The Outlaw Collection: Revisiting 80s And 90s Porsche Classics

Discover RM Sotheby’s Outlaw Collection, featuring Magnus Walker’s personal Porsche cars, including rare 911s and Turbos spanning nearly five decades of Porsche history.

This month, RM Sotheby’s spotlights The Outlaw Collection, a live auction dedicated to the personal cars of Magnus Walker — British-born designer, Los Angeles-based customiser, and the figure widely known as the “Urban Outlaw.” Spanning 162 lots and nearly five decades of Porsche production, the sale charts the evolution of both the marque and one of its most recognisable modern interpreters.
From early short-wheelbase 911s to wide-bodied Turbos and the often-overlooked front-engined cars of the 1980s and 1990s, the collection reflects the breadth of Walker’s taste and the depth of his involvement in Porsche culture. The second drop of lots has now concluded, with the final release having taken place on 3 March 2026.
Walker began collecting Porsches in 1992. Over time, he built not only a significant collection — including 911s, 914s, 928s and 944s — but also a distinct visual identity. His “outlaw” style blends 1970s motorsport cues with purposeful, road-driven performance. Louvered engine lids, lightweight components and visible patina are recurring themes. Having founded Serious Clothing, his background in fashion guides much of his aesthetic sensibility, and his global profile expanded significantly following the 2012 documentary Urban Outlaw. Below, we present three handpicked models that capture different eras of Porsche history through Walker’s legendary collection.
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<h2>1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI</h2>
<img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/1976%20Porsche%20911%20Carrera%202.7%20MFI.jpg" width="1000" height="563" loading="lazy" alt="1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;">
At first glance, this 1976 911 appears to be a relatively standard G-series example. In reality, it is one of the rarest production variants of its period. The Carrera 2.7 MFI is powered by the Type 911/83 engine — the same 210-horsepower, Bosch mechanical fuel-injected flat-six found in the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7. Raw and immediate in delivery, it offers sharper throttle response and a more aggressive induction character than the later CIS-equipped cars that followed.
Between 1974 and 1976, Porsche produced 1,633 Carrera 2.7 MFI coupes. For 1976 — as the model was being phased out in favour of the Carrera 3.0-litre — just 113 final examples were assembled. All were sunroof-delete “slick-top” coupes, all fitted with the RS-spec MFI engine, and all reportedly destined for the German market as homologation “Sondermodells” for a racing series that ultimately never materialised. These cars marked the end of mechanical fuel injection in street-legal 911s; after 1976, MFI was reserved exclusively for competition cars such as the 934 ½, 935 and later 911 SC/RS.
Magnus Walker acquired this example in 2009 after identifying its unusual VIN configuration — including a “9” designation linked to homologation models — and verifying its rarity. It is believed to be the 23rd of the 113 Sondermodells produced. According to its accompanying Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, it left the factory finished in Silbermetallic (Z2) over black leatherette, optioned with a radio antenna, front loudspeakers and noise suppression.
Though Walker has added personal touches — including tartan velour bucket seats, a ducktail, Carrera side script and a two-tone hood treatment — the car retains its original numbers-matching engine. Beneath its understated G-series appearance lies one of the final roadgoing examples of Porsche’s race-bred mechanical fuel injection lineage.
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<h2>1976 Porsche 911 Turbo</h2>
<img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/1976%20Porsche%20911%20Turbo.jpg" width="1000" height="563" loading="lazy" alt="1976 Porsche 911 Turbo" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;">
The European-market 3.0-litre 930 Turbo occupies a special place among early forced-induction 911s. Producing 260 horsepower — compared to the 240 horsepower of US-spec cars — it benefits from a different cam profile while retaining the same 3.0-litre engine and four-speed transmission. The result is a slightly more responsive driving character.
Chassis 9306700216 is a Swiss-delivery, sunroof-delete example finished in Minerva Blue Metallic. As a Euro-specification car, it features the smaller bumper overriders absent from US models, contributing to a cleaner visual profile and marginally increased headroom. Originally delivered with a full white leather interior, it now features blue leather and corduroy seats sourced from Walker’s 1978 911 “78SCHR,” introducing a distinctive textural contrast.
Acquired by Walker in 2013, the car reflects his outlaw philosophy. It rides on deep-dished, Fuchs-inspired wheels developed in collaboration with Fifteen52 — the very first set produced in what became his Outlaw Wheel project. The staggered setup (225/50-15 front, 245/45-15 rear) is wrapped in Hoosier R6 tyres. Combined with a lowered ride height, the stance recalls the race-bred Porsche 934.
A semi-custom “Hooligan” exhaust system by RarlyL8 adds a sharper, more pronounced soundtrack, emphasising turbo spool and overrun. The engine remains numbers-matching, as confirmed by Porsche expert Jürgen Barth. Repainted in a close variation of its original Minerva Blue and finished in gold-bronze with black centres, the car balances collectability with unmistakable personality.
As an early Euro-spec 930 Turbo, it is inherently desirable. In Walker’s hands, it became something more individual — positioned at the intersection of performance and style.
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<h2>1966 Porsche 911</h2>
<img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/1966%20Porsche%20911.jpg" width="1000" height="563" loading="lazy" alt="1966 Porsche 911" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;">
Completed in January 1966 and delivered that spring through Porsche Car Pacific of Burlingame, California, this Irish Green 911 represents one of the earliest short-wheelbase examples in Walker’s collection. Its accompanying Kardex lists “B. Wilson” as the original owner, though no further details are recorded.
Walker acquired the car in 2009 following a brief inspection trip to Seattle. It retains its numbers-matching flat-six engine and is currently fitted with an earlier type 901/0 gearbox (number 100717). The car wears a repaint in its factory-correct Irish Green (Irishgrün) over Black leatherette. The original interior, carpets and wood-rimmed steering wheel show authentic, well-preserved patina.
After purchase, Walker replaced non-period Fuchs wheels with grey-coated steel wheels — run without hubcaps — giving the car a purposeful, understated stance. On narrow 70-series tyres, the driving experience remains tactile and engaging, characterised by body roll and feedback that reflect the 911’s early character.
Unlike many of Walker’s more extensively modified cars, this example remains largely unaltered. It has appeared at select cars and coffee gatherings and featured in a 2013 XCAR video but has otherwise remained a long-term fixture in his garage. In his words, it was never “improved” or “butchered,” retaining precisely the patina and character that first drew him to it.
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This month, RM Sotheby’s spotlights The Outlaw Collection, a live auction dedicated to the personal cars of Magnus Walker — British-born designer, Los Angeles-based customiser, and the figure widely known as the “Urban Outlaw.” Spanning 162 lots and nearly five decades of Porsche production, the sale charts the evolution of both the marque and one of its most recognisable modern interpreters.

A Celebration of Contemporary Printmakers with Sotheby’s London

Discover Sotheby’s London Prints & Multiples Auction featuring Warhol, Picasso, Hokusai, and iconic prints driving today’s global art market.

