Category: OPULENCE & SPLENDOUR

Luxury and the arts From houses to cars and from Hockney to van Dyck, a profile of the best and the worst

Gone with the Joseffs

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Vivien Leigh’s necklace and Clark Gable’s cigarette case from ‘Gone with the Wind’ to be sold at auction in Los Angeles

Gone with the Wind is undoubtedly one of the all-time classic films. It took in excess of $390 million at the box office, won an astonishing eight Academy Awards in 1940 and propelled the careers of both Clark Gable (Rhett Butler) and Vivien Leigh (Scarlett O’Hara) into the stratosphere.

Now, in November in California, a diamond and amethyst necklace worn by Leigh in the film will be sold at auction with an estimate of £45,000 to £61,000 ($60,000 to $80,000, €50,000 to €66,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم294,000) alongside a cigarette case used by Gable (estimate: £30,000 to £45,000, $40,000 to $60,000, €33,000 to €50,000 or درهم147,000 to درهم220,000).

Eugene Joseff pictured in the crown and sceptre worn by Ronald Colman in “The Prisoner of Zenda” (1937) and Vivien Leigh in Joseff with Clark Gable in “Gone with the Wind” (1939)

This pair of Gone with the Wind memorabilia, which will be sold by Julien’s Auctions, forms part of a 500-piece collection from the vault of Eugene Joseff (1905 – 1948), an advertising executive turned jeweller to Hollywood’s superstars. Joseff’s primary success stemmed from the fact he developed a matte metal finish for his jewellery that minimised the glare from the strong studio lights and thus everyone from Marlene Dietrich to Greta Garbo and Marilyn Monroe wore his pieces. Though this talented designer tragically died in a plane crash, his family continue to operate the firm Joseff of Hollywood and aside from making jewellery now also produce aerospace castings for radar, guided missiles, computers, and electro-mechanical systems.

Of the collection, Martin Nolan of Julien’s Auctions commented:

“The Joseff Collection that has been consigned to Julien’s Auctions is the single most important collection of film-worn jewellery ever to come to the market. This historic cache, stored in a Hollywood warehouse for decades is the very stuff of Hollywood history and legend. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of film history that was designed and manufactured to dazzle, as each piece had to compete with the wearer, the most beautiful women in the world.”

Julien’s Auctions will sell the collection on 17^th and 18^th November at their Los Angeles Gallery.

The Vivien Leigh necklace by Eugene Joseff

The Clark Gable cigarette case by Eugene Joseff

At a slightly different point but nevertheless cut, here are three jewelry items to consider if you’re looking for gift ideas…
Here are 3 we found that are cute and affordable:
1) Gorgeous ring for Mum? – this ring for Mum will make her eyes light up on Mother’s Day, or just about any other day for that matter. A casual, versatile ring that can be worn with just about anything, day or night, it’s a perfect complement to any outfit or occasion.
2) Need a pretty gift for a dog lover? – This cute puppy paw necklace is a pet-friendly addition for any puppy lover, young or old. Whether it’s a birthday gift or just a gift to say thank you, the recipient will be over the moon!
3) Cute leaf earrings for a nature lover perhaps? – these cute earrings can be worn day or night with just about any outfit. A nice addition to jazz up your day and look and feel great.

September 9, 2017
Coins Not Cars

Coutts’ Index 2017 reveals it is coins and not classic cars that are the better performing ‘passion assets’

This week bankers to the super-elite Coutts revealed the findings of their 2017 Coutts Index. In the annual report so called ‘passion assets’ – such as fine wine, works of art and watches – are measured in terms of their returns and this year’s revelations include that whilst classic car prices have risen fourfold since 2005, their values fell 10.4% in the last year.

Other findings in the survey suggest the fine art market has gone down by 6.2% in the same period and that Old Master and 19^th century art has declined some 40% since 2008. Coins remains the only category to have registered increasing prices in every year since 2005, rising more than 11% per annum on average.

Of the analysis, Coutts surmised: “The Coutts Index tracks the changing value of ‘passion’ assets such as fine wine, classic cars, jewellery, fine art and trophy property. 2016 saw a modest increase in the index of 1.2%, compared to an average annual increase of 5.3%, while the index has returned 76.6% since it was founded in 2005.”

September 7, 2017
Pricey on the Pond

Hamptons estate goes on sale for £136 million; it has a ¼ mile of frontage to the Atlantic Ocean and is owned by financier Brenda Earl

A 20,000 square foot white brick house that forms the centerpiece of what is being termed “the most expensive Hamptons” listing has gone on sale for £136 million or 872% more than it sold for in 2002.

