Buyers will need plenty of display space if they are planning to be the new owner of a late Pleistocene era mammoth skeleton which comes up for sale at Aguttes’ Lyon rooms on December 16.
The rare complete specimen measures 17ft 4in (5.3m) in length, a sizeable proportion being down to its impressive tusks. The privately consigned skeleton, set up in a walking position, was found in Siberia and is estimated at €450,000-500,000 in the auction house’s natural history sale.
Chinese hardwoods are the hot ticket at the moment, be they elegant pieces of furniture or decorative/functional scholars’ objects such as this carved zitan brushpot.
The 7¼in (18.5cm) high receptacle is the star turn in an Asian art sale to be held on December 7 by the Nice brand of the Millon firm, Millon Riviera.
The brush pot, dated to the Ming dynasty, is carved with confronting dragons, phoenix and kylins among clouds and has an estimate of €40,000-60,000.
A scientific and horological auction to be held by Chayette et Cheval takes place at Drouot on December 18.
It includes a collection of enamelled watches, among which is a gold duplex specimen made by William Ilbery c.1815.
The 2½in (6cm) diameter timekeeper, with a white enamel dial, is signed Ilbery London 6042. to the movement. Its gold case is set with half pearls and also features a translucent polychrome enamel scene of a couple dressed à l’antique, perhaps a scene from a play.
The estimate is €12,000-15,000.
