Tag Archives: Sotheby’s

Wendy Purvey, CMO of Sotheby’s International Realty, on being an “International Brand”

Posted in International Outreach Comment
 

Wendy Purvey

Wendy Purvey, CMO of Sotheby’s International Realty, visited our Miami Beach real estate office this week and gave an engaging presentation that outlined the true meaning of being “international” and how the brand lives up to that name well beyond real estate. She outlined exciting marketing initiatives to a packed room of top brokers and emphasized the global connections that make our brand stand out from everyone else.

The Sotheby’s International Realty network expands to over 45 countries with hundreds of affiliate offices and 12,500 agents with luxury expertise. This is only one of the many values that come with buying or selling with us. Other points that Wendy touched upon in her presentation focused on global media placements that intelligently showcase properties along with other benefits that can’t be matched.

These include:
• A website with accurate human translation in 15 languages
• Targeted media partnerships with top tier publications that include the International Herald Tribute, the BBC, South China Morning Post, Wall Street Journal, global versions of the New York Time, the Financial Times, etc.
• Opportunity to participate in Sotheby’s auction events world wide
• 45% of web traffic to Sothebys.com comes form outside of the United States
• 72% of people searching on our site search in a language other than English.

All of these efforts combined prove that we are truly the world’s only luxury international brokerage. No other real estate organization can compare to our connections with the international elite.

ONE | Sir to host Sotheby’s Valuations on Chinese Works of Art in South Beach

Posted in Sotheby's Auction House News Comment
 

Sothebys-valuation-chinese-art

One Sotheby’s International Realty office in Miami Beach will host Cynthia Volk, a specialist from Sotheby’s auction house during the week of February 25. The specialist will be taking appointments for private auction estimates on Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art.

One of Sotheby’s most active departments, the Chinese Art team has developed strong relationships with key collectors in the field. For sale are a wide variety of works including ceramics, jades, ivory, furniture, bronzes, sculptures, paintings and clocks plus more from the Neolithic period to the Qing dynasties.

Recent successes in the Chinese Art field include a record-breaking $22 million for a blue and white vase with fruit sprays as well as a Ru guanyao lobed brush washer, which set the world auction record for Song ceramics at $26.6 million.

A number of important private collections have entrusted Sotheby’s for their sales, including The Meiyntang Collection, Property from J.T. Tai and Co., The Collection of Carl Kempe and The Estate of Emile Guimet.

Appointments will take place the week of February 25th South of Fifth at 119 Washington Avenue, Suite 102, Miami Beach, Florida. Please call 212-606-7332 for more information.

The actual auction on Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art will take place in New York on September 11. For more information, visit the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department at Sotheby’s.

Meet Nicholas Chow, Senior Director and Deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia, as interviewed by Tim Marlow at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in this video about Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art.

– Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith based in Miami.

Sotheby’s to Auction off Famed Cosmetic Mogul’s Jewels

Posted in Sotheby's Auction House News Comment
 

Mystery-Set Ruby and Diamond Brooch, Van Cleef & Arpels

A 6.54 carat pink diamond ring, 4.95 carat ruby and diamond brooch, and a 47.1 carat Fancy Intense yellow diamond pendant are all amongst the precious jewels that will be auctioned off at a much-anticipated Sotheby’s event on December 5th in New York. The pieces, which will be a part of the Magnificent Jewels Auction, come from the collections of Estee Lauder, founder of the Estee Lauder cosmetics mega-brand, and her daughter-in-law Evelyn Lauder. Sotheby’s hopes to raise up to $13 million from the auction whose proceeds will be entirely donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a foundation that Evelyn championed herself.

Platinum and Diamond Ring, Graff

Estee Lauder passed away in 2004 followed by her daughter-in-law who passed last year. Both women left stunning pieces as a part of their estates; the yellow diamond pendant was originally a ring owned by the Duchess of Windsor before it was refashioned for Estee in 1978 by Van Cleef & Arpels. The most stunning of the collection’s jewels will travel to Geneva, London, and Los Angeles this fall for exhibitions before being returned to New York on December 1st where they will be displayed for four days before going to auction.

White Gold, Chalcedony, Sapphire, Amethyst and Diamond ‘Flowerhead’ Brooch, designed by Suzanne Belperron, 1932-1955

Sotheby’s Auctions Items from the Legendary Brooke Astor’s Estate

Posted in Lifestyle, Sotheby's Auction House News Comment
 

Philanthropist Brooke Astor

Brooke Astor was a New York socialite and legendary philanthropist that received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1997 for her humanitarian work. Over 900 items from Astor’s two homes in New York City and Winchester were auctioned over two days at Sotheby’s NY. The collection included French and English furniture, artwork, fine china and silverware, and a large number of dog paintings that were dear to her.

