Even with the hype and huge success of Miami’s Art Basel, we learned that many artists were barely making it, as the state of this past year’s economy was not easy for artists, galleries, dealers and collectors. However, it didn’t mean there wasn’t anything at all to celebrate.
A great number of important pieces of art hit staggering heights at auction this year. Some included the names of famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, and Alberto Giacometti. Old Masters and Asia are represented as well, as they have done pretty well in getting through the art market recession.
Below, take a look at the top 10 most expensive pieces to sell at auction in 2009.
1. Raphael, chalk drawing “Head of Muse”: $47.6 million
2. Henri Matisse, “Les coucous, tapis bleu et rose”: $45.6 million
3. Andy Warhol, silkscreen painting of 200 one dollar bills: $43.8 million
4. Constantin Brancusi, “Madame L.R.”: $37.1 million
5. Rembrandt, “Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo”: $32.9 million
6. Eileen Gray (designer), Art Deco armchair: $28.1 million
7. Piet Mondrian, “Composition avec blue, rouge, jaune et noir”: $27.4 million
8. Wu Bin, Ming dynasty scroll: $25 million
9. Alberto Giacometti, “L’Homme Qui Chavire”: $19.4 million
10. Edgar Degas, “Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans”: $19.2 million
Via: Luxist
The Brabus GLK V12 is a modified Mercedes-Benz that made its world debut at the Dubai Motor Show and it already has been billed as the world’s fastest street-legal SUV.
The GLK V12 is an incredibly powerful SUV that runs on a 750 hp 12-clinder twin turbo engine. The vehicle spun heads when it set a new speed record of 200.3 mph at Italy’s Nardo test track in October, and getting from 0 to 62 mph only takes this beauty 4.2 seconds.
The car also features a four-pipe sports exhaust system, fender flares, a rear roof spoiler, and many other upgrades. The entire interior has been decked out with full on leather with Alcantara elements, and “ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel and wood or carbon fiber trim for the dashboard doors, and center console.” The back of the front seats contain multimedia devices to entertain the back seat passengers while the driver enjoys the thrill of the ride.
The Brabus GLK V12 costs $570,000.
The Filice Group has partnered with the brokers of the W Hollywood Residences in Hollywood. Opening in January 2010 at the corner of Hollywood and Vine, the W Hollywood Residences will bring the extraordinary W lifestyle combined with contemporary modern design with 143 delightfully appointed residences. Residents will benefit from having access to Delphine, a French brasserie by Innovative Dining Group (IDG), Drai’s Hollywood nightclub by Victor Drai, Bliss Spa, Sweat Fitness, in addition to W’s legendary Whatever/Whenever services.
Prices range from $800,000 – $9,000,000
Contact Russ Filice @ 310.780.2877 or russ@russfilice.com. Or visit www.myhollywoodresidence.com.
Funny power-couple Courtney Cox Arquette and David Arquette are successful with nearly everything they put their creative minds to, and now they are joining their ingenious forces again to produce a comedy about food trucks called Eat Street.
Eat Street is the new comedy coming from the infamous Arquette duo and according to David, it is about street vendors in New York City and the whole subculture of the new and trendy pop-up bistros.
The project is currently still in the script stages, but according to the Arquettes, ABC is so impressed with the couple’s work on Cougar Town, which they both are executive producers of, that many are confident that the proposal for Eat Street has a great chance of landing a spot in the popular network’s fall 2010 schedule.
In November, ABC released a statement that said, in part, “We can confirm production on Cougar Town has been temporarily shut down in order for Courtney to deal with a private family matter.” While that show is taking some time off, the couple has had time to really get going on their new comedy which certainly has potential even at such early stages of development.
2,266 square foot home situated on the rocks above the sea. Amazing views from every window. Large stone wood burning fireplace in spacious living room. Gated with fully enclosed yard. Watch whales and ships pass by with Point Sur lighthouse flashing in the distance.
Offered @ $5,995,000
Contact Noel Beutel@ 831.620.3724 or noel.beutel@sothebyshomes.com. Or visit www.sothebyshomes.com/norcal.
Highly respected restaurateur Drew Nieporent recently had some things on his mind regarding the state of Las Vegas dining, and contrary to Donald Trump’s recent observations, Nieporent believes one place in Vegas has hit the spot.
Drew Nieporent recently appeared on Bloomberg television to discuss a multitude of topics including the general state of dining to London’s resemblance to New York City 10 years ago. But what really got some haute heads turning was Nieporent’s perspective on one of the most talked about additions to the Vegas dining scene: CityCenter.
While Donald Trump was recently showing some tough love for the new development complex that has taken over Las Vegas, Nieporent believes that CityCenter will be successful because it’s new, but it’s success may negatively impact a lot of other places in Vegas. Nieporent also notes that while Las Vegas is a wonderful place to visit for its restaurants, many of them are “oversaturated.”
Everyone has an opinion lately about CityCenter and what it’s going to do (or not do) for Las Vegas—what’s your opinion?