Sotheby’s remains one of the most influential forces in the global art market, consistently presenting high-value works by blue-chip artists from different periods and various private collections. As the art landscape shifts across different mediums year by year, there is always a growing interest in artprints and graphic works, which now regularly feature in marquee sales, reflecting their demand and significant value.
Across previous sales, works by Banksy, Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein exceeded expectations, reaffirming a developing pattern in recent auction cycles. The highest bidding often appears to be concentrated in the mid to upper tiers of the print market, particularly on works that bridge modern art history and contemporary collecting categories. This is where iconic imagery, strong provenance and competitive price points continue to drive demand among both Gen Z art collectors and newer buyers.
<h2><img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/Auction%20Highlight%20Marilyn%20Monroe%20by%20Andy%20Warhol.jpg" width="1000" height="997" loading="lazy" alt="Auction Highlight Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;"> An Auction that Defines the Season</h2>
Often underestimated by the media, prints are becoming increasingly important in the art world, allowing for the reproduction of stunning works while maintaining artistic integrity.
Sotheby’s London spring auction calendar is blooming with events and the Prints &amp; Multiples sale is open for bidders until 25 March. The event is expected to attract competitive bidding throughout every lot, making it an elite and charming affair for this occasion. From striking graphics by contemporary printmakers such as Andy Warhol to celebrated pieces by international artists, including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, the range of works on offer illuminates a graphic timeline of creativity and progress in the Post-Impressionism and Pop movements.
While the sale is led by names such as Picasso and Warhol, other masterworks by Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney and Gerhard Richter also resonate strongly with newer audiences.
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<h2>Sotheby’s and the Rise of Million-Dollar Prints</h2>
Many assume that prints are simply digital reproductions or posters, but that is far from the truth. While some prints are indeed affordable editions of existing artworks, the majority are original creations, made specifically for the print medium and never produced in any other form. Conceived by a master printer working closely with the artist, each print is the result of a process often labour-intensive, demanding precision and a superior level of technical skill to achieve the final image.
Since 2023, the market for these artworks has intensified, with individual prints crossing price thresholds typically associated with unique paintings or sculptures.
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<h3>Pablo Picasso: The Weeping Woman, I (La Femme qui Pleure. I )</h3>
Pablo Picasso's La Femme qui Pleure, I (1937) is a striking etching, aquatint, and drypoint print that sold for approximately $4.6 million in 2014 at Sotheby’s London. While Picasso painted a famous oil-on-canvas version of the Weeping Woman, this specific record is a rare impression
considered one of the most desirable versions of this subject.
The Weeping Woman I depicts one of the central figures from Picasso’s celebrated mural-scale painting Guernica, completed earlier in the same year. Like the painting, the print was created in response to the bombing of the defenceless town of Guernica on 26 April 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. The image is a powerful symbol of the artist’s homeland, torn apart by the conflict, and more broadly, a haunting reflection on the suffering and devastation brought upon by war.
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<h3>Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave</h3>
Few artworks are as instantly recognisable as Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave. The piece translated into history when an early print sold for $2.8 million at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, November 2025, setting a new record for a single impression of this unique work. The final price was reached after an eight-minute bidding war and involved more than 20 bids.
The woodblock print dates back to 1831 and belongs to Hokusai’s celebrated series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. Although thousands were originally produced, only a limited number of early impressions survive today, highly sought-after for their crisp detail and rich blue pigments, and this particular example was a standout for its remarkable state of preservation. Collectors favour early prints because each subsequent re-carving of the woodblocks gradually softened later impressions, leaving the earliest editions visually sharper and more appealing.
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<h2>Auction Highlight: Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol</h2>
In the world of contemporary art prints and pop culture, few names resonate as powerfully as that of Andy Warhol. His work often depicts bold, bright, and repetitive images, perfectly capturing the postwar American consumerist movement and blurring the lines between art and mass production. His most famous prints remain the Marilyn Monroe series created in 1967.
The Marilyn (Feldman &amp; Schellmann II.31) lot represents the highlight of the Prints &amp; Multiples Auction coming to Sotheby’s London this March. The portrait is a screenprint in colours on wove paper, utilising Warhol’s signature silkscreen technique to achieve a specific palette of vibrancy and repetition in warm coral, pink and yellow tones. It stands as a remarkable exploration of fame and beauty at the intersection of pop culture with fine art, reinforcing Monroe’s image as both a sex symbol and a tragic muse.
Warhol once explained his fascination with Monroe by saying, “If you want to know all about Andy Warhol, just look at the surface of my paintings and films…There’s nothing behind it.” Decades later, his words still reflect on the fleeting nature of fame within modern celebrity culture.
While the two never met, the merging of Marilyn and Warhol's art was not just a meeting of icons but rather a fusion that captured the era’s insatiable appetite for celebrity, the thin line between adoration, exploitation and the human fascination with tragedy, which both Warhol and Monroe were not immune to.
Prices for these screenprints vary according to condition and the rarity of the colourway, with previous Sotheby’s auction results ranging from $200,000 to more than $511,000.
As Sotheby’s brings this and other remarkable prints to auction in London, collectors are offered a moment to engage with works that shaped print culture and remain among the most recognisable images in modern art.
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Sotheby’s remains one of the most influential forces in the global art market, consistently presenting high-value works by blue-chip artists from different periods and various private collections. As the art landscape shifts across different mediums year by year, there is always a growing interest in artprints and graphic works, which now regularly feature in marquee sales, reflecting their demand and significant value.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions

Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions: Distinguished Real Estate Lineup for March Collection

Explore Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions March Collection, featuring luxury estates in Jackson Hole, Riviera Nayarit, Bahamas, and the Virgin Islands.

There are countries one will travel through, and others one is eager to absorb, invest in, or settle in, turning their attention to living in new territories as a way of rewriting life’s pace and narrative – less noise, more purpose, less stress, more nature, less pollution, more sustained wellbeing.

