Page 35 - May 2020

The Song dynasty Ru Guanyao Brush Washer Bowl—a small dish SNEAKERS
used for washing small brushes—set a world record for Chinese
Porcelain in 2017 at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2017 when it came in at Vintage, signed, used, new,
$37.68 million (or $39.76 million today). The bowl is nearly 900 years whatever you name it, sneakers
old and has a diameter of five inches. Such “Ru guanyao” wares— have joined the ranks of high-
known for their intense blue-green glaze and “ice-crackle” pattern—are end collectibles. An unworn
extremely rare because the kiln in China’s central Henan province had pair of Nike’s “Moon
a brief production run of only around two decades. Shoe” carries the
title for most
FURNITURE expensive
sneakers
The Goddard and Townsend sold with a
secretary desk was made during the price of
1760s. Those who invested in such $437,500.
an item were looking not only for a Michael Jordan’s Only 12 pairs were made.
functional item but also for a state- game-work Converse Fastbreaks When it comes to signed
ment piece for their home. Only sneakers, the winner there is
nine of these desks were ever made, a pair of Michael Jordan’s game-work Converse Fastbreaks which
which has made this a rare and fetched a $190,373 in 2017 at a private auction. Not only were they
expensive item to buy. In 1989, one signed, but they included Jordan’s orthotic inserts.
of these desks sold at Christie’s for a
whopping $12.1 million. At that A FINE LETTER
time, it was the most money paid for
an American-made piece of furni- A rare handwritten letter by
ture of all-time. While there is no Jane Austen sold for $200,075
formal “signature,” there is definite- at Bonhams Fine Books &
ly one present that comes from the Manuscripts sale in New York
quality and detail in the piece of fur- on October 23, 2019 establish-
niture itself, along with the prove- ing a new world record at auc-
nance when it came to auction. tion for an autograph letter
Goddard and Townsend secretary signed by the novelist. It had
SIGNED JEWELRY been estimated at $80,000-
$120,000. –
A spinel necklace adorned with beads engraved by three Mughal www.Bonhams.com
emperors came to auction at Christie’s as part of a special themed
sale of Important Indian Jewellery to celebrate the 50th anniversary of
Indian Independence. This landmark sale captured the imagination, Rare handwritten letter by Jane
putting a focus on these wonderfully luxuriant traditional Indian Austen sold for $200,075 at
2019 auction
designs.
Spinels were among the most highly prized gemstones, and the
emperors had their names and hieratic titles engraved into them as a SCRIPTS
way of cementing their immortality. Larger than rubies and with a tone Scripts signed by movie stars or
that varied from ruby-red to very light pink, spinels were usually worn cast members are some of the best
as beads rather than as faceted gems. collectibles for the entertainment
The Mughal treasury was looted and subsequently dispersed by buff to buy. For television, classic
Persian ruler Nadir Shah in 1739, and very few necklaces survived. The Seinfeld scripts signed by one or
example offered in 1997 was composed of 11 spinel beads, for a total more members of the cast can go for
weight of 877.23 carats, and three of the beads were engraved with the hundreds, and a script from the
names of three of the most famous Mughal emperors: Akbar, Jehangir, pilot episode signed by the complete
and Shah Jahan. The necklace sold for £881,500 ($1,428,030). – cast is now selling on eBay for
www.Christies.com $3,500.
But when it comes to a classic
movie script signed by its iconic star,
the sky was the limit when it crossed
the auction block at Christie’s auc-
tion house in 2005. Marlon Brando
was the star, and The Godfather was Cast-signed script for the pilot episode
the screenplay, and the price was of Seinfeld selling on eBay
$312,800, or $448,795 today.
Brando had passed away just one year before the auction and that most
likely had something to do
the high price, although
today there is no reason not
to believe it go higher if you
make the owner an offer he
Indian necklace composed of 11 spinel couldn’t refuse.
beads, for a total weight of 877.23
carats, and three of the beads were
engraved with the names of three of the Marlon Brando before and after
most famous Mughal emperors: Akbar, getting into his makeup
Jehangir, and Shah Jahan. Inset: for The Godfather
engraved bead example

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