Christie’s – Online Magazine No.302
Online Magazine
No.302
‘Friendships were an important element of the collection’: works owned by the Matisse family
‘In every room there were masterpieces’ — inside the Fifth Avenue home of Anne H. Bass
Venice: the curator of Surrealism and Magic on the occult practices of Fini, Ernst, Tanning and co
Why this 2,300-year-old bronze Egyptian cat ‘has everything a collector is looking for’
‘A client found an Isaac Newton letter under a drawer’: gripping tales told by our Head of Books
The pioneering animal painter, visits to the abattoir — and her special license to wear trousers
Editor’s picks
Jean E. Puiforcat has been described as ‘the most important French Art Deco silversmith’. Andy Warhol was a fan, and his works are held in both the Met and the V&A. This four-piece parcel-gilt and silver tea and coffee service from circa 1925 combines his clean, geometric aesthetic with flawless metalwork
Estimate: $6,000-9,000
until 5 April, Online
Rudolf von Alt’s 1837 canvas depicts The Death of Torquato Tasso at Sant’Onofrio al Gianicolo, on 25 April 1595. Tasso had arrived in Rome to accept the role of poet laureate from Pope Clement VIII, but perished the day before he could receive the honour — he never got to wear the wreath von Alt has painted on the seated figure’s head
Estimate: $30,000-50,000
until 12 April, Online
‘I remember when Herb [Ritts] shot this… It has a painted quality,’ remarks Richard Gere of this photograph from his collection, Djimon with Octopus, Hollywood, 1989. The model is Djimon Hounsou, who made his acting debut the following year. He played Juba in Gladiator, and has twice been nominated for an Academy Award
Estimate: $25,000-35,000
until 7 April, Online
Gene Moore joined Tiffany & Co. in 1955 as a window display designer, and was known for his relationships with contemporary artists such as Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns. Besides decorating more than 5,000 windows, Moore designed fanciful items such as this set of 26 circus figurines in sterling silver and mulitcoloured enamel
Estimate: $15,000-20,000
until 7 April, Online
