A Canary Diamond, a T-Rex Skull, and the U.S Constitution Are Up for Auction This Month at Sotheby's
What does luxury look like today? According to the varied items featured in Sotheby's third annual luxury week, one answer does not suffice.
“Luxury is all categories, whether it’s wine or watches or jewelry, sneakers, handbags, automotive, or real estate. It’s very expansive,” Josh Pullan, head of Sotheby’s tells Town and Country.
Think of luxury week as heaven (or a fabulous hell for credit cards) for those who don’t mind spending a little extra for material acquisitions. At the beginning of December, Sotheby's displays their finest items throughout the auction house's several galleries. Bag collectors gawk at the series of croc Birkins available in a kaleidoscope of colors; heiresses pick and choose their desired emeralds for the winter soirees; dandy men compete for which premiere watch they’d like to add to their collections. Some items are a part of their luxury shop where one may purchase immediately. Others are on auction for a week or so during the time frame. A special auction date is assigned to the rarest and most premiere items. In total, the sales are expected to exceed over $123 million.
“The genesis of luxury came from thinking about how collectors spend their lives. Previously we were really structured,” says Pullan. “But what we found is that if you’re a collector in one category, you’re probably also curious about another. Your life has different touch points and we wanted to put those categories, along with the communities that operate in them, into one place.”
Among the notable items that will be sold and auctioned throughout December, there are a few standouts that are certain to spark interest and incite a few giggles.
The most intact Tyrannosaurus Rex skull ever sold at auction is one of them. Their name is Maximus Rex and the remnants of the prehistoric reptile are estimated to fetch $20 million. The Golden Canary Diamond, a pear-shaped yellow diamond that weighs 303 carats, is another. One can choose from a set of artsy watches, including Cartier’s Crash Watch whose appearance is reminiscent of (not inspired by) Dali’s “Persistence of Memory” (1931). In addition to the aforementioned, this luxury week includes special automotive options which means a restored Porsche 911 Targa from 1972 is also up for grabs.
Among all that glitters, a 235-year-old piece of paper may rise above all: the U.S. Constitution. One of two copies known to remain in private collections will be sold during the auction for the first time in 125 years. The other was sold last November for $43.2 million and came with exhilarating bidding drama. Those at war? Several thousand crypto-enthusiasts, known as ConstitutionDAO, who collectively donated to the purchase versus one billionaire, Kenneth Griffin, who prevailed in the end.
“The result last year was truly exceptional—setting a new auction record for any historical text—which was a result of the unique circumstances with the ConstitutionDAO participating,” Sotheby's tells Town and Country. “We knew that many potential bidders were willing to bid within the $20 and 30 million range, but with the DAO publicly raising more than $40 million, we saw a great number of them still participate, and many could have participated given their means, but chose not to.”
The rivalry certainly paid off for Sotheby's, as its selling point set the record for any book, manuscript, or printed text sold at auction.
Did our country’s earliest diplomats forecast that taking home a copy of our country's supreme law would require deep pockets? Probably not. But, those heading to the auction on December 13 certainly do.
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