This spring, Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions sets the stage for new landmark sales as auction results continue to disrupt the real estate market. The March Collection presents a distinguished lineup of best-in-class residential offerings spanning the Bahamas, Mexico, the United States and beyond, located in the most desirable geographies across the continent. This particular home segment – and nature-oriented properties – reflect a deeply embedded lifestyle preference that increasingly resonates internationally, where value is not solely financial, but rather experiential.
<h2><img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/02_Pine_Siskin_Road_-_Luxury_Real_Estate_-_Concierge_Auctions%20(1).jpg" width="1000" height="749" loading="lazy" alt="02_Pine_Siskin_Road_-_Luxury_Real_Estate_-_Concierge_Auctions (1)" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;"> Auction with The Best</h2>
Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions rests on both an expansive base of buyers globally, as well as a portfolio of super prime real estate homes listed at extraordinary price points, making it the preferred platform for brokers and investors. Not only do they have the largest footprint of any real estate auction marketplace, owning over 80% of the luxury auction sphere, but they’re also backed by one of the most valuable Ultra High Net Worth private client lists in the industry.
Thanks to this unique approach and innovative technology, Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions continues to lead the luxury real estate auction market, providing clients with experiences that combine speed, discretion, and extraordinary results.
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<h2>The Lineup of Properties</h2>
<h3>Jackson Hole, Wyoming, US</h3>
Package Listed for $21.395M 
990 Pine Siskin Road: Listed for $9.95M 
1100 Pine Siskin Road: Listed for $11.4M
This is the kind of offering that defines a market cycle – a once-in-a-generation, 80± acre legacy property located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming’s Stonecrop neighbourhood. It can be bought as a package or as two individual 40-acre parcels at 990 and 1100 W. Pine Siskin Road. The property commands fantastic views of the Grand Teton, the sweeping Teton Range and the valley below, and remains one of the most significant private offerings to come to auction in recent years.
At 1100 Pine Siskin, the land lies pristine and open, a remarkable canvas for a future estate, shaped entirely to the owner’s vision. Next door, 990 Pine Siskin provides immediate comfort with a beautifully renovated two-bedroom, two-bathroom caretaker’s residence, offering turnkey accommodation while other long-term plans take shape. Acreage of this scale, privacy and proximity to both Amangani and Grand Teton National Park is seldom available.
With Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks on the doorstep, days unfold with hiking, fly fishing on the Snake River, wildlife encounters and arresting alpine vistas – all within reach of a quietly sophisticated mountain community.
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<h3>Riviera Nayarit, Mexico</h3>
Listed for $32M
Set high above the Pacific in a dramatic clifftop jungle setting, Villa 14 is a striking architectural statement conceived by Studio Rick Joy. It measures approximately 10,451 square feet, with seven bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and three powder rooms. The residence unfolds as a series of serene, Zen-inspired pavilions connected by open walkways and sheltered courtyards.
Warm timber ceilings, natural stone floors and bespoke millwork create a calm elegance, while floor-to-ceiling glass walls dissolve the boundary between interior and landscape. Clean, minimalist lines are softened by artisan décor that honours Mexican heritage, and custom furnishings complete a home that feels both curated and deeply personal. Hidden garden enclaves and perfect indoor-outdoor flow further complement the setting.
Outside, an infinity-edge pool takes centre stage against the ocean horizon, while expansive terraces, private outdoor showers and multiple entertaining areas overlook a commanding stretch of coastline. Ownership here is not simply about buying a home, but about stepping into a rarefied coastal life shaped by privacy, beauty and lasting value.
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<h3>Freeport and Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas</h3>
Listed for $13.5M
Blue Marlin Cove Resort &amp; Marina occupies a prime stretch of oceanfront on the western tip of Grand Bahama Island, just 68 nautical miles from Palm Beach. Set across approximately 4.1 acres, this is a rare opportunity to acquire not only a 30-unit resort – with 20 condominiums currently available – but also a freehold marina, with added development potential in one single holding. The marina comprises 30 slips, including 20 offered within the sale, with deep-water access accommodating vessels up to 100 feet. This is a natural haven for serious anglers, with some of the world’s finest blue marlin, tuna, dolphin and bonefish fishing minutes away.
The resort itself offers 22,673 square feet of furnished accommodation, totalling 40 bedrooms with 40 full and 40 half bathrooms. Each unit measures from 1,100 to 1,360 square feet, with open-plan living, granite worktops, tiled floors, walk-in wardrobes and integrated laundry. A pool with jacuzzi, tiki bar and restaurant, outdoor kitchen and on-site management office also support this rare offering.
With multiple revenue streams and four additional freehold parcels for expansion, Blue Marlin Cove presents both immediate income and long-term vision in equal measure.
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<h3>Christiansted, Saint Croix, Virgin Islands, US</h3>
Listed for $11.65M
A truly singular historic compound rising above the heart of Christiansted, this property commands a hilltop position with superb views across the town’s red roofs and the harbour beyond. Spanning 22,766 square feet of refined interior space across multiple storied buildings, and set within 2.06 acres of landscaped grounds, this landmark estate offers both scale and versatility under rare R-4 live/work zoning.
Rooted in Danish West Indian architectural tradition, the property balances heritage character with modern luxury finishes. High ceilings and generous glazing flood the interiors with natural light, framing panoramic views at every turn. With 15 bedrooms or offices and 12 bathrooms, the configuration is adaptable and easily suited to an exceptional private residence, boutique hospitality venture, creative campus, or mixed-use commercial set-up. The principal residence at 58 Hill Street extends to 8,873 square feet over three levels, all serviced by an elevator. The East Building, a connected three-storey structure of 5,118 square feet, currently accommodates offices, a conference room, a kitchen and private parking, yet could easily transition to residential or hospitality use. At 2 Hill Street, a 5,338-square-foot two-storey residence incorporates two charming one-bedroom cottages arranged around a central courtyard, while 3 Hill Street offers 3,437 square feet of fully renovated office space with reception, conference room and bullpen layout.
The landscaped grounds provide ample vantage points for entertaining or quiet retreat, all within easy walking distance of Christiansted’s historic waterfront and amenities.
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There are countries one will travel through, and others one is eager to absorb, invest in, or settle in, turning their attention to living in new territories as a way of rewriting life’s pace and narrative – less noise, more purpose, less stress, more nature, less pollution, more sustained wellbeing.

Daniel Hourdé at Sotheby’s Paris

Daniel Hourdé’s dreamlike sculptures and rare tribal art collection go on view and auction at Sotheby’s Paris in February 2026.

