NEW YORK , United States (AFP) — A statue of Hitler on his knees was auctioned Sunday for $17.2 million, a record for a work by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The wax and resin statue entitled simply “Him” had been expected to fetch between $10 million and $15 million at the auction by Christie’s. The previous record for a work by Cattelan, who is 55, was $7.9 million. In the statue, Hitler is depicted […]
Lifestyle
Google and Honeywell turn down Nest thermostat heat
SAN FRANCISCO , United States (AFP) — Alphabet-owned Google and Honeywell International on Thursday announced a deal to end a patent dispute over technology used in Nest smart thermostats. The companies said in a joint release that a new patent cross-licensing agreement resolves a pending lawsuit. But they did not disclose terms or financial details. “Google and Honeywell believe that this patent accord promotes product innovation and consumer choice in the market for smart home […]
Massive diamond worth $70 mn to go under hammer
NEW YORK , United States (AFP) — A massive diamond valued at more than $70 million will go under the hammer in London next month, the Sotheby’s auction house said Wednesday. Known as “Lesedi la Rona,” it was found nine months ago in Botswana by the Lucara Diamond Corp. “It’s a 1,109-carat diamond,” said David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division said in unveiling it. “This is the largest discovered in over a […]
‘Impossibly rare’ violet diamond found in Australia
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A rare violet diamond, the largest of its kind ever found at Australia’s remote Argyle mine, will be the centerpiece of Rio Tinto’s annual pink diamonds showcase, the company said Tuesday. The rough gem, discovered in August 2015 at a mine where more than 90 percent of the world’s pink and red jewels are produced, originally weighed 9.17 carats and had etchings, pits and crevices. After weeks of assessment, the Argyle […]
Eagle Broadcasting Corporation joins NAB show in Las Vegas
By Caesar Vallejos Eagle News Service online correspondent (EAGLE NEWS) — Eagle Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), the media company that pioneered all-digital broadcasting in the Philippines, is joining delegates from more than 180 countries from every continent at the NAB Show, the world’s largest annual conference and expo for professionals who create, manage and distribute entertainment content across all platforms held from April 16 to 21 in Las Vegas. The National Association of Broadcasters […]
Mona Lisa’s villa up for sale in Italy
One of Tuscany’s most famous villas is up for sale with its owners hoping to be smiling all the way to the bank thanks to its links to the Mona Lisa. The Villa Antinori was once owned by the family of silk merchant Francesco Del Giocondo, whose wife Lisa Gherardini is widely believed to have sat for Leonardo da Vinci’s world-famous portrait. Located in the hills outside Florence, “the villa is priced at over 10 […]
Exquisite jewellery vies for attention of Saudi customers
Jewellery-lovers are gathering in Saudi Arabia for an exhibition that brings the most luxurious designs and prestigious brands under one roof. The four-day “Jewellery Salon” kicked off on Monday (April 18) in Riyadh, where more than 60 exhibitors from 13 countries are showcasing their latest designs to Saudi customers, especially Saudi women. Saudi Arabia is the world‘s fifth largest gold and jewellery market, and Saudi women are the biggest spenders on jewellery in the world, […]
On 400th anniversary, exhibit looks how Shakespeare became “the Bard”
LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (Reuters) – From a dress worn by Vivien Leigh to play Lady Macbeth to a “Hamlet” script owned by famous British actors, a new exhibition explores how William Shakespeare became “the Bard” 400 years after his death. “Shakespeare in Ten Acts” looks at 10 key performances of his works, from the first showing “Hamlet” at the Globe theater around 1600 to a contemporary version of that play in the digital age. The […]
South Korea’s affordable golf drive
SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) – Behind a door bearing the name “Tiger Woods,” 44-year-old Lee Seung-yeop takes a powerful swing of his iron, launching the ball towards a grassy green projected onto a screen in a virtual golf lounge in the Gangnam district of Seoul. “Screen golf is much cheaper than regular golfing when you think of the costs. Sure it might not feel real, but it’s cheap and convenient. That’s why I come here […]
Large vivid pink diamond expected to fetch millions at auction
LONDON, ENGLAND, United Kingdom (Reuters) – A rare, pear-shaped, vivid pink diamond will go under the hammer in Geneva next month, where auctioneers expect it to fetch some $38 million. The “Unique Pink,” described by Sotheby’s as “supremely rare and exceptional,” weighs 15.38 carats. “The Gemological Institute of America, the highest body for grading diamonds, have given this stone their highest possible grading, which is vivid pink,” David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s international jewelry […]
Rare Shakespeare First Folio found on Scottish island
OXFORD, ENGLAND, United Kingdom(Reuters) – A nearly 400-year-old copy of a first edition of William Shakespeare’s collected plays has been found in a vast aristocratic house on the Isle of Bute, off the western coast of Scotland. Published in 1623, the First Folio contains Shakespeare’s 36 plays, including several that had never been published before and might have been lost without it, such as “Macbeth”, “The Tempest” and “As You Like It”. The discovery at […]
Chinese emperor’s seal sells for $11.8 million in Hong Kong
HONG KONG, China (Reuters) – The largest imperial seal used by Chinese emperor Kangxi went under the hammer in Hong Kong on Wednesday (April 6) and fetched $11.8 million. Sotheby’s said an Asian buyer won the bid and that it set the third highest price for any Chinese imperial seal sold at an auction. It added that the price also set a world auction record for a seal carved for Emperor Kangxi, who ruled China […]