The main highlight of the auction was the selection of jewelry from Astor’s private collection. A total of 64 pieces were sold with her stunning emerald engagement ring going for $1.2million. Other jewels by Van Cleef & Arpels and a dazzling Bulgari emerald and diamond necklace totaled over $5.7million at auction.

Bulgari Diamond and Emerald Necklace

Sotheby’s was expecting the auction to fetch between $6-$9 million, but the final number reached $18.8 million, almost doubling the predictions. Proceeds from the auction will go to charities that Mrs. Astor worked with during her lifetime, including the New York Public Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Animal Medical Center of New York.

Portrait of Brooke Astor by Sir Cecil Beaton was featured in the auction

Wilfredo Lam’s Piece ‘Idol’ Breaks Record at Sotheby’s Latin American Auction in New York

Posted in Sotheby's Auction House News Comment
 

Sotheby’s most recent Latin American Art Auction was held in New York City and fetched record prices for masterpieces by renowned artists. The biggest sale of the evening was Wilfredo Lam’s piece ‘Idol’ from 1944, which sold to an anonymous South American buyer for $4.5 million. Originally priced at $2-$3 million, ‘Idol’ broke the record for the highest price paid for a personal piece at a Sotheby’s Latin American auction.

Wilfredo Lam's 1944 masterpiece 'Idol'

The Cuban painter Wilfredo Lam was born in Cuba in 1902 and lived to be 80 years old. His work was heavily influenced by the Afro-Cuban culture and the painting ‘Idol’ portrays mystical figures prominent in the Santeria religion. Other works that sold at the auction included Fernando Botero’s ‘Donna Seduta’, Armando Reveron’s ‘Desnudo detras de la mantilla’, and Diego Rivera’s ‘Mujer con Dalias’. The auction resulted in total sales of over $27.7 million.

This summer the Sotheby’s auction houses across the world are buzzing with a slew of significant sales. Mark your calendar for these upcoming ones in the next few months:

June 26-27: London, Contemporary Art Auction 

July 4: London,  Old Masters and British Drawings Sale

July 10th- London, English Literature, History, Children’s Books and Illustrations

Sept 10th- New York, Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art including Indian Miniature Paintings

Be sure to visit our blog for more updates on Sotheby’s auction news.

Sotheby’s to Sell Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”

Posted in Sotheby's Auction House News, Uncategorized Comment
 

edvard-munch-the-scream-sothebys

Edvard Munch’s The Scream has become an iconic image for all time, defining a personal moment of anxiety that has become practically archetypal in its popularity. The Scream, which depicts a moment in the artist’s life in the hills above Oslo, is as relevant today as it was in its first iteration at the turn of the 20th century.

The image of a human figure gripping its face, surrounded by chaotic, red swirling skies, has had as much of an impact on popular culture as the Mona Lisa. Instantly recognizable, it has influenced Andy Warhol and even The Simpsons cartoon series. Munch was ahead of his time, depicting a psychological reality on canvas rather than a literal one.

Peter Olsen, a Norwegian businessman, owns the present work — one out of four, created in 1895 — pastel on board in the artist’s original frame. Olsen’s father was a friend, neighbor and patron of Munch.

On May 2, The Scream will lead the Impressionist and Modern art evening in New York, but not before an interesting journey from Norway. On April 13, the masterpiece came to view at Sotheby’s in London for the first time ever;  Sotheby’s will also reveal the work for the first time in New York on April 27.

ABOUT Sotheby’s and ONE | Sotheby’s International

Since its debut in 1744, Sotheby’s Auction House has evolved into the luxury go-to for prestigious possessions from jewelry to antiques.

A vibrant synergy exists between the real estate and auction arms of the Sotheby’s brand. ONE | Sotheby’s takes its philosophy of artful living seriously, sending agents to at least three different major Sotheby’s art auctions a year to network with collectors. As well, South Florida property owners have the opportunity to list their properties in Sotheby’s magazines and can also sell jewelry, wine, art and other fine collectibles via the auction house.

When Sotheby’s visits Miami, they often conduct their evaluations out of ONE | Sotheby’s offices.

To learn more about ONE | Sotheby’s and its relationship to the Sotheby’s brand, visit the About page.

– Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith based in Miami.