French sculptor Daniel Hourdé’s artworks rest somewhere between worlds of dream and nightmare, with human-scale expressionistic pieces that reveal his mastery of both technique and human anatomy. Entirely devoted to his artistic practice, Hourdé, together with Sotheby’s Paris, will now offer art lovers and collectors a rare opportunity to discover these treasures that the artist has patiently gathered over time.
The remarkable collection – assembled by Daniel Hourdé – is brought to auction on 25 February 2026, with a prior exhibition open to the public from 19 to 24 February 2026. The exhibition is also a chance for visitors to discover a unique setting: the artist’s studio, whose atmosphere will be recreated for a few days at Sotheby’s Paris.
A collector, dealer and leading figure in the field of early African and Oceanic art for more than forty years, Daniel Hourdé has been living and breathing art all his life and is now ready to pass it on to those who share his vision.
<h2><img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/sothebys%20auction%20UK%20Feb.jpg" width="1000" height="229" loading="lazy" alt="sothebys auction UK Feb" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;"> A Selection of Major Works</h2>
Sotheby’s auction will include some of Hourdé’s major works, from African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian art to archaeological objects, Asian and religious art, as well as antique furniture. These are symbolic pieces that speak to the oneiric dimension of man's relationship with the world, remarkable for their ability to capture the kinetic energy of bodies moving and the enduring dialogue between humanity and the sacred.
One of the most significant entries is an exceptional Egyptian mummy mask dating from the 21st and 22nd Dynasties, followed by other notable pieces from New Ireland, several Kota reliquary figures from Gabon, a Māori prow figure, and a rare Kwakiutl mask from British Columbia. The highest record price achieved for the artist at auction since 2019 was 74,500 EUR for a piece titled Arbre, sold in 2023.
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<h2>The Masterful Sculptor</h2>
At the age of 20, Hourdé studied painting and drawing at the École des Beaux-Arts of Grenoble and Paris, and since the 80s, he has mainly devoted himself to sculpture, bending classical form to his own will and language to create pieces that feel rooted in today’s mythology. Working in steel, bronze and gold, he uses each material to lend substance and give body and soul to his characters. He also expresses himself through drawing and installations, with an absolute freedom in his works about the human body, which is portrayed simultaneously as both tragic and playful.
His technique reveals an almost surgical understanding of human anatomy. The figures he creates are monumental and athletic, yet he disrupts that classical reference with playful details and flashes of pop culture, with the aim of pushing boundaries. His recurring motifs are: skeletons, the Cross and crown of thorns, the Fall and Redemption, and the medieval imagery of the dances of death from the Middle Ages. His characters appear caught mid-action, suspended in an existential moment that quietly asks the viewer to consider the vanity and mortality of the world.
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<h2>Auction Highlights</h2>
An Egyptian Polychrome Wood Mummy Mask, 21st/22nd Dynasty, 1075-716 B.C.
125,000 - 175,000 EUR
Carved in a fine-grained hardwood, from the lid of an inner coffin, this impressive mask has oval face, inlaid eyes, with outlined lips deeply rounded at the corners, a straight nose and long eyebrows. The inlay of the eye is made of blue and white glass with recessed pupils painted in black, making this piece a singular entry and the most anticipated one to lead the sale.
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Malagan Figure, New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea
80,000 - 120,000 EUR
While many Malagan figures represent powerful male presences, this one clearly shows a kneeling woman. This piece is a typical example of the quality of carving and pigments found in objects from the 1880-1890 period. Her pronounced ribs give the body a taut appearance, while a wide loincloth falls from her elongated arms hang down in deliberate symmetry. The legs are slender, almost abstract in their simplicity and her head crowned with a distinctive conical coiffure, worn by women in New Ireland as protection from rain. 
This form does occasionally appear on male figures, including those once associated with Maurice de Vlaminck and another now held in the Field Museum in Chicago. Across the entire surface, geometric painted motifs animate the sculpture, reinforcing its ritual intensity and visual power.
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Le Roi las
45,000 - 50,000 EUR
Le Roi las sculpture was executed in 2020, in bronze and painted steel. A bilbilcal story lies at the heart of this piece, but the interpretations belong just as much to personal mythologies. The theme here is both the ascent to Paradise and the descent into Hell. Le Roi las (The Weary King) is saturated with tension, and the crown represents its first disruption. The anatomy of this figure is almost forensic in clarity – the ribs and stretch of muscle across the torso are so visible, pointing to Hourdé’s impressive understanding of the human body. Yet, the irony in contrast is what makes this piece so profoundly dramatic: the body is athletic, powerful, but visibly strained. The ribs protrude. The head tilts. The posture suggests the burden of power and possibly the weight of expectation in a world where authority becomes futile.
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<h2>Final Thought</h2>
Daniel Hourdé lives and works in Paris. His sculptures have been exhibited around the world, in notable venues such as the Pont des Arts at the French National Assembly in Paris and the Museo de la Cancillería in Mexico City. His art carries influences from classical mythology, contemporary social issues, and different cultures, drawing inspiration from the human form to create pieces that speak to movement, emotion and are rich in texture and detail.
Daniel Hourdé has earned a distinct place in contemporary sculpture. His masterpieces are recognised not only for their technical precision, but for the emotional charge they carry. There is weight in his figures, both physical and psychological, and it is precisely that balance between skill and symbolism that gives his art staying power.
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French sculptor Daniel Hourdé’s artworks rest somewhere between worlds of dream and nightmare, with human-scale expressionistic pieces that reveal his mastery of both technique and human anatomy. Entirely devoted to his artistic practice, Hourdé, together with Sotheby’s Paris, will now offer art lovers and collectors a rare opportunity to discover these treasures that the artist has patiently gathered over time.

sothebys-glow-glamour-luxury-pop-up-salon-in-hong-kong

Sotheby’s Glow & Glamour Luxury Pop-Up Salon in Hong Kong

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Glow & Glamour sale showcases rare Hermès, F.P. Journe, Cartier and fine jewellery in a curated luxury pop-up.

