Sotheby’s 25 Most Memorable Instagrams of 2018

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We are pleased to announce that the winning bidder on @Banksy’s ‘Girl with Balloon’ last Friday night in London has confirmed their decision to acquire the new work that was created in our salesroom. Newly titled ‘Love is in the Bin’, the piece has become the first artwork in history to have been created live during an auction. The buyer, a female European collector and a long-standing client of Sotheby’s, is proceeding with the purchase at the same price as was achieved in the room on the night. ‘Love is in the Bin’ will be on view to the public in Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries in #London on Saturday and Sunday 13th and 14th October from noon until 5pm. Final entry to the galleries at 4.40pm. #LoveIsInTheBin #SothebysContemporary #Banksy

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Oct 11, 2018 at 10:09am PDT

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“She is entirely reduced to inner tears – a resigned sadness, nonetheless suffused with #love.” A #painting of heightened psychological intensity, this powerful depiction of Pablo #Picasso’s ‘Golden Muse’ Marie-Thérèse Walter from the 1930s – painted in the same year as #Guernica and the Weeping Women – reveals the #artist’s mastery of the modern #portrait. Femme au #béret et à la robe quadrillée brings to a climax a turbulent and highly charged year – as Picasso explores his feelings for Marie-Thérèse and Dora Maar in the midst of wider political unrest in his native #Spain. This defining work will be offered for the first time as a star lot of our #Impressionist & Modern #Art Evening Sale in #London on 28 February 2018. It will be unveiled in #HongKong on 30 January, before heading to #Taipei, #NewYork and back to London. #SothebysImpMod #PabloPicasso

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Jan 13, 2018 at 12:54am PST

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225 years ago today, on 16 October 1793, Queen Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine. She had been held in the Temple Tower for over a year. This miniature diamond ring, featuring her portrait, survived and was recovered by the queen’s daughter, Madame Royale (Marie Thérèse de France) upon her release from the tower. It has remained in the collection of the Bourbon Parma Family ever since and will be offered at auction on 14 November in #Geneva. @sothebysjewels @benoit.repellin #bourbonparmajewels #sothebysgeneva #antiquejewels #royaljewels #bijouxanciens #historicjewels

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Oct 16, 2018 at 6:52am PDT

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Now open in our #NYC galleries: our Prints & Multiples exhibition, including a fantastic selection of 37 works by Andy Warhol that feature a number of his iconic ‘Flowers’. Visit our York Avenue galleries this week to view in person! #sothebysprints

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Oct 15, 2018 at 2:35pm PDT

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Painted in 1937, René Magritte’s ‘Le Principe du plaisir (The Pleasure Principle)’ is an entrancing portrait that depicts Edward James, one of the most influential patrons of Surrealist art, who was introduced to Magritte by Salvador Dalí in 1937. Commissioned directly by James, the present portrait was rendered from a photograph of the patron that was taken according to the artist’s specifications by fellow Surrealist, Man Ray. Magritte envisioned the concept for the present work before ever meeting James – in 1936, the artist included an ink sketch resembling the oil on the first page of a hand-made book honoring the Surrealist poet, Paul Éluard. A highlight of our Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale on 12 November, this mesmerizing work is now on view in our #NYC galleries. #SothebysImpMod #Magritte #Surrealism 💡

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Nov 4, 2018 at 5:56pm PST

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Jean-Michel Basquiat’s ‘Flesh and Spirit’, one of the largest works ever made by the artist, will be an outstanding highlight of #SothebysContemporary Art Evening Auction in #NYC on 16 May. To be unveiled in #HongKong tomorrow, 29 March, the multi-canvas panels measuring a combined 145 by 145 inches were purchased in January 1983 for $15,000 and have remained in the same distinguished family collection ever since. Saturated with symbols and subjects central to the artist’s revolutionary practice, including the exploration of human anatomy and scrawled terminology, this spectacular painting will travel to London ahead of the New York exhibition opening on 4 May. #JeanMichelBasquiat #Basquiat #FearlessNow

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Mar 28, 2018 at 6:19am PDT

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Born #onthisday in 1951: beloved entertainer Robin Williams. #creatingastage 📷: Arthur Grace

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Jul 21, 2018 at 9:37am PDT

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Feeling blue? #Chagall’s tender #portrait of a young couple caught in a loving embrace enveloped in a rich, deep, #blue – transporting both the #azure of the #Mediterranean and the milky spectrum of #twilight to a semi-abstracted #interior. Focusing on the faces of the figures, the artist crystallises their devotion to one another, as their lingering gaze holds the promise of an eternity together. On view from Thursday 14 June in our #London galleries. 💙 #SothebysImpMod #MarcChagall

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Jun 6, 2018 at 2:59am PDT

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Barbara Sinatra personally traveled to Palm Beach to acquire this 307 piece pottery lettuceware service set directly from Dodie Thayer. It is one of the many highlights from our exhibition of Lady Blue Eyes: Property of Barbara and Frank Sinatra, on view in our #NYC galleries through 5 December. #franksinatra #barbarasinatra

