Solid as Rock: Trending in Maastricht

From ancient to contemporary art, stone was front and center at TEFAF Maastricht. Also, the story behind the world record bottle of DRC and the scandal-ridden heirs bringing Astor’s watch to auction.

Dear art lovers,

I’m coming to you from spring break, where I’ve been modeling The Appraisal’s new branded caps for subscribers at the founding level of $150 per year. (Don’t fret, existing subscribers can upgrade.)

I conducted an Instagram poll of the two designs, and 61 percent of respondents chose “Museum quality,” and 39 percent chose “Price on request.” Which would you choose?

I’m also excited to share my first byline for the Wall Street Journal last week about the recent art heist at the Magnani-Rocca Foundation outside Parma, Italy.

Now let’s get to today’s edition. Up top I reveal the financial circumstances that brought the world record bottle of 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) to auction at Acker last week. I also report on Asia Week’s success, and announce Dreweatts’ new C.E.O. amidst record sales. Lastly, Freeman’s is selling Gilded Age magnate John Jacob Astor IV’s pocket watch that went down with him on the Titanic at an estimate of $300,000. It comes to auction from the estate of his scandal-shrouded step-grandaughter-in-law, Charlene Marshall.

For the main post I take you to this year’s edition of TEFAF Maastricht. I wrote a short item for Architectural Digest on the Symbolist painting trend, but today I delve into another trend I saw—stone—and explore reasons why collectors are drawn to the primordial material. While roaming the fair I bumped into former auction house colleagues Simon Andrews, Piers Davies, Danie Isaacs, Lucian Simmons, Hannah Solomon, Matthew Stephenson, Liz Sterling, Will Strafford, Toby Usnik, and Caroline Lang, who stepped down as chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland last year after nearly four decades with the auction house. For those who have been curious about her next move, she told me she’s going out on her own.

Okay, now pop some popcorn and settle in for story time.