2003
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Freud UK II British Royals Jewels Pink diamond African diamonds
See also : Freud UK II British Royals Jewels Pink diamond African diamonds
2003 The Pink Star
2013 recorded for CHF 76M by Sotheby's, UNPAID
2017 SOLD for HK$ 550M by Sotheby's
The Pink Star is unquestionably and by far the greatest polished diamond that ever hit the auction market. It should have fetched CHF 76M including premium at Sotheby's on November 13, 2013 but the buyer was unable to pay and its sale was cancelled.
Its come back was eagerly awaited by all the fans of highest jewelry and of auction history. It was sold for HK $ 550M by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 4, 2017, lot 1801.
Its subtle color, Fancy Vivid Pink, is the best graded among diamond colors. Internally Flawless means a perfect clarity. Its weight, 59.60 carats, is the highest recorded for finished flawless diamonds of that color. Its oval shape and its polish are the perfect result of two years of work executed by Steinmetz Diamonds.
It comes from a rough gem of 142.5 carats unearthed in 1999 by De Beers somewhere in Africa, which is currently the best location for new fabulous diamonds. Its mixed cut had required more than 50 subsequent models from epoxy casts. It was unveiled to the public in 2003.
It exceeds in all its features the Graff Pink, sold for CHF 45.4M by Sotheby's in 2010, which had 24.78 carats, a VVS2 clarity and a fancy intense pink color slightly lower in theory than the fancy vivid but indeed highly striking in this specimen.
Please watch the videos shared by Sotheby's : the 2013 pre sale video and the short video introducing the next auction :
Its come back was eagerly awaited by all the fans of highest jewelry and of auction history. It was sold for HK $ 550M by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 4, 2017, lot 1801.
Its subtle color, Fancy Vivid Pink, is the best graded among diamond colors. Internally Flawless means a perfect clarity. Its weight, 59.60 carats, is the highest recorded for finished flawless diamonds of that color. Its oval shape and its polish are the perfect result of two years of work executed by Steinmetz Diamonds.
It comes from a rough gem of 142.5 carats unearthed in 1999 by De Beers somewhere in Africa, which is currently the best location for new fabulous diamonds. Its mixed cut had required more than 50 subsequent models from epoxy casts. It was unveiled to the public in 2003.
It exceeds in all its features the Graff Pink, sold for CHF 45.4M by Sotheby's in 2010, which had 24.78 carats, a VVS2 clarity and a fancy intense pink color slightly lower in theory than the fancy vivid but indeed highly striking in this specimen.
Please watch the videos shared by Sotheby's : the 2013 pre sale video and the short video introducing the next auction :
Sotheby’s Brings ‘Pink Star’ Diamond to Hong Kong https://t.co/D5Lo7D6NIX pic.twitter.com/yk5ph7cUhn
— Art Market Monitor (@artmarket) March 20, 2017
WATCH: World's most valuable cut diamond, the 59.60-carat "Pink Star," could fetch a record $60 million at auction: https://t.co/JsYfyHq5H8 pic.twitter.com/mLNLyhUhBY
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 20, 2017
2002-2003 Portrait on a White Cover by Freud
2018 SOLD for £ 22.5M by Sotheby's
Since the death of Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud was the most outstanding living British artist. This role seems difficult to play. For several years he relentlessly uses the permanent access to the National Gallery granted to him by its management to re-examine ancient art.
In 2002 the Tate Gallery organizes a major retrospective displayed in nine rooms according to the chronology of his art. The conclusion of this journey is Freud's statement on the nude. He considers clothes like a façade that hides instincts and desires. He wants to see his models as physically comfortable as animals.
The links are also close with the Wallace Collection which wishes to organize an exhibition dedicated to Lucian Freud's recent works. This museum has one of the most beautiful female nudes by Titian, in Perseus and Andromeda. The nudes by Freud will have to be at a comparable level. He is looking for his Andromeda.
He finds Sophie who works for Tate Publishing. She is tall and slim with long legs. Titian's Andromeda is standing with one arm raised for anchoring to the rock. Freud knows that his reclining nudes are typical in his art. He puts Sophie on the bed with a raised arm, in full nudity.
