Displaying items by tag: selling exhibition

A retrospective of works by Henry Moore opens at London’s Osborne Samuel gallery on Friday, 22 May (until 27 June). The selling exhibition of around 60 pieces was a good two years in the making, according to the gallery’s co-owner, Peter Osborne. He says that its “catalyst” was the previously unseen collection of Moore’s sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Howarth of works given to her in the 1920s and 1930s.

Following Sotheby’s two previous selling exhibitions of Western fine and decorative arts held in 2012 and 2013, the renowned international auction house will mount its third annual “Age of Elegance: European Paintings, Furniture and Sculpture” sale in Beijing on September 7 and 8.

Hosted in the Grand Ballroom of the Kerry Hotel, “Age of Elegance” contains an exquisitely curated selection of 65 items that embody the stellar craftsmanship and extravagantly ornamental tastes of European decorative arts from the rococo period up until the 20th century.

At the very highest end of the scale is Francois Linke’s extraordinary Grand Bureau (US$6 million), a gilt bronze writing desk and chair first shown at the Paris World Expo in 1900 that represents the summit of belle époque splendor.