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Dec 1, 2018 at 8:01am PST

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Painted in 1885, Claude Monet’s ‘La Falaise D’Amont’ is a spectacular seascape of the cliffs of Étretat that bears all the hallmarks of a great Impressionist painting. Remarkable for its atmospheric drama, with wind swept purple clouds and the bustling ocean lashing against the cliffs, the present work was created during a period in which the artist was enraptured by the cliffs at Étretat, and used the essential elements of his genius to render the view in a wondrous combination of color and light. One of four magnificent works by Monet to be offered in our Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale on 12 November, this stunning painting is now on view in our York Avenue galleries — stop by this weekend to see it up close! ☁️🌊#Monet #SothebysImpMod #Seascape #NYC

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Nov 2, 2018 at 4:13pm PDT

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You never know what you’re going to see at our #NYC galleries 🐶. @xolohairlessdog meets his ancestors! This intriguing painting of an exotic breed of #dog, the Mexican #Xoloitzcuintli (or Xolo), is truly one of a kind. It was likely painted by an artist active in Prague towards the end of the sixteenth century and is emblematic of the artistic tradition that arose from the endless fascination with the curiosities arriving in Europe from the New World. While such interest was widespread, nowhere was the passion with acquiring rare animals during this period as insatiable as that found in the Habsburg Courts of Central Europe, particularly that of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague. Recognized as the national dog of Mexico, the Xolo—whose name derives from an Aztec god Xolotl and the Aztec word for dog Itzcuintli—was sacred among the ancient tribes of the Americas, serving as a safeguard from harm and evil spirits. Because the dogs were celebrated for their healing properties and connection to the spirit world, they’re represented in a lot of sacred art such as burial icons and representations of the gods. More recently it served as inspiration for @Pixar’s latest Oscar-nominated film Coco. Make plans to see it this weekend as #SothebysMasters Week exhibitions are open and free to the public. #PixarCoco #Xolo #dogsofinstagram

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Jan 26, 2018 at 10:35am PST

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Monumental in scale, highly charged and painted in vivid colours, Le #Matador from 1970 is the culmination of a life-long obsession of Pablo #Picasso’s that remained one of the most important themes throughout his career. Through the subject of the #bullfight, Picasso explores the theme of life and death, creation and destruction, earth and sun, casting himself at the centre stage of the spectacle. Picasso had begun to feel that his time on this earth was running out, and so engaged in constant conversation with the great #masters before him – #Goya, #Velasquez and #Delacroix – following the traditions they had set in order to reinvent them and make a lasting mark. To be unveiled in public for the first time since the legendary 1973 exhibition in #Avignon – in the year of the artist’s death – as it heads to #Taipei and #New York ahead of our #London sale of #Impressionist & Modern Art on 28 February. #SothebysImpMod #PabloPicasso

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Feb 6, 2018 at 5:45am PST

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If the shoe fits: this exceptionally preserved pair of rose-cut #diamond set and metal-thread #embroidered #shoes from 19th century Turkey documents the high standards of #design and execution achieved in producing #footwear for ladies from the ruling class and families close to the #Ottoman #palace. Pictured here against a 17th century #velvet #textile panel, adorned with the #pomegranate motif, which held connotations of wealth and abundance. Both go on view in our #London galleries from Friday, as part of our Arts of the Islamic World #exhibition. #SothebysMiddleEast

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Oct 17, 2018 at 6:17am PDT

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Known as the "King of Diamonds," Harry Winston was recognized as one of the greatest jewel connoisseurs from the 20th century. In keeping with the maker’s desire to let extraordinary stones guide his designs is this classic 51.52 carat cushion-cut diamond ring. It will be offered during our sale of Magnificent Jewels on 4 December in New York, with public exhibitions opening 30 November. #SothebysJewels #HarryWinston #Diamond

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Nov 25, 2018 at 2:52pm PST

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NEWSFLASH: Moments ago in our #NYC saleroom, Amedeo Modigliani’s 1917 masterpiece ‘Nu couché’ sold for $157.2 million – the highest auction price achieved in Sotheby’s history. Painted a century ago, ‘Nu couché’ is the greatest work from the iconic series in which Modigliani reinvented the nude for the Modern era. Upon their exhibition in 1917, these alluring images stopped traffic – quite literally – and prompted police to shutter the show. Today, the series is recognized as one of the seminal achievements in Modern painting. #SothebysImpsMod #Modigliani #Nude #FearlessNow

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on May 14, 2018 at 4:51pm PDT

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The ‘mille-fleurs’ pattern – in Chinese wan hua dui, ('ten thousand flowers piled up',) or bai hua tu, ('hundred flowers design') – is such a universally appealing motif that it is extremely well known despite being exceedingly rare. It was developed on porcelain in the imperial factories under the Yongzheng emperor and kiln supervisor Tang Ying. With its multitude of enamel colors, complex and densely interwoven layout, naturalistic representation of blooms and leaves and an astonishing attention to detail, this design must have been one of the most challenging for the imperial porcelain painters to master. Visit us this weekend in #NYC to view this exceptional vase and more than 1,000 other works as part of our Asia Week exhibitions. #sothebysasianart

