Journal

Marcus Atkinson, DipWSET Head of Fine Wines & Whiskies marcus@webbs.co.nz +64 27 929 5601

Marshell Wan Specialist, Fine Wines & Whiskies marshell@webbs.co.nz +64 22 061 5612 Webb’s is thrilled to announce the exceptional sale of the Gordon & MacPhail bottling of 72yo Glen Grant 1948 (Cask #440). The bottle achieved the incredible price of $89,625 when it was offered in the September Fine Wines & Rare Whiskies live auction.

The sale of the 72yo Glen Grant 1948 from Speyside saw intense bidding competition, resulting in a new record for a bottle of whisky at auction in New Zealand. Webb’s previous record was for a Laphroaig Distillery D. Johnston and Co 80°Proof, circa 1940s, which sold for $42,660. The incredible price realised was well deserved for such a rare cask. It was distilled in 1948 by Glen Grant and stored with Gordon & MacPhail until its bottling in 2020. Gordon & MacPhail is a distillery owner and an independent bottler of Scottish whisky, famous for its richly diverse range of bottlings from some of the most notable distilleries in Scotland. Their range extends to several hundred expressions from around 70 different distilleries, including Glenlivet, Glenrothes and Talisker. The company gained global attention in recent years by releasing two 70-year-old single malts, one from Mortlach in 2010, another from Glenlivet in 2012 and a scarce few in 2020.

With impeccable provenance, this bottle was flown directly from Gordon & McPhail in Scotland to us at Webb’s, complete with a certificate of authenticity. This bottle was number 55 of just 290 produced. It is the 5th oldest bottling of whisky in the world, matured and watched closely by three generations of the Gordon & MacPhail family.

Presented in a beautiful custom-made crystal decanter and displayed in a hand-made box, the 72yo Glen Grant 1948 is truly an exceptional whisky to behold. So much so that Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible awarded it World’s Best Single Malt and the World’s Best Single Cask in 2022. On the nose, the whisky has aromas of Christmas cake moistened with oloroso Sherry, with a tantalising burnt base. The palate initially presents a sultry, sweet taste and finishes with a tannic, dry kick. There is a surprising punch of spice, whispers of espresso and deep dark chocolate.

The Fine Wines & Rare Whiskies live auction achieved a sales total of $650,000. Webb’s are at the forefront of the market for fine beverages. If you are interested in bringing your incredible whisky bottlings to market, please contact our specialist team.

Setting the global standard for opulence, Louis Vuitton is one of the longest-standing luxury brands in the world. It is the kingpin of LVHM Möet Hennessy Louis Vuitton — a conglomerate of 75 luxury houses that cover all of the designer favourites from Dior to Fendi, Givenchy to Bulgari.

From humble beginnings, founder Louis Vuitton grew up in rural France and famously walked over 450kms to Paris to establish a career. The bags that Vuitton created were developed to support an increasing travel market. Amid industrialisation, transportation was evolving rapidly, creating a demand for durable, sturdy luggage pieces. After completing an apprenticeship as a box maker, Louis Vuitton established himself and his bespoke atelier for luggage making, releasing his first design in 1858. The Trianon Trunk was outfitted with a grey canvas. It was flat, stackable and water-resistant, allowing for convenient stowage. Into the late 1880s, Louis Vuitton designs became a status symbol, one glamorous and worthy of counterfeit. Ingenious locking systems were developed that made picking impossible, which are still used today.

George Vuitton became the fashion house head after his father’s passing in 1892. The exterior print of the bags was updated in honour of his father’s legacy with a signature LV monogram with quatrefoils and flowers. Now unmistakable, the monogram has become a global phenomenon.

Compact and streamlined pieces broke into the market in the 20th century. Keeping up with the demands of the elite as opposed to the masses, Louis Vuitton released the Alma in 1955 after successfully creating a beloved dome-shaped handbag for Chanel in 1925. This was adapted for everyday use and paved the way for an expanded product line that included the Keepall, Speedy and Noe. Many pieces were cast in popular colours, as well as the beige and brown monogram tones of the house.

The contemporary brand has sourced the greatest designers and artistic minds to revolutionise the namesake pieces. Designers Marc Jacobs and Stephen Sprouse, alongside internationally revered artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, and Takashi Murakami, have all contributed. More recently, Louis Vuitton appointed Nicolas Ghesquière, the previous creative director of Balenciaga, who challenged the house’s classic conventions by introducing edginess and vibrancy. The brand was impacted further by the appointment of the founder of Off-White and the first black African American artistic director of a French luxury fashion house in 2018, Virgil Abloh. The contrast of Alboh’s streetwear aesthetic with Louis Vuitton’s traditional product lines meant a new wave of design was cemented into the fashion psyche that caters to the younger market.

The brand’s ability to evolve while maintaining unwavering quality means Louis Vuitton will preserve its position as a status symbol and the pinnacle of luxury. The empire is built on craftsmanship, ingenuity and versatility sustained throughout rapidly changing trends. Webb’s Fine Jewels, Watches and Luxury Accessories department offers the familiarity and trustworthy products of Louis Vuitton in our live, online and buy now sales.

