This week’s special edition of The Scoop dives into summer happenings in Sotheby’s art and wine divisions.
Contemporary Art Evening Auction
On top of virtual viewing rooms for Art Basel, the auction market keeps on truckin’ this season. Take Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction on June 29, for instance. There’s enough blue-chip inventory to make a seasoned collector’s head spin.
The firm estimates Jean-Michel Basquiat’s 1982 work on paper, “Untitled” (Head), to go for somewhere between $9 million and $12 million. Why the big bid? As one of the artist’s most important head-themed works, it was the highlight of his solo exhibition at Robert Miller Gallery in 1990. The Broad in Los Angeles owns a similar work.
The impressive auction also features works by Willem de Kooning, Richard Prince, Helen Frankenthaler, Donald Judd and Takashi Murakami, among several artists.
Sotheby’s East Hampton Gallery
Next time you’re in East Hampton, pop into Sotheby’s temporary gallery at 66 Newtown Lane. The auction house decided to follow its clientele to their country homes to service them during the pandemic. The new luxury lifestyle concept curates museum-quality artworks, furnishings on par with the pieces shown at DesignMiami/ fair, and fine jewelry and watches. Every item has been analyzed and authenticated, and best of all, is available to go home with you right away.
Here’s just a glimpse of the notable items cycling through: Warhol’s Lobster silkscreen, 20th-century designer Charlotte Perriand’s chaise, Patek Philippe timepieces, and David Webb baubles.
Look for virtual events such as trunk shows and wine tastings, and make private appointments via [email protected].
Sotheby’s Wines & Spirits
Many oenophiles know about Sotheby’s unparalleled wine auctions. But its wine division encompasses so many more services as well as a retail component including the firm’s private wine label. Its staff can basically take care of any wine-related need from storage to cleaning out the wine cellar to make way for new bottles to starting a collection from scratch. They even specialize in fine spirits for the Scotch or cognac drinker in the family.
Services have gone high-tech, too. Clients can view their inventory via Sotheby’s Wine Virtual Cellar app. Searching for something special? Call Sotheby’s Wine Store in New York, or visit its web site.
1334 York Avenue; 212.894.1990; sothebyswine.com