International Chairman of Sotheby’s Watch Division to Visit the ONE Sotheby’s Coral Gables Office on June 8th

Posted in OneSir Press Room, South Florida Luxury Homes Comment
 

We are excited to announce that Daryn Schnipper, the International Chairman of the Sotheby’s Watch Division and his team will be in Miami on June 7th and 8th to speak at a private reception about the ‘Ten Watches for Every Collection’ as well as offer valuations of fine and collectible watches at the One Sotheby’s Coral Gables office.

The Sotheby’s Watch Division offers the finest timepieces ranging from the 16th-21st centuries and includes everything ranging from wristwatches, pocket watches, tourbillions and more. The first ever watch auction was in 1980 and now London, New York, Hong Kong and Geneva each hold a biannual watch sale. To date, the auction record set by a timepiece was for Patek Phillippe’s no. 198.385 that sold for over $11 million.

Private watch valuations will be on June 8th from 9:00am- 12:00pm- If you are interested in having your watch valued, please contact the Sotheby’s Watch department directly at 212-606- 7184 to schedule an appointment. The One Sotheby’s Coral Gables office is located at: 1430 South Dixie Highway. Contact us for more information at  305-666-0562.

Patek Phillippe watch sold for $11 million at auction

ONE Sotheby’s Visits London Auction of Russian Art that totaled $82 Million in sales

Posted in OneSir Press Room, Sotheby's Auction House News, South Florida Luxury Homes Comment
 

Several associates from the One Sotheby’s Miami offices took a trip across the pond to London for the recent auction of Russian Art. During the visit they took the opportunity to network with international buyers and other high profile figures and showcase the firm’s luxury collection of properties in South Florida as well as the W South Beach Residences.

The Russian Art auction broke significant records, bringing in a grand total of $82 million in sales.  The top-selling lot of our November Sales of Russian Art in London was Alexander Yakovlev’s 1926 oil on canvas The Kuli-Kuta Dance, Niamey. Also, two new artist records were established for Mikhail Alexandrovich Vrubel with The Assyrian and Igor Emmanuiovich Grabar with Delphiniums. Combined, all five of Sotheby’s November Sales of Russian Art in New York and London established a solid sell-through-rate by lot of 64%.

We are very excited to have been part of this amazing experience and network with our London affiliates.

 

 
 


ONESIR Networks Overseas at Sotheby’s Autumn Art Auction Event in Hong Kong

Posted in Miami Beach, OneSir Press Room, Sotheby's Auction House News, South Florida Luxury Homes, W South Beach Comment
 

The One Sotheby’s team was excited attend and network overseas at the Sotheby’ s 2010 Art Auction Event in Hong Kong. The sale series, having achieved triumphant results, took place from October 2 – 8 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. ONE Sotheby’ s International Realty was able to reach a global network, while showcasing their exclusive listing the W Residences at South Beach among the world’ s most prestigious homes and Asia’ s wealthiest consumers. The weeklong art auction was an effective way for ONE Sotheby’ s International Realty to attract foreign investments to the South Florida region.

According to recently released data by Sotheby’ s, the art sale results far surpassed pre-sale estimates amounting to more than $400 million – the highest total ever for a sale series in Hong Kong.

“The Sotheby’ s Autumn 2010 Sales Event was an exceptional way to network overseas and reach consumers in Hong Kong – a hub for the world’s most expensive real estate,” said one Sotheby’s Founder and principal Mayi de la Vega. “ It has enabled us to extend our listings beyond the South Florida market and increase visibility for future real estate transactions.”

Sotheby’ s International Realty also hosted the grand opening event to launch the new Hong Kong Sotheby’s International Realty office. Sotheby’ s International Realty affiliates from the U.S., Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom were able to showcase their prominent listings as well.

Building on the success of the Spring Auction earlier in the year, Sotheby’ s continued to present an array of distinguished thematic collections this season. The auction offered the world’ s finest collections, such as 3,200 lots of Modern and Contemporary Asian Art, traditional Chinese paintings, fine Chinese ceramics, jewelry, watches and fine wine.

ONE SIR Events in Montreal and Toronto Showcase Residences at W South Beach

Posted in Miami Beach, South Florida Luxury Homes, W South Beach Comment
 

Chris Leavitt and Liza Lamar, sales associates for ONE Sotheby’s Realty that represent the Residences at W South Beach, traveled to Toronto and Montreal to meet with the local Sotheby’s affiliate offices and showcase the W’s luxurious properties. Chris and Liza spent a week in the area and met with more than 80 Sotheby’s brokers. On September 15th, Chris and Liza hosted an event at the W in Montreal for 40 Sotheby’s Montreal agents to network and present more information about the Residences at W South Beach.