As Sotheby’s continues to redefine beauty through its exceptional offerings, the upcoming Luxury Pop-Up Glow &amp; Glamour sale at the Hong Kong Salon will be a timeless celebration of artistry and elegance. Running until 13 March 2026, the exhibition presents a carefully assembled selection of handbags, fine jewellery and exceptional watches. The event is created for collectors who value substance and singular pieces, with lots including Hermès, F.P. Journe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, and Cartier addition to a superb collection of fine jewellery.
Over the past year, the Maison has mostly concentrated on solo art exhibitions, where masters such as Henry Moore, Auguste Rodin and Giuseppe Castiglione had a strong presence, especially during Hong Kong Art Week, where private sales continued steadily behind the scenes. Similarly, the Glow &amp; Glamour event reflects that same approach, with a focus anchored in lasting value underscoring the depth of regional collecting.
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<h2><img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/Sotheby%E2%80%99s%20Glow%20&amp;%20Glamour%20Luxury%20Pop-Up%20Salon%20in%20Hong%20Kong.jpg" width="1000" height="444" loading="lazy" alt="Sotheby’s Glow &amp; Glamour Luxury Pop-Up Salon in Hong Kong" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;"> The Watch Collection</h2>
At the highest level of watchmaking, progress has always been driven by purpose. The evolution of the wristwatch was never solely decorative but shaped by necessity. Collectors demanded precision, authority and technical ingenuity, and the industry responded. Innovation in complications, materials and movement followed a philosophy grounded in functionality. Few independent watchmakers reflect that discipline more clearly than F.P. Journe. The house has perfected the art of watchmaking, balancing mechanical advancement with a distinct design language that is recognisable at a glance. F.P.Journe produces all its movements in 18K rose Gold, a first in the watch world and a defining feature of the brand.
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<h2>F.P. Journe Quantième Perpétuel Rose Gold</h2>
Offered at 182,400 USD, this timepiece is a natural successor to the Octa Calendrier. Introduced in 2012 in 40mm and 42mm cases, in platinum or pink gold, the model refines the perpetual calendar into something tangible and elegant. The example on display at Sotheby’s Salon, Hong Kong, pairs a clean silvered dial with a pink gold case, a refined combination that demonstrates how high complications can remain wearable and elegant.
Material has also played a quiet but significant role in the brand’s success. The decision to produce key references in gold ensured controlled accessibility while keeping supply deliberately tight. Demand has consistently outweighed availability, and today, many pieces regularly achieve over 200,000 USD in private sales and at auction. 
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<h2>F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance Platinum</h2>
At the more technical end, the F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance (circa 2008), priced at 470,600 USD, demonstrates why resonance remains one of modern horology’s most respected complications. Among the first to successfully harness the resonance effect in a wristwatch, F.P. Journe gave collectors something genuinely original. The platinum case and white gold dial house a movement upgraded to pink gold, replacing earlier brass constructions. It is as eccentric as it is deeply subtle. Visually distinctive and mechanically serious, for collectors, it remains one of the defining pieces of independent watchmaking.
The exceptional F.P.Journe high horology creations have spanned decades, showing an exceptional watch pedigree that has granted the maison the “Watch of the Year” distinction throughout the world, in places like Japan, the United States and Switzerland. Fair to say that the rise in luxury watch trading in the last few decades owes a lot to the foresight and marketing of this particular timepiece.
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<h2>Cartier Panthère Secrète de Cartier</h2>
Alongside F.P. Journe, the salon presents important pieces from Cartier, Audemars Piguet and Rolex. The arrival of Cartier arguably changed how watches were perceived – they became cultural symbols, markers of wealth, taste and status. A standout piece in a yellow gold diamond and onyx-set quartz wristwatch from circa 2013 – priced at 63,800 USD – the Cartier Panthère Secrète de Cartier (Reference WG500131) is designed as a sculptural panther head with Roman numerals and blued steel hands, crafted in 18K yellow gold. Its ultra-flexible structure echoes the movement of Cartier’s emblematic animal and often takes centre stage in the brand’s jewellery narrative.
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<h2>Van Cleef &amp; Arpels Alhambra Diamond Watch</h2>
Also featured is a white gold diamond-set quartz wristwatch by Van Cleef &amp; Arpels (circa 2020), priced at 26,400 USD. Bearing the maison’s signature Alhambra motif, it performs as both bracelet and watch. This duality reflects a broader shift in buyers’perception of timepieces, as wearable art with undisputed value. The Alhambra collection was first created in 1968 and was inspired by the four-leaf clover, which became a symbol of good luck.
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<h2>Handbags and Jewellery</h2>
The handbag selection is led by Hermès, including the Vert Amande Togo Kelly 25 Retourne with gold hardware (2022), offered at 24,000 USD. Lined in tonal Chèvre leather and complete with strap, clochette, lock, keys and original accessories, it reflects the brand’s impeccable standards. The bag’s Vert Amande shade sits somewhere between soft grey and muted green, distinctive, polished and highly wearable. The surface has a subtle sheen with a fine crosshatch grain pressed into the leather, giving it both texture and strength, while the gold hardware adds warmth, lifting the cooler tone and bringing the whole piece into balance.
Hermès jewellery is also strongly represented with the Diamond Kelly Bracelet set with baguette diamonds, where the house’s design language is more evident than ever, with clean lines and a sense of balance and proportion that avoids excess.
From Bulgari, the ‘Serpenti Misteriosi’ ruby and diamond bracelet watch brings a different energy into play, with bold, sculptural, and unmistakably Roman character that sits in sharp contrast with the restrained codes of Hermès. It is designed as a coiled serpent, with the head set in brilliant-cut diamonds and carved carnelian eyes, highlighted with circular-cut ruby scales. 
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<h2>Final Note</h2>
Over the last two centuries, Sotheby's has built an iconic brand globally recognised for its prestige and distinction in the realm of the world’s most sought-after collectables. In a market that often feels saturated, the Glow &amp; Glamour Luxury Pop-Up is predicated on selection, with rare pieces that sit at the intersection of design, art and heritage.
The handbags, jewellery and watches on display have been chosen for their relevance and condition, but also for what they represent within the wider luxury market. For collectors in Hong Kong and beyond, this is not simply a retail moment but an opportunity to acquire objects backed by the expertise and global reach of the auction house.
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As Sotheby’s continues to redefine beauty through its exceptional offerings, the upcoming Luxury Pop-Up Glow &amp; Glamour sale at the Hong Kong Salon will be a timeless celebration of artistry and elegance. Running until 13 March 2026, the exhibition presents a carefully assembled selection of handbags, fine jewellery and exceptional watches. The event is created for collectors who value substance and singular pieces, with lots including Hermès, F.P. Journe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, and Cartier addition to a superb collection of fine jewellery.

Landmark Sale on Saadiyat Island Closed by Abu Dhabi Sotheby’s International Realty

Abu Dhabi sets a new luxury benchmark with a AED 200M Four Seasons Saadiyat penthouse sale, highlighting surging demand for ultra-prime residences.