Recent sales of Louis Vuitton bags sold at auction have exceeded their estimates, demonstrating desirability for coveted pieces. Monograms continue to be popular. A monogram canvas Pegase 45 piece of rolling luggage realised a price $3,406, the Monogram Neverfull MM Bag sold for $3,286 and a Monogram Pallas Raisin BB Bag achieved $2,270.

If you are considering bringing your Louis Vuitton luxury accessories to market, now is a fantastic time to do so. Please contact our specialist team for an obligationfree appraisal.

Christine Power AJP (GIA) Head of Fine Jewels, Watches & Luxury Accessories christinep@webbs.co.nz +64 27 929 5607

Jess Mackenzie Specialist, Fine Jewels, Watches & Luxury Accessories jess@webbs.co.nz +64 22 096 5610

Cameron Millar Specialist, Decorative Arts cameron@webbs.co.nz +64 27 222 9104

Karen Dunsmore Administrator, The Estate theestate@webbs.co.nz +64 9 529 5605 In recent years, sustainability has become increasingly important to consumers worldwide. As a term, sustainability can be applied to a number of different aspects of the local and global economy, referring to direct carbon emissions, industrial by-products and waste management, and the carbon footprint of the entire supply chain of a product. For many people, considerations of sustainability is a significant factor in purchasing decisions.

When it comes to furniture and home décor, questions around sustainability primarily relate to the materials used in manufacture. Metals, timber, paper, cotton, leather, and synthetic fabrics are all used in the production of furniture and decorative products. While there is a trend towards more sustainable practices in sourcing and using such resources, the manufacture of new products inevitably effects the environment.

Purchasing used furniture and goods is a more eco-friendly option than buying new, regardless of how sustainably the new option has been produced. Such purchases extend the lifespan of an item, and make the most of the environmental footprint that it has already created. The Estate at Webb’s makes stylish, used furniture and decorative goods available to collectors and home decorators on all budgets. People love to furnish their homes and work spaces, and that isn’t about to change. Though by purchasing goods through The Estate, buyers are giving pieces a new lease of life.

The Estate offers a widely diverse range of items, ensuring that clients can find something to suit their own tastes and personality. Mid-century and contemporary furniture, antiques, artworks, posters and more are all available on a fortnightly basis. With buyers recycling and repurposing used items, these auctions run on an ethos of sustainability.

With The Estate now a mainstay of Webb’s auction calendar, there are always opportunities to pick up new, sustainable treasures for your home or office — sometimes, at amazing bargain prices. The fortnightly auctions close on Tuesdays, with viewing open on the Friday, Saturday, and Monday beforehand. If you are looking to buy or sell quality home décor and design goods with minimal environmental impact, get in touch with the specialist team at Webb’s.

Charles Ninow Director of Art charles@webbs.co.nz +64 21 053 6504

Adrienne (AD) Schierning Head of Art ad@webbs.co.nz +64 027 929 5609 With the Bank of New Zealand Art Collection, Webb’s made auction history. Total sales across Part I, Part II, and Part III of the collection realised more than $15.3 million, making the Bank of New Zealand Art Collection the highest value single vendor art collection ever sold at auction in New Zealand.

This incredible result came on the back of two eradefining live auctions: Part I on 18 September and Part II on 27 September, followed by the online Part III, which closed on 3 October. Part I set a scarcely believable flurry of price records, including the highest price for an artwork ever achieved at auction in New Zealand. That honour belonged to Colin McCahon’s extraordinary 1982 work, Is there anything of which one can say look this is new?, which sold for $2.45 million. Tony Fomison’s The Fugitive realised the second highest price of the auction at $1.86 million, completely eclipsing the previous record for a work by Fomison — $516,500, set by Webb’s in late 2020. In total, all-time price records were set for 14 artists and the auction was a white glove sale, with all 50 lots selling on the day. The marathon evening sale of Part II followed a similar pattern to the phenomenally successful Part I. More than 150 lots were on offer, and they were met with vigorously competitive bidding. Many of the artworks realised prices that considerably exceeded their pre-auction estimates, in some cases, 3-4 times the high estimate.

The highest price from Part II was achieved for Ian Scott’s Asymmetrical Lattice No 2, which sold for $73,455. Other standouts included Dick Frizzell’s Look, which found a buyer at $48,970, and a magnificent suite of five paintings by Joanna Margaret Paul — all of which sold for well over their high estimates. Colin McCahon’s 1957 lithograph set, Van Gogh – Poems by John Caselberg Plates I-V sold for $45,900 setting a record price for print works by McCahon in the process.

Part III presented a selection of paintings, prints, works on paper, and ceramic objects. Buyer interest remained very strong, and the items were snapped up by keen-eyed collectors who were looking to secure a work from this famous collection. Total sales came to $162,000 — well above the high estimate for Part III. This cemented the single-vendor record, already set during the Part II live auction.

With the extraordinary success of the BNZ campaign, Webb’s has raised the bar for art auctions in New Zealand once again. We are leading and defining the market for New Zealand art, and we have unparalleled client reach. If you are considering bringing your cultural assets to market, get in touch with our team of specialists. We would love to hear from you.