March 20th, 2009
Artworks belonging to the late Gianni Versace sold at a London auction for more than twice the presale estimate, the second time in a month the public sale of a famed fashion designer’s items had defied the economic slump.
The 545-lot sale of the contents of Villa Fontanelle, Versace’s early 19th-century mansion on the shores of Lake Como, fetched 7.4 million pounds ($10.5 million) last night, against a presale top estimate of 2.8 million pounds.
Like the Saint Laurent sale, the Versace sale was a chance to pick up pieces personally selected by a man of great taste.
March 9th, 2009
On March 23rd, online jewelry retailer Bidz.com will auction off a gold and diamond tiara designed by the late Gianni Versace to benefit the Aid for AIDS charity, with an opening bid of $699,000 US Dollars.
The one-of-a-kind tiara, which contains over 1,200 diamonds and is worth an estimated $3 million, has been worn by celebrities including Madonna, Amber Valletta and Donatella Versace.
The Versace Tiara, also known as the Tiara, won the prestigious De Beers Diamonds International Award in 1995.
February 18th, 2009
The single-owner sale of property from the designer’s Lake Como (Italy) residence including furniture, paintings and works of art takes place March 18 at Sotheby’s London.
The 550 lots are expected to fetch in excess of £2 million. Prior to the sale Sotheby’s will recreate highlights of certain rooms of the villa in its New Bond Street galleries.
Gianni Versace’s discerning approach to furnishing his home resulted in the impressive collection of continental furniture, sculpture and silver works and 18th and 19th century paintings to be offered in this sale.