Four Seasons Private Residences on Saadiyat Beach is a stylish iteration of an iconic branded development and is emblematic of Abu Dhabi’s growth in the luxury branded residence space. Further underlining that growth is a recent record-breaking transaction completed by Abu Dhabi Sotheby’s International Realty. The sale of a five-bedroom penthouse for AED 200 million is a marker of prestige for both the Four Seasons and Sotheby’s brands, and reflects the surging demand for ultra-luxury properties in the emirate.
The landmark transaction, which closed at an impressive AED 14,000 per square foot, represents more than just another high-value sale - it is a statement about Abu Dhabi's evolving position in the global luxury real estate landscape and the growing appetite among ultra-high-net-worth individuals for exclusive residences in the capital.
<img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/BR%20BeachElevation%20Close%20Up%2001.jpg" width="1000" height="563" loading="lazy" alt="BR BeachElevation Close Up 01" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;">
<h2 style="background-color: #ffffff;">The Perfect Property</h2>
The record-breaking sale took place at the <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/project/four-seasons-abu-dhabi-saadiyat-island/" rel="noopener">Four Seasons Private Residences</a>, a development by ALAIN that perfectly encapsulates Abu Dhabi's luxury living proposition. Located on Saadiyat Beach, the project seamlessly blends the <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/the-journal/four-seasons-most-elevated-hospitality-brand/" rel="noopener">Four Seasons brand's world-renowned hospitality standards</a> with Saadiyat Island's well-earned reputation as Abu Dhabi's most coveted address.
Saadiyat Island has emerged as the cultural heart of Abu Dhabi, home to architectural masterpieces like the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. This unique combination of cultural sophistication, pristine beaches, and exclusive residential offerings creates an environment that appeals to global ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking more than just a property—they're investing in a lifestyle defined by exclusivity, world-class service, and exceptional experiences.
The Four Seasons Private Residences deliver exactly that proposition, offering residents access to the legendary Four Seasons service standards while enjoying the privacy and space of a luxury home. It's this marriage of branded hospitality excellence with residential living that's proving particularly attractive to international buyers.
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<h2 style="background-color: #ffffff;">Leadership with Vision</h2>
<a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/agent/leigh-borg/" rel="noopener">Leigh Borg</a>, recently appointed as Managing Director of <a href="https://abudhabi-sothebysrealty.ae/en" rel="noopener">Abu Dhabi Sotheby's International Realty</a>, was responsible for closing the transaction. It was a prime example of leading from the front and precursor for what to expect over the remainder of the year. Borg also serves as Executive Director at <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/" rel="noopener">Dubai Sotheby's International Realty</a> and boasts over seventeen years of experience handling super-prime properties across the UAE's most prestigious locations, including <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/community-guides/dubai/emirates-hills/" rel="noopener">Emirates Hills</a>, <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/community-guides/dubai/palm-jumeirah/" rel="noopener">Palm Jumeirah</a>, and Abu Dhabi itself.
"Abu Dhabi is a market that has been gradually building itself up over the past few years as a hub of both culture and capital," Borg said. "We were keen to tap into that potential when the time was right, and as the emirate takes bolder steps forward with the development of iconic institutions such as the Natural History Museum and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, there really is no time like the present. The transactional activity we have witnessed lately, especially in the Four Seasons Saadiyat project, highlights the strength of that decision."
Borg's extensive experience in the luxury segment positions him ideally to navigate Abu Dhabi's unique market dynamics and cater to the sophisticated clientele that Sotheby's attracts.
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<h2 style="background-color: #ffffff;">A Strategic Expansion</h2>
Sotheby’s International Realty formally entered the Abu Dhabi Market at the end of 2025 with the aim of establishing its presence and complementing its Dubai operations across 2026. This stage of the firm’s expansion comes at a pivotal moment for both the brokerage and the city. Headquartered at the iconic Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi Sotheby's International Realty represents the next chapter in the firm's ambitious regional expansion strategy. The brokerage has dominated Dubai's prime and super-prime sectors for over twelve years, establishing itself as the go-to name for discerning buyers seeking exceptional properties. In more recent years, the UK and Saudi Arabia were folded into the brokerage’s umbrella under the far-reaching vision of Chairman and CEO George Azar. Abu Dhabi is the latest addition to that illustrious portfolio.
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<h2 style="background-color: #ffffff;">A Market on the Rise</h2>
The timing of Sotheby's entry couldn't be better. According to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC), the capital has recorded AED 92 billion worth of transactions so far in 2025 - a staggering 200% increase over the past five years. This explosive growth is being driven by an influx of wealthy investors attracted to Abu Dhabi's stability, cultural depth, and strategic connectivity.
These numbers represent a fundamental shift in how global investors view Abu Dhabi. The emirate has successfully positioned itself as a safe haven for capital, offering political stability, tax advantages, and a government committed to long-term planning and infrastructure development. Combined with its cultural offerings and quality of life, Abu Dhabi presents a compelling value proposition that's resonating with ultra-high-net-worth individuals worldwide.
George Azar, Chairman and CEO of Sotheby's International Realty in the UAE, UK, and KSA, captured this sentiment perfectly: "Abu Dhabi is now stepping into the global spotlight. With visionary government planning, strong infrastructure, and cultural depth, the city is ready for its next phase of growth. This transaction at Four Seasons Private Residences sets the tone for what's to come in Abu Dhabi's prime and super-prime real estate market."
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<h2 style="background-color: #ffffff;">Looking Ahead</h2>
As Abu Dhabi continues its transformation, with major cultural projects coming online and infrastructure investments creating better connectivity, the demand for ultra-luxury residences is only expected to intensify.
Sotheby's International Realty's entry into this market brings international credibility, marketing reach, and expertise in handling ultra-prime transactions that will benefit both buyers and sellers. For sellers, it means access to Sotheby's global network of ultra-high-net-worth clients. For buyers, it means professional representation and access to the finest properties the market has to offer.
The latest in what is a series of successful sales at <a href="https://abudhabi-sothebysrealty.ae/en/project/four-seasons-private-residences-saadiyat-island" rel="noopener">Four Seasons Private Residences at Saadiyat Island</a> demonstrates that Abu Dhabi has firmly arrived as a major player in the global luxury real estate market, standing shoulder to shoulder with established destinations like London, New York, and Hong Kong. With Sotheby's now planted firmly in the market and record-breaking sales setting new benchmarks, Abu Dhabi's super-prime sector appears poised for sustained growth in the years ahead.
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Four Seasons Private Residences on Saadiyat Beach is a stylish iteration of an iconic branded development and is emblematic of Abu Dhabi’s growth in the luxury branded residence space. Further underlining that growth is a recent record-breaking transaction completed by Abu Dhabi Sotheby’s International Realty. The sale of a five-bedroom penthouse for AED 200 million is a marker of prestige for both the Four Seasons and Sotheby’s brands, and reflects the surging demand for ultra-luxury properties in the emirate.

exceptional-supercars-from-2020s-rm-sothebys-miami-auction

Exceptional Supercars from the 2020s Headline the RM Sotheby’s Miami Auction

ModaMiami returns with RM Sotheby’s auction, showcasing rare vintage cars and standout 2020s supercars from Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin.

The third edition of ModaMiami returns this month in a weekend-long celebration of automotive excellence. Conceived as a unique collaboration between the Sotheby’s auction house and RM Sotheby’s, the event had an exhilarating debut and has already become a seasonal mainstay. While the cars are the main draw, there is much more to enjoy over the course of four days, from fine dining and live entertainment to design showcases. ModaMiami will be hosted once again at the Biltmore Coral Gables, building on the successes of its previous iterations to deliver a truly showstopping lineup of experiences, capped off by the highly anticipated RM Sotheby’s auction.
Up for bid are some truly beautiful and unique vintage automobiles from several private collections, alongside a selection of modern supercars including models from earlier this decade. Hhighlighting the best of modern engineering and technological design, here are our picks for the most exciting 2020s supercars at the Miami sale.
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<h2>2023 Ferrari 812 Competizione A</h2>
<img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/Exceptional%20Supercars%20from%20the%202020s%20Headline%20the%20RM%20Sotheby%E2%80%99s%20Miami%20Auction.jpg" width="1000" height="563" loading="lazy" alt="Exceptional Supercars from the 2020s Headline the RM Sotheby’s Miami Auction" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;">
The open-air naturally-aspirated V12 is perhaps most emblematic of the Ferrari experience and models with that particular configuration have become standard bearers for the brand. One of the newest and most electrifying examples of that is the 812 Competizione A - short for Aperta or ‘open’. Fittingly, this was conceived as the open-top variant of the popular 812 Competizione, reconfiguring the chassis and the car’s aerodynamics to enhance performance. It also boasts what was considered to be the marque’s most powerful naturally-aspirated V12 to date, delivering an impressive 819 horsepower and an acceleration of 0 to 62mph in a mere 2.,85 seconds.
Carbon fibre features extensively across the body, including a removable roof. The car is finished in signature Rosso Corsa with an Argento Nürburgring racing stripe over Rosso and Nero Alcantara interiors. Spacious racing seats are beautifully embroidered and showcase the iconic Prancing Horse as well as the Italian flag. Additional carbon fibre elements can be found inside, along with a high-power audio system and Apple CarPlay.
Adding to the exclusivity of the model is its limited production run, with only 599 examples reportedly produced and sold strictly by invitation to a handpicked group of Ferrari’s top clients. At the time of cataloguing, the consigned vehicle had recorded only 80 miles. Offered with its original window sticker, a car cover and other accessories, this is a fantastic representation of the latest chapter in Ferrari history.
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<h2>2020 McLaren Speedtail</h2>
<img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/2020%20McLaren%20Speedtail.jpg" width="1000" height="563" loading="lazy" alt="2020 McLaren Speedtail" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;">
Seen as the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1, the Speedtail features many of the same key elements - a three-seat configuration with a central driver position, a lightweight composite body, and performance that exceeded benchmarks. As its name suggests, the Speedtail was designed to achieve maximum speed, reportedly topping out at 250 mph. In further homage to the F1, only 106 examples were produced, giving it an edge of rarity that instantly elevates any collection.
The lightweight carbon fibre body, supported by both titanium and aluminium alloy components, is pulled into an aerodynamic ‘teardrop’ shape. Due to its central steering position, the car offers a wholly unique experience for the driver and a panoramic view unobstructed by the edges of the frame. Where its divergence from the F1 becomes truly evident is in the technological components, including retractable cameras in place of side mirrors. 
The consigned car is Number 36 out of the 106 produced, featuring a suite of bespoke upgrades totalling more than $170,000 (£137,711). This includes its exterior finish, a custom MSO Heritage Atlantic Blue with pinstripe detailing to match the wheel colour. Satin Visual Carbon Fibre is used across both the body and the interior, elegantly accenting the look. The dashboard and the seats are trimmed in vintage tan Anline leather, perfectly contrasting the outer finish and giving the car some additional visual pop. 
Only two owners thus far have had the privilege of including this Speedtail in their collection, and the car is almost like new with only 216 miles recorded. All of the other models were sold to selected customers, making this a truly rare find for any future owner. The lot is under a ‘show or display’ exemption, so transfer of ownership will need to be approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); dealerships cannot take ownership of the vehicle.
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<h2>2020 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Continuation</h2>
<img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/2020%20Aston%20Martin%20DB4%20GT%20Zagato%20Continuation.jpg" width="1000" height="563" loading="lazy" alt="2020 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Continuation" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;">
Introduced in 1958, the Aston Martin DB4 proved to be so popular that the marque decided to produce a short-wheelbase version for the racetrack, which would be dubbed the DB4 GT. The racer was unveiled in 1959 and was limited to a run of just 75 cars.
Shortly after, Aston Martin turned to renowned coachbuilder Zagato to help create an enhanced form of the DB4 GT which would, in effect, be the ultimate DB model. What Zagato delivered was a new icon which would forever cement its place in Aston Martin’s illustrious history, with a sleek body fronted by an aggressively pronounced front grille. There was more than aesthetic appeal to this car, which had a lighter body than its predecessors and produced an additional 12 horsepower.
Nearly 50 years later, the legend would resurface under Aston Martin Works, formed to maintain and restore classic models. The Works division launched the DB4 GT Continuation project, which led to the development of an extremely limited 19 examples of the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation in 2019. These cars were made using all-new parts which were interchangeable with the classic DB4 GT models. 
This chassis, finished in an earthy combination of Sage Green with Light Tan leather interiors, was delivered to its original owner in late 2019. Though designed to Continuation specs, its aesthetic deliberately resembles the classic version. It has been maintained in pristine condition with a mere 58 miles recorded on the odometer. As a limited-edition vehicle celebrating an iconic racing legacy, the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation is an essential acquisition for any collector, whether or not they have any specific attachment to the marque. 
&nbsp;
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The third edition of ModaMiami returns this month in a weekend-long celebration of automotive excellence. Conceived as a unique collaboration between the Sotheby’s auction house and RM Sotheby’s, the event had an exhilarating debut and has already become a seasonal mainstay. While the cars are the main draw, there is much more to enjoy over the course of four days, from fine dining and live entertainment to design showcases. ModaMiami will be hosted once again at the Biltmore Coral Gables, building on the successes of its previous iterations to deliver a truly showstopping lineup of experiences, capped off by the highly anticipated RM Sotheby’s auction.

