Following a successful spirits sale online last December, Sotheby’s is staging two live auctions at the Conrad Singapore Orchard this summer
As it celebrates its 280th anniversary, Sotheby’s marks the occasion with grand plans for the year. “With revolutionary and exciting initiatives around the world, we continue our investment in Southeast Asia to curate another week-long showcase of our finest offerings starring two live auctions,” stated Jasmine Prasetio, Sotheby’s managing director of Southeast Asia.
During its inaugural spirits online sale last December, Sotheby’s noted 30 per cent of participating bidders being new to the company, indicating the increasing demand and a flourishing market in Singapore. A first in Southeast Asia, the Fine and Rare Whisky live auction seeks to cater to this burgeoning demand with a 190-lot sale with a spotlight on representative collectible fine Japanese whiskies, including the notable Karuizawa 1965 Japonisme, for La Maison Du Whisky’s 60th anniversary, and the Karuizawa 1965 Sherry Cask, both of which are illustrious in the annals of Japanese whisky history.
The highlight of the live auction though, would be the exquisite Hibiki 35 Years Old Kutani Decanter; the rarest Hibiki ever produced, each decanter is a porcelain masterpiece crafted by renowned artisans of Arita and Kutani, an ode to 400 years of Japanese porcelain artistry.
An exceptional selection of Scotch whiskies will also be presented alongside the array of fine Japanese whiskies at the auction, one of which includes the rarely-seen and highly-coveted Bowmore Trilogy 1964 set released by the esteemed distillery in 2007 and 2008. This set contains the Bowmore Black, White and Gold.
For the fine art collectors and enthusiasts, the Modern and Contemporary Art Auction is an event not to be missed. Featuring 48 pieces by esteemed local artists like Cheong Soo Pieng, alongside works from regional and international icons in the likes of Le Pho, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons and Roy Lichtenstein to name a few, the collection spotlights significant artists of cross-cultural backgrounds.
Some key highlights to look out for include Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s Paghuhuli Ng Mga Manok (Catching Chickens), the auction debut of White Orchids (Phalaenopsis) by Singaporean artist Georgette Chen and Wu Guanzhong’s Field Chrysanthemums. To view highlights from these offerings, a preview exhibition is open to the public from 5 to 9 June at the Conrad Singapore Orchard prior to the live auctions.
These auctions mark the first offerings under the implementation of a new fee structure by Sotheby’s in Asia, which allows for an easier calculation of fees and accessibility of purchase in Sotheby’s auctions in comparison to other international auction houses.