Built in 1960 and owned by Henry Ford II of the eponymous car making dynasty and then by his ex-wife, Anne McDonnell, until 1975, Fordune at 90 Jule Pond Drive in Southampton originally extended to some 235 acres. After passing into the hands of an Italian businessman named Carlo Traglio, it was sub-divided and then sold to Brenda Earl De Paola – a former partner in the long/short investment firm Zweig-Dimenna and the founder of the private investment house Earl Enterprises, LLC – in 2002.

Brenda Earl (left)

Featuring amongst other things 48-foot living room, 4 further reception rooms, a library, a chef’s kitchen, 12 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms, the renovated property also includes a 3 bedroom carriage house, a 6-car garage and a greenhouse. As well as nearly quarter of a mile of frontage to the Atlantic Ocean, the 42.129 acre estate has frontage onto three ponds, a basketball court, a tennis court and a 60-foot gunite outdoor swimming pool.

Bespoke Real Estate has the listing.

Fordune, 90 Jule Pond Drive, Southampton, NY 11968 – The Numbers

Listed for sale for £136 million ($175 million, €147 million or درهم643 million) in 2017.

Sold for £17 million ($21.75 million, €18 million or درهم81 million) in 2002.

Sold for £1.4 million ($1.8 million, €1.5 million or درهم6.6 million) in 1975.

August 31, 2017
Big Shorting Gatsby

Long Island mansion with links to ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘The Big Short’ for sale for £13.1 million (or 152% more than it sold for in 2011)

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 – 1940) set his ‘Roaring Twenties’ classic The Great Gatsby in the fictional locations of East Egg and West Egg on Long Island and now one of the homes that inspired him is available for sale.

Owned by Cornwall Capital founder James Mai – a man whose firm ironically made over 80 times its capital by buying credit default swaps on CDOs prior to the 2008 financial crisis – and his wife Chiara since 2011, 235 Middle Neck Road at Sands Point on Long Island’s Gold Coast was built in 1926 and home to the Rumsey-Harriman railroad dynasty from 1929.

Fitzgerald is said to have spent time at the residence learning about “the lifestyle of the moneyed aristocracy of Old Westport, Long Island, and their involvement in the movement of eugenics” from the Rumseys and ironically, James Mai, is also representative of a clash between ‘old’ and ‘new’ money. In 2008, he and his partner are said to have been the ones “screaming about [the coming crash] as loud as they could, but everyone turned a deaf ear.” The character Jamie Shipley, played by Finn Wittrock in the 2015 film The Big Short, is loosely based upon him.

Current owners Chiara and James Mai are said to have spent vast sums on the renovation of the estate

Featuring 11,955 square foot of renovated accommodation that includes formal and informal entertaining spaces, 13 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms. There is also a 6-car garage with a 3-bedroom caretaker’s cottage, a 4-bedroom beachside cottage and a boat house.

Outside, on a plot of some 5.3 acres, there is a 391-foot private beach, a tennis court and in spite of its seeming isolation, the property is situated just 29 miles from Downtown Manhattan and 25 minutes by boat.

235 Middle Neck Road is listed by Nava Mitnick of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International. In December 2016, of it, she commented: “Obviously, it’s so imposing – you drive down and see the sweeping views. But when we entered the house, I described it as a ‘glorified cottage’, because it’s so homey.”

235 Middle Neck Road – The Numbers

August 2017 – Relisted for £13.1 million ($16.88 million, €14.2 million or درهم62 million).

December 2016 – Listed for sale for £15.4 million ($19.8 million, €16.6 million or درهم72.7 million).

June 2011 – Sold for £5.2 million ($6.675 million, €5.6 million or درهم24.5 million).

February 2011 – Listed for sale for £7.7 million ($9.9 million, €8.3 million or درهم36.4 million).

August 27, 2017
The Black Prince

“Ultra-rare” 1951 Invicta Black Prince to be auctioned; here is a truly astounding shooting brake complete with an incredible mascot

An ultimate example of 1950s luxury, a 1951 Invicta Black Prince shooting brake with coachwork by Associated Coachbuilders – that cost £3,820 new (the equivalent of £110,000, $142,000, €119,000 or درهم521,000 today) – is to be auctioned in September.

Featuring an all alloy 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine with twin overheard camshafts, twin-plug ignition and triple SU carburetors, this automatic, dark green vehicle is just one of twelve survivors of sixteen cars made. It was actually completed after the Invicta brand ceased to exist in 1950 and finished in Sunderland as ‘MPT 850’ on 3^rd November 1951.

Restored and upgraded in the 1980s, the car comes with “a wealth of documentation” and retains its “truly extravagant mascot of the Black Prince himself.”

