Sotheby's Auction

Biggest piece of Mars found on Earth going up for auction in New York

For sale: A 54-pound (25-kilogramme) rock. Estimated auction price: $2 million to $4 million. Why so expensive? It's the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth. Sotheby's in New York will be auctioning what's known as NWA 16788 on Wednesday as part of a natural history-themed sale that also includes a juvenile Ceratosaurus dinosaur skeleton that's more than 6 feet tall and nearly 11 feet long. According to the auction house, the meteorite is believed to have been blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike before travelling 140 million miles to Earth, where it crashed into the Sahara. A meteorite hunter found it in Niger in November 2023, Sotheby's says. The red, brown and gray hunk is about 70% larger than the next largest piece of Mars found on Earth and represents nearly 7% of all the Martian material currently on this planet, Sotheby's says. It measures nearly 15 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches. This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever

Set of 6 Messi World Cup shirts sells for $7.8 mn at auction in New York

Six jerseys worn by soccer superstar Lionel Messi during Argentina's winning run at last year's World Cup sold for USD 7.8 million, the auction house Sotheby's announced. The final price for the shirts, each worn during the first half of one of Argentina's games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, is the highest price for an item of sports memorabilia this year, Sotheby's said. Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw in the World Cup final, winning its third World Cup. The victory, in which Messi scored two of Argentina's three goals, represented a crowning moment for one of the sport's greatest-ever players. These historic shirts are not only a tangible reminder of one of the most important moments in the history of sports, but are principally connected to the pinnacle moment in the career of the most decorated football player in history, Brahm Wachter, Sotheby's head of modern collectibles, said in a statement. The shirts were on display at Sotheby's Ne

Art in demand: Crypto, Picassos at strangest auction week in memory

At Sotheby's, a work by Banksy, Love is in the Air, estimated from $3 mn to $5 mn, can also be paid for in Ether or Bitcoin

Home is where the art is, whether it's a masterpiece or a lesser creation

The first rule is to pick up something you can live with for a lifetime. If you're into collecting as an investment, what matters as much as the artwork is its creator and previous owners

Slowing economy, overpriced art dampen Sotheby's second India auction

The auction, held in Mumbai on Friday, even failed to sell the highlight of the evening -- a $3 million (Rs 21.4 crore) Gaitonde painting

We're betting on India's middle market of art: Edward Gibbs of Sotheby's

We are clearly targeting a younger audience and there is going to be something for all tastes and budget, says Gibbs

Diamond earrings sold for $57 mn, set new world record at Sotheby's auction

Another notable sale included a ruby and diamond brooch and ear clips by Van Cleef and Arpels