OF THIS SIZE', SAID RAHUL KADAKIA, HEAD OF JEWELRY AT CHRISTIE'S NEW YORK. 'AT CHRISTIE'S NEW YORK THIS PAST DECEMBER, JEWELRY COLLECTORS COMPETED FOR A 6.89 CARAT FANCY VIVID PURPLISH-PINK DIAMOND, WHICH ULTIMATELY SOLD FOR $6.9 MILLION OF $1 MILLION PER CARAT. THIS LARGER STONE, WITH ITS RICHER, DEEPER HUE OF PINK AND ELECTRIFYING PURPLE TONE IS POSITIONED TO BECOME ONE OF THIS SEASON'S TOP SELLING DIAMONDS.'

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL 10.09 CARAT FANCY VIVID DIAMOND

PERHAPS NO GREATER PHENOMENON HAS ELECTRIFIED THE GLOBAL JEWELRY MARKET IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THAN THE SKYROCKETING PRICES ACHIEVED FOR LARGE PINK DIAMONDS AT AUCTION. IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS, FOUR PINK DIAMONDS HAVE FETCHED MORE THAN 41 MILLION PER CARAT AT AUCTION, CHRISTIE'S LEADING THE WAY WITH THE VIVID PINK, A 5 CARAT CUSHION-CUT DIAMOND THAT SOLD FOR MORE THAN $2.1 MILLION PER CARAT AT CHRISTIE'S HONG KONG IN DECEMBER 2009, A RECORD PRICE PER CARAT FOR ANY DIAMOND SOLD AT AUCTION. NOW, CHRISTIE'S IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE IT WILL OFFER A 10.09 CARAT FANCY VIVID PURPLISH-PINK DIAMOND AS THE HIGHLIGHT OF ITS 12.APRIL MAGNIFICENT JEWELS SALE IN NEW YORK. THE EXCEPTIONAL DIAMOND, WITH ITS HIGHLY DESIRABLE CUSHION CUT, IS ESTIMATED AT $12-15 MILLION. 'COLLECTOR DEMAND FOR LARGE COLOURED DIAMONDS HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER, ESPECIALLY WHERE PINK DIAMONDS OF THIS SIZE AND QUALITY ARE CONCERNED. FEWER THAN 10% OF ALL PINK DIAMONDS MINED WEIGH MORE THAN 0.20 CARATS, AND EVEN FEWER EXHIBIT THE EXCEPTIONAL COLOUR SATURATION AND BRILLIANCE OF THIS EXCEPTIONAL GEM. IN ALL MY YEARS AT CHRISTIE'S, I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A VIVID COLOUR IN A STONE OF THIS SIZE', SAID RAHUL KADAKIA, HEAD OF JEWELRY AT CHRISTIE'S NEW YORK. 'AT CHRISTIE'S NEW YORK THIS PAST DECEMBER, JEWELRY COLLECTORS COMPETED FOR A 6.89 CARAT FANCY VIVID PURPLISH-PINK DIAMOND, WHICH ULTIMATELY SOLD FOR $6.9 MILLION OF $1 MILLION PER CARAT. THIS LARGER STONE, WITH ITS RICHER, DEEPER HUE OF PINK AND ELECTRIFYING PURPLE TONE IS POSITIONED TO BECOME ONE OF THIS SEASON'S TOP SELLING DIAMONDS.'

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL 10.09 CARAT FANCY VIVID DIAMOND

