Christie’s examines PHILLIPS’ MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART FALL AUCTIONS IN HONG KONG REALISES HK$222 MILLION/ US$29 MILLION and its significance for artists, collectors, institutions, or the art market.
The article reports that the French police recovered the Francesco Goffriller cello of 1737, valued at 1.3 million euros, which had been stolen from Ophélie Gaillard in September 2024. The instrument was recovered with three thieves arrested in the Annecy region. Ophélie Gaillard is the violoncellist affected and is quoted expressing relief and gratitude.
Charles Castleman donates his 1707 Stradivarius known as the Castleman, ex-Marquis de Champeaux to Myriad USA, which loans it to the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. Miclen LaiPang, the first recipient, is a member of Trio Zadig and will use the instrument until the end of 2027 before it becomes available to the Chapel’s Artists in Residence.
Christie’s examines PHILLIPS’ MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART EVENING SALE IN HONG KONG REALISES HK$171 MILLION/ US$22 MILLION and its significance for artists, collectors, institutions, or the art market.
Colin Maki speaks with The Violin Channel about the Violin Society of America (VSA) 50th anniversary and the organization’s mission. The interview covers the VSA’s founding in 1973, its celebration of the 50th anniversary at the Indianapolis convention, and a collaboration with the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis featuring Augustin Hadelich. It also discusses the convention program, including lectures on Amati history, dendrochronology, restoration and making techniques, bow expertise, business insights, and the expanded New Instrument Exhibit organized by Itzel Ávila.
Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol led strong November auction results for prints and multiples, with Lichtenstein setting new records for works from his Nudes edition and Warhol achieving a record price for the complete Endangered Species set in 2024. Christie’s and Sotheby’s sales featured notable results, while Keith Haring topped Artcurial’s Limited Edition sale in Paris.
Christie’s examines PHILLIPS’ LONDON PHOTOGRAPHS AUCTIONS REALISE £2.3 MILLION and its significance for artists, collectors, institutions, or the art market.
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled led the evening sale with $23 million, a record for a work on paper by the artist. The sale realized $106.5 million, with 100% sold by lot and by value, as part of Christie’s Fall Marquee Week in New York.
Magritte’s L’empire des lumières became the most valuable work of Surrealist art ever sold at auction. 18 artists set records across MICA: THE COLLECTION OF MICA ERTEGUN and the 20th and 21st Century Evening Sales
The article reports that the €1.3 million eighteenth-century Goffriller cello belonging to French cellist Ophélie Gaillard was stolen in September 2024 and has been recovered. French police arrested three burglars in the Annecy region; Gaillard has performed with major orchestras and teaches in Geneva.
Ophélie Gaillard, a French cellist, is reunited with her 300-year-old cello, crafted in 1737 by Francesco Goffriller, which was stolen from her home along with two bows.
The Haute-Savoie incident concerns cellist Ophélie Gaillard and her Goffriller cello, valued at about 1.5 million euros, stolen in Annecy. After two months, the instrument was recovered and three men were arrested.
Christie’s New York 20th and 21st Century Art marquee week achieved $689 million in total sales, with Magritte’s L’empire des lumières selling for $121.2 million, the highest price for a Surrealist work at auction in 2024. The sale featured multiple artist records including Ed Ruscha, Roni Horn, Sarah Sze, Ana Mendieta, Susan Rothenberg, Firelei Báez, Hilary Pecis, Sasha Gordon, Amédée Ozenfant, Denzil Forrester, Christian Schad, William Eggleston, Jean-MichelBasquiat, Louise Bourgeois and Roy Lichtenstein, among others, and established strong overall sell-through across eight 20th/21st Century Art sales. The event was part of Christie’s fall Marquee Week in New York, running 19-22 November, with participation across saleroom, telephone, and Christie’s LIVE.
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled, 1982 led Christie’s 21st century sale with a $23 million drawing, contributing to a total of $106.5 million. The sale set a record for a Basquiat work on paper and featured 42 lots with strong in-person, phone, and online bidding.
Christie’s Marquee Week totals $689 million across eight 20th and 21st century art sales, with Rene Magritte’s L’empire des lumieres selling for $121.2 million as a new record for Surrealist works. The week saw 87% sold by lot and 92% by value, with broad global bidding and more than two million viewers streaming the sales.
Maurizio Cattelan’s banana artwork Comedian sold at Sotheby’s in New York for $6.24 million. The piece is one of three editions; Justin Sun purchased the work and will receive accompanying materials.
René Magritte's 1954 painting L’empire des lumières sold for $121.2 million at Christie’s New York, surpassing its $95 million estimate and marking the first Magritte work to exceed nine figures. The sale involved two telephone bids, with a final total including buyer’s premium of $121.2 million.
René Magritte's L’empire des Lumières (1954) sold for $121.2 million, setting a new record for both the Belgian artist and Surrealist painting at auction, while Ed Ruscha’s Standard Station, Ten-Cent Western Being Torn in Half (1964) sold for $68.3 million, establishing a new record for Ruscha. Christie’s in New York hosted the sale, which totalled $486 million for the evening of 20th-century art.