Christie's

Yayoi Kusama top-selling contemporary artist of 2023

Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese artist famed for her kaleidoscopic paintings and installations, made $80.9 million at auction last year, beating out David Hockney for the spot of top-selling contemporary artist of 2023. Per the latest Hiscox Artist Top 100 report, Hockney, who snagged the top title in 2022, earned $50.3 million in sales this past year.

Boots, Banksy, piano: Elton John puts items up for auction

Music icon Elton John has put a variety of personal items up for auction at Christie's in New York, including monogrammed silver leather platform boots, a grand piano and a triptych by street artist Banksy.

Most of the items come from John's former home in Atlanta, a condo on Peachtree Road that was recently sold, the auction house said on Jan. 11.

Bleu Royal diamond rakes in nearly $44 mln at auction

An exceptionally rare blue diamond went under the hammer in Geneva on Nov. 7, selling for more than $40 million, making it one of the most expensive diamonds ever sold at auction, Christie's said.

Weighing 17.61 carats, the Bleu Royal is the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue gem ever to appear for sale in auction history.

Lost Rembrandt portraits fetch more than £11 mn at auction

The last known pair of Rembrandt portraits in private hands sold for more than £11 million ($14 million) at Christie's in London on July 6, nearly 200 years after they first went under the hammer at the auction house.

The paintings, which are thought to date from 1635, had been expected to fetch between £5 million and £8 million as part of Christie's "Old Masters" sale.

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