PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRISTIE’S; BONHAMS; GETTY IMAGESOn motor cars
MALCOLM BARBER
Co-chairman of Bonhams Group
and CEO Bonhams AsiaThe most important sale you have done?
I was the first auctioneer to hold a classic car sale in
Monaco with the support of Prince Rainier, an event
thatcontinuesatBonhamstothisday.Another
auctionworthmentioningistheBothwellCollection
sale,averyimportanthistoricalsaleheldlast
November in California, which included the famous
1914 Peugeot L45 grand prix racer (fondly known
as the grandfather of all racing cars) that sold for a
world record $7.26m.
The most interesting car you’ve sold?I sold the first
Ferrari 250 GTO at auction for an American client
in 1990 in Monaco for $10m, and in 2014 we sold
another for $38.1m – this remains the most valuable
careversoldatauction.Anotherworldrecordis
theBirkinsingleseat (below)
ex George Daniels, which sold for £5m in 2012. This
isacarIwouldhappilyusemyself:acarforroad
and track use and a historically important vehicle.
What do you collect?
I have a collection of five cars that vary between 1903 and 1913 for early motoring
events, cars from the 1940s and 1950s to cover rallies, then some modern road cars
with a fast flavour. I would have liked a long nose D-Type Jaguar – sadly now out of
my price range, as is my other dream car, a Jaguar XKSS.
Market insightYounger generations are changing the direction of the market,
with younger cars becoming the classics of today. Hot hatches from the 80s are
increasing in popularity, as are the exotic supercars of the 70s and 80s. They are
beginning to overtake more traditional classics such as Jaguar E-Types and Bentleys.
Your advice to collectors?There will be spend involved. Over the years there is
enjoyment to be had plus the potential of a profit – but the profit side should be
regarded as exceptional perhaps. Follow the car market, follow the prices realised
at auction and in the collectors’ press. If you have a friendly engineer, take him
alongtoo,todeterminecondition.
On the radar
Our London to Brighton Run sale in November, which specialises exclusively in
veteran (pre-1913) cars, and our Quail Lodge sale in California in August, which brings
some of the most valuable and historically significant cars in the world to auction.BONHAMS
O4On jewellery
FRANÇOIS CURIEL
Chairman of Christie’s Europe and Asia
& head of Christie’s Global Luxury DivisionThe most important sale you have done? One is the sale of Florence Gould’s
collection in April 1984. After beating our competitors for this extraordinary
consignment, we had to plead with the New York Department of Consumer
Affairs to change a state law dating back to 1840, which forbade jewellery
sales during night time. We were successful and invented the first jewellery
evening sale in New York. Another unforgettable moment is the auction of the
collection in 2011: every single one of the 1,778 lots was sold,
bringing in $157m and numerous world records, including the most valuable
jewellery auction and the most valuable collection of fashion. Some items were
sold at 50 times their pre-sale estimate.
The most interesting piece you’ve sold? Over my 48 years in the industry, I have
had the privilege of handling more than 3,000 pieces of jewellery and rare gems
per year. This is an impossible question to answer!
What do you collect? Gavels! I have a collection of over 80 and growing.
Market insight Coloured diamonds are the latest trend. It is not rare for
coloured stones to fetch $1m to $2m per carat, depending on the intensity
of the blue or pink hue, whereby colourless diamonds of top quality could
“only” bring $100,000 to
$200,000 per carat.
Your advice to collectors?
Read all you can, go to
auctions and speak to
specialists, but please do
not buy anything until you
are comfortable with your
knowledge. A 5ct sapphire,
for instance, might be
worth $3,000, $10,000
or $200,000 per carat
depending on its origin.
BOAT LIFE
CHRISTIE’S
O3