HAVING NOT BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, THE FOOTBALL MATCH, BY LAURENCE STEPHEN LOWRY, R.A. WILL BE OFFERED AT AUCTION ON 26.MAY IN CHRISTIE'S SALE OF 20th CENTURY BRITISH ART. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE DEPICTION OF ONE OF BRITAIN'S MOST POPULAR SPORTS, FOOTBALL, BY ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST ICONIC BRITISH ARTISTS, THE PAINTING IS A MODERN MASTERPIECE. THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR, THE FOOTBALL MATCH HAS AN ESTIMATE OF £3.5 MILLION TO £4 MILLION, SETTING A NEW BENCHMARK FOR THE ARTIST'S WORK AT AUCTION. REFLECTING THE INTERNATIONAL APPEAL OF LOWRY, THE FOOTBALL MATCH, WHICH WAS PAINTED IN 1949 AT THE HIGH POINT OF THE ARTIST'S CAREER, TOURED TO LONDON, AMERICA AND PARIS BEFORE ENTERING A PRIVATE COLLECTION IN 1950, WHERE IT REMAINED FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THE LARGE FORMAT CANVAS, MEASURING 28 x 36 INCHES, IS IN EXCELLENT ORIGINAL CONDITION. IT PROVIDES COLLECTORS, INSTITUTIONS AND DEALERS WITH A VERY RARE OPPORTUNITY AS IT COMBINES THE ARTIST'S HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE, PEPPERED WITH ROOFTOPS; CHIMNEYS FULL OF BILLOWING SMOKE; HOUSES AND STREETS SCENES WITH INCIDENTAL DOMESTIC MOMENTS, AND TEAMS THIS WITH MAGNETICALLY PULLING THE VIEWER OVER THE ROOFTOPS, THROUGH THE DEEP CROWDS GATHERED ON THE SIDE-LINES, THROUGH THE GOALPOST AND INTO THE MIDST OF THE FOOTBALL MATCH ITSELF, AND THEN BEYOND. LOWRY WAS A KEEN FOOTBALL SUPPORTER HIMSELF, HIS TEAM WAS MANCHESTER CITY. HE EXPLORED THE SUBJECT OF GOING TO, OR BEING AT A FOOTBALL MATCH, SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO OTHER WORK PROVIDES THE ENGAGING PANORAMIC BIRDS-EYE VIEW DEEP IN TO THE ACTION ON THE PITCH, THROUGH SUCH EXTENSIVE CROWDS, WITH THE GREATER, HIGHLY DETAILED CONTEXT OF THE HOMES AND FACTORIES, FLANKING ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE PITCH, WHICH ARE CENTRAL TO THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE SUPPORTERS DEPICTED.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL LOWRY PAINTING FOR ESTIMATED £3.5 MILLION

HAVING NOT BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, THE FOOTBALL MATCH, BY LAURENCE STEPHEN LOWRY, R.A. WILL BE OFFERED AT AUCTION ON 26.MAY IN CHRISTIE'S SALE OF 20th CENTURY BRITISH ART. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE DEPICTION OF ONE OF BRITAIN'S MOST POPULAR SPORTS, FOOTBALL, BY ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST ICONIC BRITISH ARTISTS, THE PAINTING IS A MODERN MASTERPIECE. THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR, THE FOOTBALL MATCH HAS AN ESTIMATE OF £3.5 MILLION TO £4 MILLION, SETTING A NEW BENCHMARK FOR THE ARTIST'S WORK AT AUCTION. REFLECTING THE INTERNATIONAL APPEAL OF LOWRY, THE FOOTBALL MATCH, WHICH WAS PAINTED IN 1949 AT THE HIGH POINT OF THE ARTIST'S CAREER, TOURED TO LONDON, AMERICA AND PARIS BEFORE ENTERING A PRIVATE COLLECTION IN 1950, WHERE IT REMAINED FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THE LARGE FORMAT CANVAS, MEASURING 28 x 36 INCHES, IS IN EXCELLENT ORIGINAL CONDITION. IT PROVIDES COLLECTORS, INSTITUTIONS AND DEALERS WITH A VERY RARE OPPORTUNITY AS IT COMBINES THE ARTIST'S HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE, PEPPERED WITH ROOFTOPS; CHIMNEYS FULL OF BILLOWING SMOKE; HOUSES AND STREETS SCENES WITH INCIDENTAL DOMESTIC MOMENTS, AND TEAMS THIS WITH MAGNETICALLY PULLING THE VIEWER OVER THE ROOFTOPS, THROUGH THE DEEP CROWDS GATHERED ON THE SIDE-LINES, THROUGH THE GOALPOST AND INTO THE MIDST OF THE FOOTBALL MATCH ITSELF, AND THEN BEYOND. LOWRY WAS A KEEN FOOTBALL SUPPORTER HIMSELF, HIS TEAM WAS MANCHESTER CITY. HE EXPLORED THE SUBJECT OF GOING TO, OR BEING AT A FOOTBALL MATCH, SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO OTHER WORK PROVIDES THE ENGAGING PANORAMIC BIRDS-EYE VIEW DEEP IN TO THE ACTION ON THE PITCH, THROUGH SUCH EXTENSIVE CROWDS, WITH THE GREATER, HIGHLY DETAILED CONTEXT OF THE HOMES AND FACTORIES, FLANKING ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE PITCH, WHICH ARE CENTRAL TO THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE SUPPORTERS DEPICTED.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL LOWRY PAINTING FOR ESTIMATED £3.5 MILLION