Portrait on a white cover, oil on canvas 117 x 143 cm, is painted by Freud in 2002-2003 and will be exhibited at the Wallace Collection in May 2004. This painting was sold for £ 22.5M by Sotheby's on June 26, 2018, lot 6. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
With family and friends the old artist still knew how to maintain a naked person in confidence, specially through his famous chatter. Julie and Martin painted in 2001 is a good example, sold for $ 17M including premium by Christie's on November 12, 2014. With Sophie, chosen by Freud for her Andromeda body, it does not go as well. The sleeping nude of the Portrait on a white cover has clenched fingers in both hands and the artist obsessed with realism did not make them flexible.
In 2002 the Tate Gallery organizes a major retrospective displayed in nine rooms according to the chronology of his art. The conclusion of this journey is Freud's statement on the nude. He considers clothes like a façade that hides instincts and desires. He wants to see his models as physically comfortable as animals.
The links are also close with the Wallace Collection which wishes to organize an exhibition dedicated to Lucian Freud's recent works. This museum has one of the most beautiful female nudes by Titian, in Perseus and Andromeda. The nudes by Freud will have to be at a comparable level. He is looking for his Andromeda.
He finds Sophie who works for Tate Publishing. She is tall and slim with long legs. Titian's Andromeda is standing with one arm raised for anchoring to the rock. Freud knows that his reclining nudes are typical in his art. He puts Sophie on the bed with a raised arm, in full nudity.
Portrait on a white cover, oil on canvas 117 x 143 cm, is painted by Freud in 2002-2003 and will be exhibited at the Wallace Collection in May 2004. This painting was sold for £ 22.5M by Sotheby's on June 26, 2018, lot 6. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
With family and friends the old artist still knew how to maintain a naked person in confidence, specially through his famous chatter. Julie and Martin painted in 2001 is a good example, sold for $ 17M including premium by Christie's on November 12, 2014. With Sophie, chosen by Freud for her Andromeda body, it does not go as well. The sleeping nude of the Portrait on a white cover has clenched fingers in both hands and the artist obsessed with realism did not make them flexible.
2003-2004 The Brigadier by Freud
2015 SOLD for $ 35M by Christie's
Before he retired in 1994, the figure of Andrew Parker Bowles often appeared in news photos but he remained anonymous despite his imposing posture. Colonel commanding the Household Cavalry before his promotion to the honorary rank of Brigadier, he assured the bodyguard to Queen Elizabeth II.
This aristocrat had previously shared the royal children's passion for horses and polo. The Prince of Wales will much later marry Camilla newly divorced from the Brigadier. The hero attended the wedding without resentment.
Lucian Freud was fond of horses, too, and a longtime friend of Andrew Parker Bowles. He painted his portrait in 2003-2004. During 18 months at a rate of three times a week and four hours per session, the Brigadier came to sit in the artist's studio.
Lucian's process is unique in the history of portrait painting. He rushed to the face of his model to inspect a tiny detail that provoked an equally abrupt return to save it on the canvas. Then he saturated his guest in an endless chatter before being ready to proceed with another detail. Lucian was very witty, which was quite necessary to maintain the patience of his models.
The obsession of the artist was to create lifelike works at the opposite of the dryness of a photograph. His method totally different from Bacon's led also to a strong emotion but Lucian managed to keep the realistic features of his characters. The Brigadier is still admiring today his portrait by Freud, better than life even in the glare of the medals.
The officer is not Sue Tilley. Lucian had not imposed an acrobatic attitude to this dignified sexagenarian who was indeed required to take the same position again at each new session. The result looks like a classic military portrait excepted that it is extraordinary in its psychological rendering.
This oil on canvas 224 x 138 cm was sold for $ 35M by Christie's on November 10, 2015, lot 31 B. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
This aristocrat had previously shared the royal children's passion for horses and polo. The Prince of Wales will much later marry Camilla newly divorced from the Brigadier. The hero attended the wedding without resentment.
Lucian Freud was fond of horses, too, and a longtime friend of Andrew Parker Bowles. He painted his portrait in 2003-2004. During 18 months at a rate of three times a week and four hours per session, the Brigadier came to sit in the artist's studio.
Lucian's process is unique in the history of portrait painting. He rushed to the face of his model to inspect a tiny detail that provoked an equally abrupt return to save it on the canvas. Then he saturated his guest in an endless chatter before being ready to proceed with another detail. Lucian was very witty, which was quite necessary to maintain the patience of his models.
