Bonhams auction of Russian Literature and Works on Paper brought spirited bidding for many of the sale’s significant lots, underscoring and celebrating the perennial interest in this area of collecting. Most coveted was Henrietta Leon Girshman’s Carnets de Salon, which raised paddles to $230,500. Society doyenne and hostess, Girshman captured the early [Read More]
Antiques
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One of the most valuable tea services ever assembled, sold for £541,250 at Bonhams, yesterday 5th December 2012. In a busy saleroom, bidders competed for eight items of the legendary ‘Half-Figure Service’-type, a highly important set of Meissen porcelain in the Said and Roswitha Marouf Collection. Meissen porcelain with ‘Half-Figure Service’ decoration [Read More]
The 1929 De Havilland DH 60GMW Gipsy Moth bi-plane was flown by character Denys Finch Hatton (played by Robert Redford) in the seven-time Oscar-winning 1985 film. It will go on sale at the Bonhams auction at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, from 6th to 7th February 2013, where bidding is expected [Read More]
The first such auction sale of its kind, on November 23, produced strong results with more than 85 per cent sold and the top item in the sale going for a staggering £603,837 (HK$7,460,000) – a world record for this particular rare Leica model. This item, lot 2104, an Exceptional Leica Luxus [Read More]
Charlie Chaplin’s bowler hat and cane fetched $62,500 at Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia auction on November 18 in Los Angeles. The sale featured a wide variety of items related to Hollywood, Rock & Roll and Animation Art. Highlights include pieces connected to Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Frank [Read More]
On December 11th, Bonhams will conduct an auction of The Richard Balsbaugh Collection of Vintage Radios, an event that will serve as yet another benchmark in the collecting history of the popular collecting field of vintage radios. The auction will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Bonhams New York flagship gallery located [Read More]
A German Enigma enciphering machine was auctioned today at Bonhams in Knightsbridge for £85,250, above its initial pre-sale estimate of £40,000-£60,000. Built by Heimsoeth and Rinke in 1941, this is the three rotor version, used by Germany between 1938 and 1944 and was patented by H. A. Koch. Whilst this particular device [Read More]
This 1941 oak Enigma machine was an instrument used to pass coded German messages during the Second World War. This German enigma enciphering machine will go under the hammer for the first time on the 14th November in Knightsbridge (estimated £40,000 – 60,000). Built by Heimsoeth and Rinke in 1941, this is [Read More]
A letter dated c.1801 from an emotional Nelson to his mistress adds insight to the scandal of the 19th century. A lasting piece of evidence of the affair between Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton is for sale with Bonhams in Knightsbridge, on 13th November. In the letter, Nelson documents the turbulent love [Read More]
Heritage Sports Collectibles’ $5.8 million Oct. 25-27 2012 Signature® Auction further established the company as the leading auctioneer in the industry, with a record 600 consignors supplying the event with nearly 3,000 lots for the largest bidding audience (2,393) yet to participate in a 2012 auction. “This event was a true testament [Read More]
The archive and library of the legendary Scottish big game hunter, Richard Cuninghame, was sold on 24th October 2012 by Bonhams in Edinburgh as part of the contents of Hensol, an historic Category A listed mansion nestling in the beautiful surroundings of Mossdale, Castle Douglas. Although largely remembered as a hunter-tracker, Cuninghame [Read More]
The Coins, Medals and Banknotes Department at Bonhams is pleased to announce the sale of a previously unreported $5 Series 1882 “Brown Back” National Banknote during its auction on December 13. The new discovery was issued on March 29, 1892 in the small city of Creede, Colorado (est. $70,000-90,000). The First National [Read More]
Gateway Gallery Auction is to auction the Civil War Diary of First Lieutenant Adoniram Judson Hastings of the 42nd U.S.C.T. on October 22, 2012. The diary of Hastings recounts the closing events of the Civil War including the fall of Richmond, Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, the assassination of President Lincoln, and the [Read More]
Bonhams is to auction rare marble figure of a Buddhist disciple from the Tang Dynasty dated 718 AD, for £200,000 to £300,000 in its sale of Fine Chinese Art on November 8 in London. The interest in the piece itself is enhanced by its connection to the great French collector, Léonce Filatriau. [Read More]
An extremely rare veteran motor car built by an inventor credited with the invention and development of the first tank will go under the hammer in New Bond Street, London, on Friday 2nd November. The 1904 Wilson-Pilcher four-seater (estimate £180,000 – £220,000) is one of a number of important entries in the [Read More]
A magnificent and large pair of Imperial cloisonné enamel cranes from an Italian private collection will be sold by Bonhams on 8 November 2012 for £150,000 to 200,000. This magnificent pair, measuring over two meters high, would have adorned an Imperial throne hall, flanking the throne. Their majestic graceful form and impressive [Read More]
Perhaps the finest collection of maritime art ever assembled – including more than 100 unique and intriguing scale ship models – will cross the auction block on Oct. 27 at the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD, as part of Heritage Auctions Maritime & Ship Models Signature® Auction. An invitation [Read More]
Bonhams announce a strong result for its quarterly Salon Jewelry & Watches auction on September 24 in Los Angeles, simulcast to San Francisco. The sale featured an impressive selection of classically inspired vintage and retro brooches, bracelets, necklaces and accessories from the early 20th century to the 1980s. Leading the September auction [Read More]