The shooting brake will be sold by Bonhams at their Beaulieu sale on 2^nd September in Hampshire. An estimate of £22,000 to £27,000 ($28,000 to $35,000, €24,000 to €28,000 or درهم104,000 to درهم128,000) has been set.

August 27, 2017
Rent Like A Royal

Grade I listed house in Richmond Old Deer Park, Surrey that is owned by the Crown Estate and was originally a royal observatory to rent for £450,000 per year

A Grade I listed house set on 6.6 acres of World Heritage Site and Grade I listed land in the middle of the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Course has been listed to rent for £37,500 per month ($48,300, €41,000 or درهم177,300 per month).

Extending to 6,157 square foot in total but quite manageable in terms of the accommodation provided, The King’s Observatory in Old Deer Park, Richmond upon Thames was designed by the Scottish-Swedish architect Sir William Chambers (1723 – 1796) and used by King George III (1738 – 1820) to house his extensive collection of scientific instruments. It features the oldest cupola in the world specifically constructed to allow astrologists to “track the rare phenomenon of Venus crossing the sun.”

Owned by the Crown Estate, the building was used as a classroom for royalty, was converted to provide a home for the Meteorological Office from 1910 to 1980 and became the offices of Hill Samuel Bank and then Autoglas until 2011. Plans were approved to convert to a single residence in 2014 but features including a cinema, games room, gym, underground swimming pool and garaging for 16 cars were not actually constructed.

The King’s Observatory – which was built in 1769 – is offered by Knight Frank and includes 5 reception rooms, 4 bedroom suites and a large roof terrace.

August 21, 2017
Flying a White Elephant

Orange County mega-estate sold last for £14 million on an original asking price of £67 million offered for sale again for £43 million after death of owner

The largest residential estate on the Newport Coast of California is back on the market. One Pelican Hill Road North in Newport Beach – alternatively known as ‘Villa Del Lago’ or ‘Villa of the Lake’ – is a property with an extraordinary past and though listed on construction for £67 million in 2009, eventually sold at a fire auction in 2012 for just £14 million. Its subsequent owner, a Japanese industrialist and publisher, death has now resulted in it being placed for sale again and this time £43 million is sought.

Situated on a plot of 12.47 acres and comprising 17,706 square foot of ‘Italianate-style’ accommodation, One Pelican Hill Road North was last marketed as having 8 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms. On a new, dedicated marketing page for it, it is now being promoted as having, amongst other things, 2 screening rooms, a china/silver room, an “indoor lap pool with fibre optic twinkling star ceiling”, a 14-car garage and a “wine cave”. Outside, there is a “cascading private lake”, stabling, a riding ring, a putting green, an “organic edible garden” and potential for a vineyard.

Jeffrey Janger and Linda Janger of Pace Properties have the listing currently but given another agent, Michael Gosselin of Surterre Properties, previously commented: “Newport Coast has yet to see any homes sell for more than $20 million (£15.5 million)”, it’ll be likely there’ll be a few price cuts yet.

One Pelican Hill Road North – The Extraordinary Numbers

2003 – Land purchased for $3.2 million by Monarch Estates. Subsequent construction loans total $27.3 million.

February 2009 – Completed house placed for sale for sale for $87 million by a realtor named John McMonigle, the managing member of a partnership developing the project.

May 2010 – Price reduced to $57 million.

January 2011 – Three offers received, all were below $37 million and not accepted.

April 2012 – Offered at a court-sanctioned auction with “no opening bid sought”. Sold for $18.5 million to Toshiaki Ogasawara, an industrialist and publisher of the Japan Times.

January 2017 – Placed on the market after Ogasawara’s death in December 2016 for $55 million.

August 18, 2017
A Castle for £130k

Scottish castle on sale for just £130,000; it comes without a roof and is located near the Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire

A castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland is for sale for £130,000 ($168,000, €143,000 or درهم616,000) in spite of being nothing other than a roofless shell.

Reduced in price from £150,000 ($193,000, €165,000 or درهم710,000) and dating to 1565, Knockhall Castle in the coastal village of Newburgh, near Aberdeen is described as “having been in the current owner’s family for hundreds of years” and was accidentally burnt to the ground by Jamie Fleming, “a servant fool” of then owners the Udny of that Ilk family, in 1734.

Presented in “stabilised” condition, the B-listed building stands on a small plot accessed by a private road. It is close to the Trump International Golf Links course at Balmedie and Forvie Sands, a designated nature conservation area populated by seals.

Savills have the listing and market the structure as “a blank canvas for someone to develop the building’s full potential as a spectacular family home or business.”

