ARTS&COLLECTIONS INTERNATIONAL
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COLLECTIONS T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A G A Z I N E O F A R T A N D C U LT U R E
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WWW.ARTSANDCOLLECTIONS.COM SUMMER 2013
ART
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CULTURE
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LIFE
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EVENTS
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COLLECTABLES
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MARKET VALUES
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ARTS&COLLECTIONS INTERNATIONAL
features An Embarrassment of Riches
Reasons to celebrate, art and the new ‘asset class’, philanthropy, the benefit of luxury goods, print versus digital, paper sculptures and the destruction of books.
arts &
COLLECTIONS T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A G A Z I N E O F A R T A N D C U LT U R E
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
www.artsandcollections.com
20 Norman Parkinson
35 Auction Showcase
A round up of the latest auction news and major sales still to come. By Glenda McCauley
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The centenary celebration. Working with one of the greatest fashion and society photographers of the twentieth century is recalled here. By Mary Gibb.
42 Sex on Wheels
One of the most stylish, classic cars of the 20th century—the Aston Martin—celebrates its centenary this year. By Emma Cowles
48 Two Great Modern Watchmakers
55 Big Spenders
The world of the billion dollar art collector is often intensely private, although their extraordinary art collections are frequently the focus of public attention.
SUMMER 2013
A great watchmaker explores the measurement of time with a unique sense of creativity and innovation. A profile of two of the leading Swiss watchmakers. By Glenda McCauley
ART
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Cover: Jerry Hall with Roy Lichtenstein, photographed by Norman Parkinson
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61 Six of the Best
rts & Collections’ top tips for the art collector, with A an eye on trends, quality, provenance, and a certain je ne sais quoi.
65 Art: The New Asset
© Chris Beetles gallery
In a highly volatile world economy, collectors and investors are increasingly putting their money into art.
79 Genius of the Violin
An exhibiton of Antonio Stradivari’s instruments.
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REGULARS 14 HAPPENINGS
Bringing you a mix of the high-minded, eccentric, regal, random, and unmissable events taking place, as we welcome the summer season of arts and culture.
27 SUMMER WINES
A remarkable collection of fine white Burgundy, a look at the Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 index, and a brief report on the cellar sales of what became known as the world’s greatest restaurant, elBulli. By Charles Ford.
31 EVENTS
A regular calendar of key international arts and culture events.
38 SOTHEBY’S HIGHLIGHTS
The world’s leading auction house highlights rare and unique collectors’ items from recent and future auctions in Sotheby’s international salerooms.
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41 TREASURES
Our series highlights a single item of artistry or craftsmanship that is both rare and exquisite.
58 STYLE AND DESIGN: VINTAGE LABELS
Vintage Gucci and other designer labels now lead an important and buoyant new category for collectors. Here’s a look at the top of the league. By Emma Cowles
70 MODERN COLLECTABLES
The latest high-end must haves to add to your collection. By Emma Cowles
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74 BOOKS
The pick of the most recent Arts and Collections books.
81 COLLECTOR’S WORLD: A HANDBAG AFFAIR
Handbag collectors can appreciate the value of an accessory that has become much more than a place to store your most essential belongings. By Kathryn McCann
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It Figures...
DamsonMedia Publisher & CEO Kevin J. Harrington Managing Editor Charles Ford
Arts & Collections International has partnered with over 120 of the world’s finest luxury and boutique hotels to provide the highest quality coverage of global art and cultural events, as well as auctions of interest and the latest developments in the global art market. It is this blend of interesting and informative editorial that is most appealing to guests at these premier hotels, who have a great interest in admiring and purchasing fine art and collectables.
Sub Editors Emma Cowles Glenda McCauley Kathryn McCann Contributors Mary Gibb Katherine Temple Brendan Connolly Designers Reneta Bozhinovska Juliana Martinhago Production Director Joanna Harrington Distribution & Production coordinator Helen Shaw
Arts & Collections International’s dedicated website, www.artsandcollections.com, features detailed information on each of the 120 luxury hotels promoting the publication in their exclusive rooms and suites.
Commercial Manager Tony Ditri Production & Administration Linda Young Jessica Samuels Editorial OFFICE Arts & Collections International Linton House 39-51 Highgate Road London NW5 1RT United Kingdom Telephone: 0044 20 7870 9090 editorial@damsonmedia.com www.damsonmedia.com CHICAGO OFFICE Arts & Collections International 730 N. Franklin St. Suite 604, Chicago, IL 60654, USA Telephone: (312) 701 0000 The opinions expressed in this magazine should not be considered official opinions of The Publisher or Editor. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject all editorial or advertising matter. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. IMAGES are sent at the owners’ risk and the Publisher takes no responsibility for loss.
All of the exclusive previews, reviews and expert commentary pieces that appear in the pages of Arts & Collections International are also available to view on www.artsandcollections.com. In addition, the website provides a directory of upcoming auctions by Sotheby’s and other top auction houses, plus exhibitions and popular cultural events, keeping visitors fully informed, as well as providing a comprehensive resource area for collectors and connoisseurs.
© 2013 Damson Media
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without prior written permission from the Publisher is strictly prohibited. Printed in the UK.