New Pricing Benchmark Set in Emirates Hills with Record Sale

Emirates Hills sets a new pricing benchmark as a record AED 233.5 million villa sale achieves the highest price per square foot in the community’s history.

Emirates Hills is a name that carries tremendous prestige and remains a marker for exclusivity in Dubai’s super prime market. In the concluding weeks of 2025, the community hit a new milestone - the highest price per square foot for a villa sale. The sale in question was a six-bedroom home that closed for AED 233.5 million, which equated to roughly AED 8,000 per square foot, the most significant ever recorded in the community.
<img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/significant%20sale%20blog%20uae.jpg" width="1000" height="667" loading="lazy" alt="significant sale blog uae" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;">
<h2>Grand in Scale, Discreet in Nature</h2>
The property at the heart of this sale is a fully renovated 29,000 square foot mansion that exemplifies contemporary luxury. This six-bedroom home was brought to life through a collaboration between a private British developer and a local contractor, with every detail reflecting the premium craftsmanship and considered design expected in one of Dubai's most exclusive addresses.
Apart from its expansive living spaces and grand bedroom suites, the mansion contains several bespoke features centred on leisure and wellness, including a private wine cellar, spa, and cinema. This is a turnkey property, ticking one of the most important boxes for Dubai home buyers who value immediate liveability.
Further details about the property and the sale itself are being kept confidential, in keeping with the high levels of discretion associated with Dubai’s super prime residential enclaves and the buyers and sellers that operate therein.
The transaction was closed by <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/agent/leigh-borg/" rel="noopener">Leigh Borg</a>, Executive Partner at <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/" rel="noopener">Dubai Sotheby's International Realty</a> and a recognised expert in <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/community-guides/dubai/emirates-hills/" rel="noopener">Emirates Hills</a>. This was Borg’s 11th sale within the community in 2025, underscoring both his knowledge of that market and the immense demand that Emirates Hills continues to experience. Though more than 20 years old and surrounded by newer luxury neighbourhoods, it remains unchallenged as an address of true distinction.
&nbsp;
<h2>A Shifting Super Prime Market</h2>
Taking a closer look at some of the recent data around Emirates Hills, the numbers tell a compelling story. The community recorded AED 2.9 billion in total sales across 2025, reflecting a 20.8% increase in transaction value year-on-year, despite 17.6% fewer properties changing hands.
This shift reveals a clear market dynamic: fewer transactions, but a significantly higher concentration of ultra-prime, big-ticket sales. It's a trend that speaks to the evolving sophistication of Dubai's super-prime segment. Buyers are more discerning than ever before, seeking out homes that are turnkey and priced just right.
Against this backdrop, the recent AED 233.5 million transaction stands apart. At AED 8,000 per square foot, the villa sits 40.3% above the community average for the year, setting a completely new benchmark for Emirates Hills.
&nbsp;
<h2>What This Means for Dubai's Super-Prime Segment</h2>
Transactions at this level are underscored by the level of work that goes behind the scenes. They are the combined result of deep market knowledge, strategic positioning, and the ability to connect the right properties with the right buyers. This sale demonstrates the precision that Dubai’s super prime segment demands, where the understanding of nuanced buyer expectations and market dynamics is essential.
The transaction also reflects a broader evolution in <a href="https://sothebysrealty.ae/buy/dubai/property-for-sale/" rel="noopener">Dubai's high-end real estate</a> landscape. Emirates Hills has long been synonymous with prestige, but the current market is increasingly defined by exceptional, fully finished residences that combine architectural distinction with long-term value. Today's ultra-high-net-worth buyers are seeking a home that represents something more enduring, serving as a legacy for generations to come. They’re not necessarily evaluating factors such as price per square foot when making a buying decision, which makes a result like this even more remarkable.
&nbsp;
<h2>A Year of Exceptional Performance</h2>
This game-changing sale follows a standout year for Leigh Borg, who closed a total of 11 high-value transactions over the period. The transaction ranks among the top three highest sales in Emirates Hills over the past year, accounting for nearly a third of the community’s total sales value. Those three sales were also among the top five of the year overall.
&nbsp;
<h2>Looking Ahead</h2>
While the sale clearly demonstrates the resilience and global appeal of Dubai's elite property sector, it also further cements Dubai Sotheby's International Realty's leadership in the super-prime segment, particularly within the region's most prestigious communities.
With limited inventory and growing international demand, Emirates Hills continues to outperform broader market trends. This landmark transaction is more than a record, it's a signal of where Dubai's ultra-high-value real estate market is heading, and a redefinition of what it means to own one of Dubai's most coveted homes.
&nbsp;
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Emirates Hills is a name that carries tremendous prestige and remains a marker for exclusivity in Dubai’s super prime market. In the concluding weeks of 2025, the community hit a new milestone - the highest price per square foot for a villa sale. The sale in question was a six-bedroom home that closed for AED 233.5 million, which equated to roughly AED 8,000 per square foot, the most significant ever recorded in the community.

