Salcedo Auctions, the premiere auction house in the Philippines, welcomed guests to their new
Flagship headquarters at the NEX Tower on Ayala Avenue, with Paradise Found a tropical, eden-themed cocktail event. This vernissage gave patrons and guests the opportunity to preview the works of art included in its inaugural auction event on June 1st, 2019 at 2pm. The online catalogue is available at salcedoauctions.com.
Paradise Found was chosen as a fitting theme for the inaugural auction as it alluded to the end of a long search for the company’s new home on Ayala Avenue in the heart of Makati City no less. In addition to the new address, the concept of paradise also encompasses many of the artworks chosen for this sale. “Much of Philippine art, draws from the rich natural and cultural resources of our land. From animals and fauna et flora to the customs and beliefs of the Filipino people, the country is a deep well of inspiration for generations of artists,” explains Salcedo Auctions director Richie Lerma. “The collection is as much a celebration of an idyllic way of life and the purity of the land as it is a strong reminder of the dangers that await if we do not protect what we have been blessed with. The latter point exquisitely expressed in Rodel Tapaya’s 2011 APB Foundation Signature Art Prize winning work ‘Baston ni Kabunian, Bilang pero di Mabilang,’ which is part of an extensive collection of contemporary Philippine art from an important Asian collection that also includes exemplary pieces by Jose John Santos III, Buen Calubayan, Jigger Cruz, Geraldine Javier, Leslie de Chavez, Alfredo Esquillo, and Winner Jumalon.
Amongst the major highlights of the sale are Félix Resurrección Hidalgo’s ‘Rooftop in Paris’ ( ca. 1890s, oil on canvas), Jorge Pineda’s depiction of a rice field before the harvest (1929, oil on canvas). Lao Lianben’s ‘Man of Few Words (2008, acrylic on canvas) is a more meditative take on paradise executed in gold and silver. Also featured are Juvenal Sansó’s ‘Blooms in Poetry,’ a rare acrylic with a solid yellow background; and pieces by Fabian dela Rosa and Danilo Dalena, Solomon Saprid, and National Artists Napoleon Abueva and Arturo Luz.
Rare antique furniture will also be a part of the auction, including a 19th century, full size, all-kamagong wardrobe cabinet. It is widely believed that only a handful exist today, mostly in museums and private collections. Influenced by the style of Neo-Classicism and master English carpenter Thomas Chippendale, the design and excellent craftsmanship justifiably glorify the beauty and rarity of the tiger kamagong wood used to create this stunning piece.
There is also an exquisite dark kamagong – narra escritorio with chest of drawers decorated with brass carrying-handles and ornate, beautifully carved Corinthian columns on the sides — features rarely seen in this type of dual-purpose writing desk and chest combination. The Neoclassical design elements evoke an old world, genteel profile that stands out in any room it is placed. It is the best example to have come out into the market in the recent past.
Gracing the sale are pieces formerly from the renowned antique furniture collection of Romy and Nini Jorge, including a 19th century Hepplewhite-style Baliuag altar table in kamagong with narra and lanite inlays and silver mounts, an 18th century solid ivory Mother & Child, and a pair of magnificent late 18th century molave altar pillars from Bohol.
No paradise would be complete without sumptuous jewelry and valuable timepieces including an impressive collection of Patek Philippe, ranging from a fine and rare Annual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5960P, Annual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5960/1A-001, and a highly coveted Complications World Time Ref. 5230G-001 to a very rare Annual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5905P-010 which remains in its factory seal. Encompassing all the delicacy and beauty of paradise are finely wrought jewelry pieces in the Buccellati style including a dazzling 3.25 ct diamond and emerald butterfly brooch set in yellow gold, an emerald, ruby, and floral parure set in white, rose and yellow gold, and a stately diamond brooch set in yellow gold. Also included is a dramatic pair of 2.55 tcw diamond earrings set in rose gold and a pair of Chopard ‘Happy Spirit’ earrings and necklace set in rose gold.
The event on June 1, 2019 drew in a diverse crowd of collectors, experts in the field, philanthropists, society page fixtures, and media. The entrance leading to Salcedo Auction’s new space was lushly decorated by Lanai Manila, with a tropical canopy that transported guests from the urban jungle of Makati into the Eden-inspired venue. A Filipino-inspired reimagination of Italian painter Archimboldo’s signature artwork greeted guests as they made their way from the ground level to the podium floor, which Salcedo Auction fully occupies. Guests roamed through the different sections of the Paradise Found exhibition space, discussing the pieces as they sipped specialty, themed cocktails from Chivas Regal and Run Rabbit Run, two of the sponsors for the evening. The Peninsula, a constant collaborator of Salcedo Auctions, also provided an impressive spread by Old Manila’s Chef Allan Briones. Adding to this festive night were delicious grazing tables and culinary offerings by more of the house’s industry friends: Private Dining by Happy Ongpauco-Tiu, Aleth’s Kitchen by Aleth Ocampo, Grace Baja, and Ange dela Cruz’s The Sweet Life by Ange.
The event was hosted by Metro Channel host Joey Mead King, who guided guests through the evening’s festivities and artwork highlights. Aside from the pieces up for auction, the evening also served as the launch of Salcedo Private View’s (a sub-brand under Salcedo Auctions) new exhibit “Roberto Chabet: Early Works & Ephemera,” featuring newly unearthed sketches, notes, and other treasures from a private collection in New York. This exhibit runs until June 29, 2019.
Salcedo Auctions is the anchor tenant of the newly inaugurated Skidmore, Owings, & Merril (SOM) designed NEX Tower. Salcedo Auctions has now doubled its current office and exhibition space as it occupies almost 689 square meters on the podium level with exclusive access from the ground level via private elevator. The space will be accessible through its own entrance on Ayala Avenue and the building’s secondary point of entry on Dela Rosa Access Road
Salcedo Auctions will be holding the Paradise Found Auction event on June 1, 2019 at the NEW Salcedo Auctions Showroom Ground & Podium Levels, NEX Tower, 6786 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The online catalogue is available at www.salcedoauctions.com, with a public preview at the Podium Level of the NEX Tower daily: 10am-6pm from Saturday, 25 May until Friday 31 May.
For inquiries, email info@salcedoauctions.com or phone +632 659.4094 | 823.0956 | 0917 894.6550. Follow @salcedoauctions on Facebook and Instagram
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