The obsession of the artist was to create lifelike works at the opposite of the dryness of a photograph. His method totally different from Bacon's led also to a strong emotion but Lucian managed to keep the realistic features of his characters. The Brigadier is still admiring today his portrait by Freud, better than life even in the glare of the medals.
The officer is not Sue Tilley. Lucian had not imposed an acrobatic attitude to this dignified sexagenarian who was indeed required to take the same position again at each new session. The result looks like a classic military portrait excepted that it is extraordinary in its psychological rendering.
This oil on canvas 224 x 138 cm was sold for $ 35M by Christie's on November 10, 2015, lot 31 B. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
2003 Structure Végétale by Claude Lalanne
2021 SOLD for € 3.74M by Christie's
Throughout her career that began with the Choupatte, Claude Lalanne maintained a highly original poetry based on a mingling of animal and vegetal.
In 2003 Hubert de Givenchy is commissioned for the furnishing of a private mansion in Paris. He is delighted by the project drawing of a chandelier by Claude.
This lustre named Structure Végétale supports sixteen lights on scattered branches while butterflies are posed on the vertical stem. The total extended size is 175 cm high, 149 cm wide and 104 cm deep.
The piece custom made for Givenchy in patinated bronze and patinated copper is unique and numbered 1/1. It was sold for € 3.74M from a lower estimate of € 800K by Christie's on September 14, 2021, lot 63.
In 2003 Hubert de Givenchy is commissioned for the furnishing of a private mansion in Paris. He is delighted by the project drawing of a chandelier by Claude.
This lustre named Structure Végétale supports sixteen lights on scattered branches while butterflies are posed on the vertical stem. The total extended size is 175 cm high, 149 cm wide and 104 cm deep.
The piece custom made for Givenchy in patinated bronze and patinated copper is unique and numbered 1/1. It was sold for € 3.74M from a lower estimate of € 800K by Christie's on September 14, 2021, lot 63.
2003 Spider by Bourgeois
2008 SOLD for € 2.9M by Christie's
In November 2006, Christie's sold for $ 4M a large spider in bronze by Louise Bourgeois, 239 x 244 x 213 cm. This one followed another specimen of the same model, sold for $ 3 M by Sotheby's in November 2005.
On May 14, 2008, Christie's sold for $ 2,5M M$ a sculpture from an earlier design.
On May 27, 2008, Christie's sold at lot 20 for € 2.9M a smaller and later Spider executed in 2003, 74 x 112 x 89 cm, featured high on its legs. This unique piece is in stainless steel with a body clothed with tapestry, recalling the memory of the mother whose job was to repair tapestries.
On May 14, 2008, Christie's sold for $ 2,5M M$ a sculpture from an earlier design.
On May 27, 2008, Christie's sold at lot 20 for € 2.9M a smaller and later Spider executed in 2003, 74 x 112 x 89 cm, featured high on its legs. This unique piece is in stainless steel with a body clothed with tapestry, recalling the memory of the mother whose job was to repair tapestries.
2003 Ferrari Enzo
1
2019 SOLD for CHF 3.1M by Bonhams
Released in 1993, the Ferrari F50 did not reach the success of its predecessor the F40. The scheduled figure of 349 cars will not be increased.
Ten years later the Enzo starts better. The marketing was similar, with 349 cars sold before the production to customers selected by the brand, but the requests from non-selected users made it increase to 399. All these cars were made in 2003. The very expensive sale ticket was about $ 650,000.
Taking benefit of some Formula One technologies, the Enzo could reach 100 km/h in about 3.5 seconds and 200km/h in 9.5 seconds, plus a top speed at 350 km/h. Some fans of previous models objected against its rude shape designed by the Pininfarina workshop for improving the aerodynamics and the driving experience.
Completed in October 2003, the penultimate Enzo was sold for CHF 3.1M by Bonhams on September 29, 2019, lot 18. 21 km from new with Equatorial Guinea registration papers, it belonged to the collection of supercars seized from vice-president Obiang.
Ten years later the Enzo starts better. The marketing was similar, with 349 cars sold before the production to customers selected by the brand, but the requests from non-selected users made it increase to 399. All these cars were made in 2003. The very expensive sale ticket was about $ 650,000.
