Christie’s, the worlds leading auction house, announce the next stage in plans to develop its expanding auction and events programme in the region.
Following the success of Christie's inaugural auction in Dubai in May 2006, and to reinforce our leading position in the strategically important Middle East market, Christie's is delighted to announce an expanded set of sales at The Jumeriah Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai in early 2007. A sale of Jewellery & Watches on the evening of 31 January will be followed by a second evening sale on 1st February of International Modern & Contemporary Art featuring works from Middle Eastern, Iranian, Indian and Western Artists.
At the same time we are pleased to announce some changes to our organisation in the region. Michael Jeha is appointed Managing Director, Christie's Dubai and will re-locate to the Gulf in October as Christie's Representative and General Manager in Dubai. Michael is highly experienced and has worked at Christie’s for more than six years, and will endeavour to further develop Christie’s presence throughout the region. We are delighted that Lydia Limerick, following her family’s relocation to the UK, will remain a key member of Christie's Middle East team as working on a variety of projects including Strategic Partnerships, Sponsorship and Charity Events with frequent travel to the region. William Lawrie has been promoted to Specialist Islamic and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art and will also re-locate to Dubai before the end of the year.
Christie’s inaugural sale of Jewellery and Watches on 31st January will be led by David Warren and an international team of specialists based in London, New York and Geneva. It will feature fine and important items mostly created by leading jewellers such as: Asprey, Bulgari, Boucheron, Breguet, Cartier, Chopard, Gerard, Graff, Mauboussin, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Vacheron and Constantin, Van Cleef and Arpels and Winston. The selection of jewellery will be tailored for our clients in the Middle East and will include important D coloured single-stone diamond rings, as well as coloured diamonds, parures and gem set Cartier clocks. Of special interest is a section devoted to the finest contemporary jewellery designers, lead by Bhagat, Burgener, Carnet, Della Valle Etcetera and JAR
William Lawrie will work closely with the participating departments on the evening sale of International Modern & Contemporary Art featuring works from Middle Eastern, Iranian, Indian and Western Artists on 1 February 2007. Highlights already consigned include the superb Expending in God’s Cause painted by Ahmed Moustafa (Egypt b. 1943), an oil and watercolour work signed in Arabic and dated 1994 (estimate: $100,000-120,000).
From 26-28 October Christie’s returns to the Jumeirah Emirates Towers with an exhibition to showcase a selection of international auction highlights to clients in the region. Highlights will include a superb selection of magnificent jewellery led by a Collection of Jewellery and Watches from a Royal House that will be sold in Geneva on 14 November 2006. The Collection from a Royal House comprises 317 lots and is expected to realise in the region of $20 million. The Collection is led by the magnificent Gulf Pearl Suite by Harry Winston which is estimated to realise in excess of $4 million and includes a necklace, bracelet, earrings and a ring. One of the finest ranges of drop pearls ever to appear at auction, the necklace is composed of 11 perfectly formed and graduated drop-shaped pearls weighing from approximately 30 to 124 grains each. An eye-catching large button pearl of 21.5mm diameter, weighing 202.26 grains and an 8 row pearl necklace forms part of another spectacular pearl and diamond suite which is estimated at $600,000 to $800,000 will also feature.
An exquisite selection of Diamonds of the Royal House Collection include an important pear-shaped diamond of 21.37 carats, D Colour, VVS2 clarity (estimate: $700,000-1,000,000) and a spectacular bracelet by Gerard which features a rectangular cut diamond of 29.01 carats, D Colour, VVS2 clarity (estimate: $800,000-1,000,000). Also by Gerard is a diamond parure suspending a pear-shaped diamond of 13.99 carats, D Colour, VVS1 clarity (estimate: $500,000-700,000) and another similar diamond parure set with a 13.61 carat, D Colour, VVS1 clarity, pear-shaped diamond (estimate: $500,000-700,000).
The Exhibition will also feature international highlights in the coming season.