Sotheby’s Origins II Returns to Riyadh

Sotheby’s Origins II returns to Riyadh in January 2026 with a landmark live auction showcasing Saudi, regional and international masterpieces, including Picasso.

Marking the next step in Sotheby’s continued and long-term commitment to the Gulf region, the auction house returns to Riyadh for the second iteration of the Origins II sale, with a live auction on 31st January.
Following the resounding success of last year’s inaugural auction in Saudi Arabia in February 2025, Origins II picks up where the first Origins left off, continuing its journey into the Middle East and renewing its cultural mandate for yet another year. Cementing its foothold in the Kingdom as a unique platform for the sale of museum-worthy and historically important pieces of art, Sotheby’s remains dedicated to providing international visibility for the region, while supporting its growing art ecosystem. Origins II is building on last year’s landmark event, contributing to this cultural movement with significant artworks that usually soar past their presale estimates, to hammer down for record-breaking figures.
The auction is held alongside the opening of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale and also coincides with the debut of Art Basel Doha in February, marking their first-ever fair in the Middle East. Prior to the auction, all items from Origins II will be on display in a public exhibition at Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace from 24 to 31 January, in a week-long celebration of art and culture.
<img src="https://146414699.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/146414699/sothebys%20origin%202.jpg" width="1000" height="621" loading="lazy" alt="sothebys origin 2" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%; width: 1000px;">
<h2>Setting the Bar High for Fine Art in The Kingdom</h2>
When a symbolic event requires a symbolic setting, Diriyah more than fits the occasion.
The City of Earth and the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Diriyah is the historic home of the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site and the host of this year’s Origins II.
The sale will feature Sotheby’s global offerings for new and seasoned collectors, with a remarkable curation of Middle Eastern and international artists represented at the auction by a variety of artwork and objects – past and present.
The quality and range of the art on offer is expected to perform magnificently and set new records along the way, affirming the high level of interest present in the Saudi Arabian art market. The sale will take in some of the most important Saudi artists of the past century, alongside monumental international names such as Pablo Picasso, in a vibrant display of Modern and Contemporary Art, with over 70 pieces on show. The auction also unites artworks and objects from across a variety of collecting categories, including Ancient Sculpture, 20th-Century Design and Prints, Middle Eastern art, Latin American and South Asian art.
&nbsp;
<h2>Headline Lots</h2>
<h3>Safeya Binzagr: Coffee Shop in Madina Road (1968, oil on board, estimate. $150,000-200,000)</h3>
Safeya Binzagr, one of Saudi Arabia's pioneering artists, is represented at Origins II with a significant painting depicting the rich heritage of her country. Commenting on her 1968 exhibition, she stated: “After finding that the most admired paintings were those depicting desert and everyday life in Saudi Arabia, I decided to use my brush to record the changing traditions and social customs in my country”.
Born in Jeddah, Safeya was deeply influenced by local cultural heritage and set off across Saudi territories to capture the depth of its traditions, customs, and dress. In 2017, she was awarded the prestigious King Salman bin Abdulaziz Medal for her lifelong contribution to preserving Saudi identity through art.
&nbsp;
<h3>Mahmoud Sabri: Demonstration (1968 oil on canvas, estimate. $400,000-500,000)</h3>
Iraqi artist Mahmoud Sabr represents a celebrated figure in the Iraqi art movement and was the leader of the Government’s first Iraqi Art Exhibitions Department. A rare masterwork, Demonstration reaffirms the artist’s powerful visual language that combines Christian imagery with strong social-realist components to render a highly charged scene of female mourners. Funerary imagery and martyrdom are recurrent themes traversing his works, used to highlight the suffering and plight of the Iraqi people.
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<h3>Pablo Picasso: Paysage (1965, oil and Ripolin on cardboard, estimate. $2,000,000-3,000,000)</h3>
A Premium Lot, Paysage is the most anticipated piece headlining the Origins II sale and represents the most compelling expression of Picasso’s late engagement with landscape. Rooted in the hills surrounding Mougins, the painting is symbolic of a moment in which geography becomes inseparable from identity, and the natural world serves as a vehicle for inner projection.
In Paysage, the Massif de l’Esterel is not captured as a distant view but as something deeply personal, shaped by the artist’s own physical presence and emotional state. In contrast to Picasso’s early 1940s landscapes, marked by the muted tones of wartime Paris, his works from the 1950s and 1960s are alive with colour. Rich hues are used with confidence, turning the landscape into an extension of the self – a place where memory, emotion and geography merge into a personal visual language. 
<h2>Sotheby’s Kinship with The Kingdom</h2>
Riyadh reveals a city of many layers. Great destinations in Riyadh, like Diriyah, don’t negotiate art and culture over luxury – they harmonise them. It was Diriyah’s cultural authenticity that sat at the heart of Sotheby’s placemaking and the company did well when deciding to undertake the mandate of official incorporation in Saudi Arabia at the end of 2025. The first-ever auction by Sotheby’s in Diriyah generated $17.3 million, with around a third of the buyers hailing from the Kingdom. It also signalled a new era for the 280-year-old auction house as it launched its newest premises in the thriving city of Riyadh. Sotheby’s courtship of the Saudi Arabian art market concluded in 2023 with the opening of its new office in the capital, inside the Al Faisaliah Tower – a landmark designed by Norman Foster and well-known for being the first skyscraper built in the country.
&nbsp;
<h2>Final Thought</h2>
Saudi Arabia is in the midst of a profound cultural renaissance, with the arts and creative expression playing a central role in the Kingdom’s future. Sotheby’s decision to establish a permanent presence will be transformative for the region and entirely in synergy with the government’s programme Vision 2030, which places cultural growth and social diversity at its core. The Riyadh base marks a meaningful step, creating a platform where heritage, creativity, and contemporary luxury not only coexist but complement eachother. Through exhibitions, experiences, and dialogue, Sotheby’s will contribute to a broader cultural conversation, bringing the auction house’s values and expertise into one of the Kingdom’s most culturally significant settings.
&nbsp;
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Marking the next step in Sotheby’s continued and long-term commitment to the Gulf region, the auction house returns to Riyadh for the second iteration of the Origins II sale, with a live auction on 31st January.

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