Taking benefit of some Formula One technologies, the Enzo could reach 100 km/h in about 3.5 seconds and 200km/h in 9.5 seconds, plus a top speed at 350 km/h. Some fans of previous models objected against its rude shape designed by the Pininfarina workshop for improving the aerodynamics and the driving experience.
Completed in October 2003, the penultimate Enzo was sold for CHF 3.1M by Bonhams on September 29, 2019, lot 18. 21 km from new with Equatorial Guinea registration papers, it belonged to the collection of supercars seized from vice-president Obiang.
2
2021 SOLD for $ 3.36M by RM Sotheby's
An Enzo was sold for $ 3.36M by RM Sotheby's on August 14, 2021, lot 316. Its rare nero finish had long been covered by a protective film. Originally owned by casino mogul Steve Wynn, it had been used in a paid admission display at Las Vegas.
3
2015 SOLD for $ 3.3M by RM Sotheby's
An Enzo 560 miles from new was sold for $ 3.3M by RM Sotheby's on December 10, 2015, lot 219. It had shortly belonged to Floyd Mayweather.
2003 Looking back to a bright new future by Mehretu
2015 SOLD for £ 2.2M by Christie's
Julie Mehretu provides a dual or even multiple narration in her large pictures on canvas. This intention is often heralded by a duality in the title of the work, offering within a few words an idea and its opposite.
A piece by Mehretu is a painting and a drawing, in acrylic and ink, abstract and figurative. This is an abstract firework of colors when viewed at a distance, and an unlimited cityscape or a tightly patterned map in a very close view. The fireworks alone are a sensory duality, delighting the viewer both by the explosion of colors and by belonging in a festive crowd.
On June 30, 2015, Christie's sold for £ 2.2M a resolutely thoughtful artwork titled Looking back to a bright new future. This acrylic and ink 241 x 303 cm painted in 2003 is estimated £ 1.8 million, lot 48. This picture provides an additional reading with lines converging on a vanishing point as in a ceiling by Balla in search of the fourth dimension 90 years earlier.
A piece by Mehretu is a painting and a drawing, in acrylic and ink, abstract and figurative. This is an abstract firework of colors when viewed at a distance, and an unlimited cityscape or a tightly patterned map in a very close view. The fireworks alone are a sensory duality, delighting the viewer both by the explosion of colors and by belonging in a festive crowd.
On June 30, 2015, Christie's sold for £ 2.2M a resolutely thoughtful artwork titled Looking back to a bright new future. This acrylic and ink 241 x 303 cm painted in 2003 is estimated £ 1.8 million, lot 48. This picture provides an additional reading with lines converging on a vanishing point as in a ceiling by Balla in search of the fourth dimension 90 years earlier.
2003 Charlie by Cattelan
2010 SOLD for $ 3M by Phillips de Pury
Charlie was sold for $ 3M by Phillips de Pury on November 8, 2010. After the sale, Simon de Pury told it : "Thank you so much, Charlie, you can leave us now". Here is this lot, illustrated in the catalog shared by LiveAuctioneers. It passed at Christie's on November 12, 2013, from a lower estimate of $ 2M.
Time passes, art evolves, the hyper-realistic characters in vinyl and fiberglass by Duane Hanson are in the past. Their successors can not remain immobile. The last decade has seen the development of an art inspired by animatronics techniques, developed for amusement parks.
Maurizio Cattelan, known as an "enfant terrible" of contemporary art, is participating in this trend. Charlie is a boy about 6 years old on a tricycle, with the head of the artist as a young adult. Made in 2003, the work 82 x 92 x 56 cm is activated by a remote control that allows it to move and to change the expression on the face. Here, the tricycle is a cult object : The model has been used by the child medium in the horror film by Kubrick, the Shining.
Time passes, art evolves, the hyper-realistic characters in vinyl and fiberglass by Duane Hanson are in the past. Their successors can not remain immobile. The last decade has seen the development of an art inspired by animatronics techniques, developed for amusement parks.
Maurizio Cattelan, known as an "enfant terrible" of contemporary art, is participating in this trend. Charlie is a boy about 6 years old on a tricycle, with the head of the artist as a young adult. Made in 2003, the work 82 x 92 x 56 cm is activated by a remote control that allows it to move and to change the expression on the face. Here, the tricycle is a cult object : The model has been used by the child medium in the horror film by Kubrick, the Shining.
