![Porsche 911 2.0 from 1965. Image © Catawiki [detail]](https://images.prismic.io/barnebys/3cd8308e-634c-4a8e-9697-d234c0d12521_Cover.jpg?auto=format,compress)
From 6 to 15 November, collectors will be able to bid on the approximately 100 objects that make up the ‘Exclusive Selection’ of Dutch house Catawiki.’s auction The remarkable items come from categories as varied as jewellery, art and sculpture, comics, stamp collecting, cars and sports. Here are our top 9 finds from the sale.
The hypnotic drawing Grote Zero bloemen (Large Zero Flowers) was made by Dutch artist Jan Schoonhoven, best known for his research and experimentation with light, form and volume. In 1960, Schoonhoven joined the Nul group, which protested against institutional rules and artistic traditions and which was closely associated with the Düsseldorf art group ZERO. Schoonhoven has developed a one-of-a-kind work, centred on careful research into serial abstraction, monochrome and the grid.
“These are the only Grote Zero bloemen known to have flowers of this size," says Marco Hendrix, expert in modern and contemporary art at Catawiki.
The jewellery maker House of R&D was inspired by autumn flowers when making this necklace, which is estimated to be worth €1 million. The jewel comprises a total of 439 hand-set white and yellow diamonds with a total weight of 140 carats.
“This necklace is set with 439 natural diamonds. It took seven months to achieve it," says Natasha Mulder, modern jewellery expert at Catawiki.
All the equipment is original in this spectacular 1961 Aston Martin DB4, from the metallic green paintwork to the Barcelona license plate. This DB4 was one of the few to have been sold in Spain, and only five were sold in the capital of Catalonia.
“This car is in exceptional condition and has retained its metallic green paint, typical of Aston Martin,” says Francisco Carrión Cardenas, vintage car expert at Catawiki.
This cover of the Portuguese edition of Spirou and Fantasio, Il ya un sorcier à Champignac, a comic book by legendary Belgian author André Franquin, first released in 1951, has resurfaced after it had been considered missing since the 1960s.
“The anonymous artist kept this spectacular work of art until his death," says Jacques Pels, expert in books and comics for Catawiki.
Much like the dodos of Mauritius, the bird-elephants (or Æpyornis) of Madagascar, which measured up to three meters in height, became extinct around the 1700s. Human activity is believed to have been the cause of the extinction of the æpyornis: large in size, humans had no trouble tracking these birds down. Their eggs were also vulnerable and their deliberate destruction would have prevented the renewal of the species. A very rare item, Catawiki now offers an authentic and intact elephant bird egg.
"Æpyornis eggs have a very thick shell and that is why they were able to survive: in Madagascar there is no animal, no bird big enough to break this shell," says David Leggett, expert in archeology and natural history at Catawiki.
After having collaborated successfully on two occasions, the French luxury label Hermès again called on Irish architect and artist Nigel Peake in 2018. This time, the fruit of the collaboration was the Birkin Bag, One Two Three & Away We Go, printed in the typical colourful geometric style of Peake.
“Architect Nigel Peake took inspiration from a Ferris wheel on the Grande Roue de la Concorde to design this limited edition Birkin bag,” says Stefani Markovic, fashion expert for Catawiki.
As most philatelists will know, the French 20 ct Type I stamp is extremely rare. This copy was part of the collection of the famous philatelist Philipp von Ferrary, considered the largest and most valuable stamp collection ever.
“Most copies of the type I legend of the 20 ct stamps have been destroyed. This is one of the few that remains,” says Nicolas Pereira, philately expert at Catawiki.
A true automobile icon is being called up with this 1965 Series 0 Porsche 911. The completely overhauled car was one of the first in the series to be produced and impresses with its beautiful colour contrast of red paintwork and black leather interior.
“These days it is really rare to find a 911 ‘0 Series’ in such perfect condition,” says Luca Gazzaretti, vintage car expert at Catawiki.
During the 2009-10 season of the Primera División (Spanish Football Championship), legendary player Lionel Messi wore this long-sleeved jersey when his FC Barcelona team played against the team from Sporting Gijón – but only during the first half. At half-time, Messi handed his shirt to another FC Barcelona legend, Enrique Castro Quini, whose family kept the shirt as it is now.
“This exceptional jersey was given to Quini by Messi at half-time in a match between La Liga and Sporting,” says Gustavo Radesca, sports memorabilia expert at Catawiki.
The auction for the lots in Catawiki's ‘Exclusive Selection’ will start on 6 November and close on 15 November.
To discover the full catalogue of the Catawiki ‘Exclusive Selection’ click here