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Sep 7, 2018 at 3:21pm PDT

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🥚 This Eggs-traordinary egg belongs to the Elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus), now extinct, and is the largest egg ever known. The bird, reminiscent of a massive ostrich, stood over 10 feet tall and was so enormous that it could carry off an elephant! 🐘Their shells were highly prized by the Madagascans and have been used both practically as containers and treasured as prestige collectables passed down from generations to generations. While most eggs are now housed in public museums, the present egg is one of a few which remain in private hands and will be on offer at #Sothebys #HongKong #Curiosity Sale on 2 April (Estimate: HK$350,000-550,000/US$44,800-70500). Pure Egg-cellence🥚

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Mar 21, 2018 at 9:54pm PDT

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“Frank Cadogan Cowper was an artist of the highest order; a master of the painted canvas, a first-rate exponent in the medium of watercolour and an exquisite draughtsman. Had he been born fifty years earlier, he would almost certainly have been invited to join the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. If he had been alive during the Italian Renaissance, noble families would have commissioned him to decorate their palaces with scenes of courtly love.” – Scott Thomas Buckle, Frank Cadogan Cowper & Arthur Joseph Gaskin, undated. ‘The Young Duchess’, a tour-de-force in watercolour, will go on view in our #London galleries from 7 July, ahead of our Victorian, Pre-Raphaelite & British Impressionist Art sale. #SothebysVictorian

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Jun 28, 2018 at 6:56am PDT

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Looking for #interiors inspiration this weekend? Stop by our #London #exhibition of glorious #Rugs and #Carpets – with splendid weavings from across the globe, including #Persia, #India, Turkey and China. Open to the public in our #galleries today until 5pm through to Tuesday, ahead of an auction at 2.30pm on 6 November.

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Nov 3, 2018 at 6:53am PDT

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Painted in the #summer of 1914, Rik #Wouters’ depiction of a female #figure in an unbuttoned summer suit floating within a #wooded #landscape bathed in #light is a striking example of his daring oeuvre. Here, he underpins the way in which light disturbs the solidity of form and can distort the viewer’s understanding of reality. Femme en forêt is all the more remarkable as it is a romantic celebration of Hélène ‘Nel’ Duerinckx. – his #muse, #model, wife and the love of his life – marking the last few months of happiness and innocence before the onset of the Great War, exile in the Netherlands and Wouters’ illness. Having tragically passed away at the age of 34, Wouters’ oils are very rare, and were recently the subject of an exhibition at the Royal Museum of Fine Art, #Brussels. Here, Sabato Magazine create their own modern interpretation of the work, styled by Dries van Noten and blooming with #flowers by Thierry Boutemy. The work goes on view in our #London galleries from next Thursday. #SothebysImpMod #SothebysBrussels #RikWouters

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Jun 9, 2018 at 4:47am PDT

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Its Friday and we’re feeling divine! 👑 This fabulous film poster was produced in 1978 for the sixth instalment of the much loved #PinkPanther comedy series. ‘Revenge of the Pink Panther’ was the last of the films to star #PeterSellers as bumbling Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau, and the last on-set performance released in the celebrated actor’s lifetime. Visit our London galleries this August to see the full exhibition #OriginalFilmPosters #SothebysOnline #FridayFeeling

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Aug 3, 2018 at 3:13am PDT

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Pairing the old with the new: Our forthcoming #Paris auction ‘Mélanges’ showcases a wealth of beautiful classic and #contemporary masterpieces – a bold statement on mixing styles side by side for a bold and distinctive statement in the home. Here, a vibrant Louis XV #daybed is juxtaposed with a dreamy 1984 painting by Pierre Lesieur. #SothebysParis #InteriorDesign #LivingWithArt

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Sep 3, 2018 at 3:58am PDT

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Fabulously eccentric #fashion photographer Norman Parkinson’s stunning 1973 shot depicts glamorous Dutch actress Apollonia van Ravenstein dressed in a white crepe de chine shirt and skirt in crepe pleats by Yves Saint Laurent. This timeless photograph is on view as part of our ‘Made in Britain’ auction in #London this September. Image © Norman Parkinson / Iconic Images #SothebysModBrit #NormanParkinson #VintageFashion #FashionPhotography

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Aug 3, 2018 at 6:28am PDT

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Famed for his meticulous technique and colour application, Yu Fei’an was the master of elaborate floral and bird painting in 20th-century China. ‘Paradise Flycatchers by Magnolia’ is a sublime example of Yu’s aesthetic vision, rooted in his close observations from life. On view at the #HongKong Convention and Exhibition Centre from tomorrow, this beautiful and vibrant work is a highlight of our Fine Chinese Paintings sale on 2 October. #SothebysAsianArt

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Sep 26, 2018 at 7:37pm PDT

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Banksy’s newly created artwork ‘Love is in the Bin’ is unveiled at Sotheby’s London. Visit our galleries on New Bond Street this weekend to see the first artwork in history to have been created live during an auction. Gallery opening times – Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October, 12pm – 5pm (final entry at 4.30pm). #LoveIsInTheBin #SothebysContemporary #banksy

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Oct 12, 2018 at 8:01am PDT