Sotheby’s Exhibition on Display at Historical Museum

Moscow’s Historical Museum is exhibiting the most expensive lots of the forthcoming auction at Sotheby’s. The exhibition features works by Russian artists and the Impressionists, and the Duchess of Windsor jewelry collection, brought to Russia for the first time.

The 20 showcased jewelry items belonged to Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, and King Edward VIII, the British Monarch who abdicated to marry Simpson in 1937. The entire collection, of this famous couple’s memorabilia is estimated at around £3 million. The most expensive lot is a beautifully ornate ruby, sapphire, emerald, citrine and diamond flamingo brooch made by Cartier in 1940 which is, according to David Bennett, Sotheby’s chairman of jewelery, “one of the most important brooches created in the 20th century.” Other highlight is a Cartier onyx and diamond panther bracelet. The sale will take place in London on Nov. 30.

The key paintings of Impressionist and Early 20th Century Art auctions are also in display at Moscow exhibition. Presented for the public view are about 20 Impressionist works, including Willow by Claude Monet (estimated at $4.5 million and $6.5 million).The gem of the collection is the Portrait of Jeanne Hebuterne by Amedeo Modigliani, one of the first painting dedicated to his lover and muse (est. $12.9 million).

Top Russian works at the exhibition are Indian Fairytale by Alexei Kravchenko (est. $1 million to $1.5 million), Lama by Alexander Yakovlev (est. $500,00 to $700,00), Konstantin Korovin’s painting Flowers over the city (est. $500.000 to $700,000) and Young Girl from the Orient  by Zinaida Serebryakova (est. $400,000 to $600,000). The paintings will go under the hammer on Nov. 30 at Russian Art in London. And before that the works will be demonstrated in New York at The Important Russian Art auction.

The exhibition is opened for visitors from Oct. 21-23.

Like Haute Living Moscow? Join our Facebook page. Want Haute Living Moscow delivered to your in box once a week? Sign up for our newsletter.