Olatz Schnabel has just purchased a $5.5 million three-story residential building located between Sixth Avenue and Varick Street in SoHo.
The wife of artist and film director Julian Schnabel, Olatz Schnabel, just closed on the property on December 16 after going into contract just a short week before rumors began to spread about the couple’s divorce in September.
The home features 4,256 square feet and the asking price was $1 million more than the $5.5 million selling price. Schnabel owns a four-year-old store called Olatz just four blocks west of where her new townhouse is located. She is a home textile and clothing designer.
Julian Schnabel is well known as being the owner of the Palazzo Chupi, which has recently seen numerous asking prices cut.
Julian Schnabel owns a building known as the Palazzo Chupi about 12 blocks away at 360 West 11th Street between Washington and West streets, where he recently cut his asking prices.
A very talented design student in France has come up with a hybrid yacht concept that maintains all of the same luxurious components of a regular yacht, but with a twist.
Julien Anglade is the mastermind behind the new concept of the hybrid yacht, and as a student at Strate College in Sèvres, the innovative designer has come up with a 150-meter IKKAR that accommodates 50 people and a crew of 60 without sacrificing any of the regular aspects of luxury living on a yacht.
The ship has been cleverly designed to change shape according to her position; when in port or at anchor offshore, the sides of the hull will “open at the waterline nearly the entire length of the craft to create a massive, malleable entertaining space.” When the vessel is a low speed, the sides will gradually fall back. The yacht has been designed so that each suite faces the sea and features a large private terrace. All railings on the boat are translucent and the infinity pool is located towards the front of the yacht with an elevated walk “giving the impression that one is floating on the water.” The mainsail is made of rigid photovoltaic cells contributes to the power for the boat.
Anglade designed the main deck of the yacht in homage to the architecture of Frank Gehry and Norman Foster. The entire yacht features clean lines and open space to “minimize the barrier between man and sea and maximize the views of the constantly changing horizon.”
American Idol’s feisty judge Simon Cowell recently purchased a luxury home in Barbados for nearly $24 million but the property that was supossed to be complete in 2008 is now still more than a year away from completion.
Cowell typically spends his holidays at the Sandy Lane hotel resort in Barbados, however this year he chose to shell out $992,000 a week to step off the island and relax on a private boat around Barbados, Grenada and Antigua, and St. Barts. His home in Barbados was scheduled to be complete in 2008, however somehow that got pushed back to 2011. The home is at the Four Seasons at Black Rock, which is also where Andrew Lloyd Webber and Formula One boss Eddie Jordan have plots of land. Many investors on the site have been quietly asking about getting their money back because developers stopped work last February, and debts are mounting quickly.
The area of land is where 36 luxury villas are planned in addition to a Four Seasons hotel. All of the villas are supposed to include services of butlers and other staff from the Four Seasons hotel whenever the villa owners were in residence. Cowell purchased two home sites.
It’s reported that construction on the site should resume soon and that the 2011 completion date is still valid. Cowell has been noted as being somewhat “unconcerned” with the delay, in part due to the fact that his brother is in the property development business and probably understands the situation a bit better than others. He also owns multiple homes around the world, so finding a place to sleep at night really isn’t a problem in the meantime either.
We know the main gift giving holidays are now over, and the only hope of an inkling of celebratory cheer lies in what is often referred to as “amateur night,” when the least experienced party people let themselves out of the cage for their only night of annual fun. But the New Year has yet to arrive and we are less than eager to bid farewell to the joy of the season. With that in mind, we think a review of the holiday gift giving experience is in order. Did we remember to put everyone on our list this year? The nanny, the housekeeper, the gardener, the doorman? Manicurists, tutors, hair stylists, trainers? With so many vital people playing a role in our success each year, the length of the list can grow as long Santa’s. But no need to panic, if you forgot to give that special gift, such as Apple’s Ultimate Ears high tech headphones, let’s revisit some of the hautest gift ideas that were on our radars this past December.
- Xperia Pureness handset is not just a cell phone, it allows you to add Xperia’s exceptional concierge service
- H. Stern’s newest collaboration with Grupo Corpo
- Le Nez Du Café Revelation kit of 36 coffees
- Exousia’s Luxury Water made from pure gold
- Ski equipment from Chanel and Bentley
- Casa Dragones Sipping Tequila
- limited-edition TOMS Shoes made in collaboration with Charlize Theron
- Decadence D’Or, made from Louis XIII de Remy Martin Cognac, Palmira Single Estate Chocolate, Tahita Gold Vanilla Caviar, and edible gold flakes
- “24k” specialty cocktail, featuring edible 24-karat gold flakes in its recipe for a mere $24 at GOLD Lounge in the ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter in Las Vegas
- limited-edition sneakers designed by Marc Ronson for Gucci Icon-Temporary in Miami’s Design District
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Los Angeles
Jan/Feb 2012
FASHION :: COUPLES’ RETREAT
COUPLES’ RETREAT
With the resort collections oozing throw back references, a high-society escape to the confines of a once-again-new Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach is the perfect scene of the crime for two couples to get caught up in the swing of things.