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Arts & Collections International is published quarterly and is available on subscription for €40 (Europe) or €45 (worldwide) per annum including post and packaging. Please email editorial@damsonmedia.com for further details regarding subscriptions.
28,000 35,040
pounds sterling, estimated price of Hermès ‘Birkin’ handbag. The actress Jane Birken had once complained that she couldn’t find a leather weekend bag she liked that was big enough to hold all her stuff. Page 81
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musical instruments by the world’s The Sonnerie greatest instrument Souveraine watch maker, Antonio chimes 35,040 times a Stradivari, have been brought year. It won the Golden together for a first-ever exhibition Hand Prize at the Grand at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum. Prix d’Horlogerie de One of the violins, from a private Genève awards (GPHG) collection, ‘The Lady Blunt’, built in 2006. Page 50 in 1721 by the master, was once owned by Lady Anne Blunt, the great granddaughter of Lord Byron. It was bought at auction by its anonymous owner for £9.8 million, setting a world record. Page 79
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That’s Arts & Collections’ six top tips for the art collector, with an eye on trends, quality, provenance, and a certain je ne sais quois. Page 61
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percent of wealth managers stated that the challenging economic environment is the main motivation for their clients to include art in their overall wealth portfolio (up from 28% in 2011). Page 65
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The Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 Index represents the price movement of 100 of the most sought-after fine wines for which there is a strong secondary market. The index is calculated monthly and it is the industry’s leading benchmark. It represents the price movement of 100 of the most sought-after fine wines for which there is a strong secondary market and is calculated monthly. Page 27
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HANDBAGS // COLLECTOR’S WORLD
A handbag
Affair Handbag collectors can appreciate the value of an accessory that has become much more than a place to store your most essential belongings. By Kathryn McCann
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classic vintage bag exudes the glamour and sophistication of times gone by, whereas a pricy modern piece is often recognised as a status symbol of success and perhaps celebrity. Chanel, Hermès, Dior and Louis Vuitton are just some of the handbag brands we lust after, that we want to be seen swinging on our arm. But bags are no longer considered to be such transient items, brands such as Ettinger London, specialise in creating totes and travel bags to stand the test of time. And it seems the auction houses are listening. Christie’s has a large selection of rare and collectable modern handbags listed online. The Hermès Kelly bag, named after the film icon Grace Kelly, is listed in various colours and has estimates starting between £2,000 and £5,000. A modern Hermès Birkin, created in 1984 by the company’s chief
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‘The Birkin was born after actress Jane Birkin complained she couldnt find a leather weekend bag she liked – which could also hold all her belongings.’
executive Jean-Louis Dumas for the actress Jane Birkin, can have a high end estimate of up to £28,000, depending on the animal hide, colour and hardware fixtures. The actress once complained she couldn’t find a leather weekend bag she liked, which was also big enough to hold all her belongings. And so the Birkin was born, based on an 1892 design; it is a perfect example of the seamless merging of old and new, style and practicality. The Birkin is made in a range of hides, including calf leather, ostrich, crocodile and lizard. One of the most expensive materials is saltwater crocodile skin—bags with smaller scales can cost much more than those adorned with larger ones. Pat Frost, Director of the Fashion and Textiles department at Christie’s agrees: ‘Handbag collectors are very focused—they usually concentrate on a single label. The most collectible is Hermès, where demand
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Collector’s World // handbags
collectable handbag, it’s better to make a careful and considered decision—there are plenty of unscrupulous manufacturers who will try to take advantage of such sought after items. Frost gives her top tips for handbag collectors: ‘Beware of counterfeit goods, and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And always ask for CITES endangered species documents if buying crocodile, ostrich, or lizard, because without paperwork any bag after 1972 is virtually impossible to sell.’ •
Above: This khaki green caviar leather classic flap bag recently realised £4,000 at auction
© Christie’s images Limited 2013
outstrips supply, and where the rarest leathers get the highest prices. Birkin bags in exotic leathers and exotic colours are the most sought after.’ However Frost also acknowledges that Chanel has a strong following, particularly among vintage collectors. ‘The classic 2.55 is the one to look for in the vintage or charity shops.’ Christie’s has a number of Chanel bags featured in its online auctions. A khaki green caviar leather classic flap bag recently realised £4,000 and the current selection includes a vintage black satin and leather round tassel bag from 1986–88 with an estimate between £800 and £1,200. You can also buy vintage Chanel from sites such as vintageheirloom. com priced between £1,000 and £5,000, with the 2.55 at the higher end of the scale—confirming its status as an icon of luxury and style and a testimony to Chanel’s enduring legacy, quality and craftsmanship. According to the site, the classic 2.55 was first launched in February 1955—hence the name 2.55. The bag was first designed to be a ‘hands-free’ bag with a moveable chain and the easily distinguishable quilted leather, inspired by equestrian riding jackets. The contrasting burgundy lining was designed to make it easy to spot items in the bag, while the secret zipper compartment was allegedly designed for Chanel’s secret love letters, and the back pocket was to be used for storing any spare cash. These thoughtful design pieces and quality craftsmanship have no doubt helped to make the bag what it is today—a perennial classic. When it comes to considering what makes a
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