Of this fixer-upper, in which James VI is reported to have stayed in July 1589, Historic Scotland add:

“Knockhall Castle, in the parish of Foveran, is situated near the mouth of the river Ythan and was probably built in 1565 as an L plan towerhouse of three stories and an attic with a projecting staircase tower on its northside. The tower does not have a parapet and the gables have skews rather than crowsteps. To the south of the castle there was an enclosed courtyard, but all that now remains of this is a fragmentary round tower at the south east angle of the enclosure which incorporated a dovecot on its upper level. The tower has undergone significant alteration, probably in the second quarter of the 17th century.”

“The tower is lit by large rectangular windows in the south and east walls. These are arranged more or less symmetrically and their raised margins suggest they are insertions dating to the mid 17th century. The earlier windows which have survived have a typical roll moulding of mid 16th century type, and some appear to have had gunloops in their sills. The basement is pierced by a number of wide-mouthed gunloops but also has some fairly large windows which have the raised margins of the 17th century windows.”

“The entrance is in the re-entrant angle and the lintel of the door is inscribed with the date 1565. Above this are two empty heraldic panels and at eaves level there is a projecting stone shelf which appears to have been intended to shed water away from the entrance doorway. The doorway gives access to a corridor running the length of the building and leads to the main stair. Entered off the corridor, on the left, is the kitchen, complete with fireplace, sink and drain. The main block contains a large cellar also with a sink and drain. Both spaces are vaulted although that over the kitchen has collapsed.”

“The circular stair is wide and provides access both to the principal upper floors in the main block and to those in the wing. The tower is externally complete and in there is often sufficient evidence for a tower to be restored for modern occupation without detracting from its historic significance.”

“The planning of this tower, with a large stair serving the two wings, and with ample light through the large rectangular windows, would also make its adaptive re-use possible.”

“It should be noted that there is significant potential for associated archaeology surrounding the tower. In schemes of adaptive re-use, archaeology is an important issue to be addressed.”

August 17, 2017
Let There Be Light

Two and apartments and a bothy within one of Britain’s remotest lighthouses in Sutherland for sale for £371,500

Two apartments and a bothy that form part of a lighthouse designed by the acclaimed author Robert Louis Stevenson’s (1850 – 1894) designer father Thomas (1818 – 1887) and his brother are for sale.

Stoer Lighthouse on Stoer Head in Sutherland, Scotland was built in 1870 and whilst the lighthouse itself is just 45-foot tall it sits at a height of 177-foot above sea level. It flashes four white ever fifteen seconds and because of the height of the cliffs on which it sits can be seen 24 miles out at sea. Automated since 1978, it is reportedly visited by 10,000 people each year in spite of its remoteness.

Whilst the lighthouse itself is operated and maintained by the Northern Lighthouse Board, the property offered consists of 1,506 square foot of renovated accommodation that includes a ground floor 2-bedroom flat, a first floor 2-bedroom flat and a bothy. Car parking is provided within a walled area and all three units are currently operated as holiday lets.

Bell Ingram have the listing and seek £371,500 ($478,000, €407,000 or درهم1.8 million) for the whole. They remark: “This is a rare opportunity… [The sale of] Stoer Lighthouse offers the potential purchaser the opportunity to continue the holiday letting business or to convert into a larger home in a stunning and unique location.”

August 15, 2017
Let There Be Light

Two and apartments and a bothy within one of Britain’s remotest lighthouses in Sutherland for sale for £371,500

Two apartments and a bothy that form part of a lighthouse designed by the acclaimed author Robert Louis Stevenson’s (1850 – 1894) designer father Thomas (1818 – 1887) and his brother are for sale.

Stoer Lighthouse on Stoer Head in Sutherland, Scotland was built in 1870 and whilst the lighthouse itself is just 45-foot tall it sits at a height of 177-foot above sea level. It flashes four white ever fifteen seconds and because of the height of the cliffs on which it sits can be seen 24 miles out at sea. Automated since 1978, it is reportedly visited by 10,000 people each year in spite of its remoteness.

Whilst the lighthouse itself is operated and maintained by the Northern Lighthouse Board, the property offered consists of 1,506 square foot of renovated accommodation that includes a ground floor 2-bedroom flat, a first floor 2-bedroom flat and a bothy. Car parking is provided within a walled area and all three units are currently operated as holiday lets.

Bell Ingram have the listing and seek £371,500 ($478,000, €407,000 or درهم1.8 million) for the whole. They remark: “This is a rare opportunity… [The sale of] Stoer Lighthouse offers the potential purchaser the opportunity to continue the holiday letting business or to convert into a larger home in a stunning and unique location.”

August 15, 2017