Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Recommendations at Sotheby's Impressionist, Modern and Surrealist Evening Sales

By Chadwick Ciocci
CEO / Founder of Chilton & Chadwick

Christie’s and Sotheby’s have multiple auctions coming up in February covering Impressionism, Modern art and Surrealism. There are also online auctions in Picasso ceramics and Sotheby’s is offering a truly special auction on February 5th: Picasso in Private - works from the collection of Marina Picasso (Picasso’s granddaughter).

Their Impressionist, Modern and Surrealist evening sales in London on February 3, though, have several fantastic options for collectors. Below are our favorites.

Antibes, Petit Port de bacon
Paul Signac

Lot no. 17 is a wonderful example of a classic pointillist work by Signac. Using vibrant hues of pink, blue, yellow and green Signac represents a common theme in his work – the natural beauty and refinement of the Cote d’Azur. Not only is it a beautiful piece in its own right but at an estimate of $2,640,000 – 3,660,000 - should it sell on the low end – it would make a valuable addition and investment to any collection.


Le Palais Ducal vu de Sant-Georges Majeur
Claude Monet

Lot no. 23 is simply stunning and a fantastic example of Monet’s hand. It was painted in 1908 when Monet painted other examples of the Ducal Palace and Venice. This piece will likely enjoy stiff competition, trading near or above its high estimate of $26,310,000. Despite changing tastes works by titans such as Monet remain not only staples of sophisticated collections but wise investments.


Buste d’home
Pablo Picasso

Lot no. 33 is a fun and fantastic piece by Pablo Picasso depicting a mustached man in wonderful color. The first rule of collecting art is answer the follow in the affirmative: “Do you like it?” This is a piece one will enjoy for years and interesting within Picasso’s oeuvre having been painted on corrugated cardboard rather than traditional canvas. At an estimate of $1,320,000 – 1,760,000 this is an excellent introduction to collecting Picasso.


Venus de Milo aux tiroirs
Salvador Dali


Dali is best known for his surrealist paintings but he also dabbled in pottery and sculpture. In this piece (which is numbered 3/5) appropriates classic Greco-Roman imagery of Venus with  fur more akin of a 1970’s playgirl. It is not only fun but unique and would make for a great conversation piece in any home. With an estimate of $585,000 – 880,000 do try to acquire this on the low end.
If you are interested in acquiring art, selling art or need any advising such as on price, please do not hesitate to reach out to us here

Chilton & Chadwick is a global real estate concierge based in Greenwich, CT that offers services in real estate brokerage, art advising and collecting, jewelry acquisition, household staffing and private jet & yacht chartering. Visit our website here, our Facebook here and please follow us on Twitter here.

Tasting Pauillac

By Chadwick Ciocci via Culture Home
CEO / Founder of Chilton & Chadwick
Bordeaux is well regarded as one of the premiere wine producing regions in the world, but within Bordeaux there are those appellations that stand above the rest. Pauillac is one of those.
Not only does Pauillac literally stand above the rest – it is some meters above anything around it – but of the five premier grand cru chateaux in Bordeaux, three of them are located in Pauillac, an admirable concentration.
Those chateaux are Latour, Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild. Together, their wines represent quintessential Bordeaux. The terroir in Pauillac is gravely and a westerly forest blocks the Atlantic winds. This in part contributes to the rich, full bodied and tannic aspects of these fine wines. The predominant flavors include blackcurrant, plum, pencil shavings and cigar box.
But the premiere grand cru chateaux are not the only places worth seeking out. Pauillac is full of worthwhile chateaux whose wines are both respectable and pleasurable. Pichon-Longueville and Pichon-Longueville-Lalande are competitive, to say the least.
The red wines of Pauillac are primarily made from cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot, malbec and carmenere. A few white wines are produced using sauvignon blanc, semillon and muscadelle.
Part of what makes a Bordeaux wine a Bordeaux (and more particularly a Pauillac a Pauillac) is a beautiful and rich history. Many of the original grapes were planted by monks in the second half of the 1200’s. Their success was relatively rapid; not only was the soil and climate favorable to growing grapes, but Pauillac enjoys easy access to shipping, meaning export and commerce came as naturally as the soils that supported the grapes. Easy shipping lead to familiarity and later reputation – a reputation that has stood the test of time. 

Chilton & Chadwick is a global real estate concierge based in Greenwich, CT that offers services in real estate brokerage, art advising and collecting, jewelry acquisition, household staffing and private jet & yacht chartering. Visit our website here, our Facebook here and please follow us on Twitter here