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Collectables

January

Bored Ape #2177, owned by Australian gambling blogger Steve and worth – according to him – about $5 million.

NFTs flounder despite crypto resurgence

2024 was the worst year for the non-fungible token market since 2020. Sales fell almost 20 per cent, despite a cryptocurrency rebound.

  • Tess Bennett

October 2024

1. Original vintage lithographic poster by Walter Jardine. RefCL135-8.Price $3,300. 2. Original vintage lithographic poster by Walter Jardine. Poster for Orient Line Tropic Cruises. Fiji, Rabaul, Noumea, Papua, c1930s. Rwf- CL135-6.Price $2,600. 3. Original vintage lithographic poster by Dudley Hardy. Ref Item #CL193-4Price (AUD): $2,950.

How the parents of Baby Boomers were enticed to cruise

A rare collection of vintage posters reflects an era when travel was a voyage into the unknown.

  • Dan F Stapleton

September 2024

Gabriel Roure with the Nike Air Yeezy Red Octobers he sold for $45,000.

An Australian billionaire paid $45,000 for these sneakers

Sneakers, handbags, watches, number plates, sports cars. If you like nice things, and to signal your success to the world, there are clever ways to invest to ensure your assets keep gaining value.

  • Michelle Bowes

August 2024

Ultra-luxe pyjamas, Wedgwood dog bowls and other unexpected delights

Elevate the everyday with our selection of household items and wardrobe staples given an extra-special twist.  

  • Eugenie Kelly

July 2024

Langton’s head of auctions Michael Anderson.

Langtons eyes $1m sales from vintage Champagne auction

The Australian fine wine marketplace is partnering with expert Tyson Stelzer to offer rare European and wartime vintages.

  • Carrie LaFrenz
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Jimmy Harvey is a fashion designer and collector of Mambo T-shirts and prints.

Why Millennials will pay $1000 for your old shirts

Forty years after the launch of Mambo, young Australians are again obsessed with the brand.

  • Lucy Dean

March 2024

Don Bradman (with foot on running board) was given a red Chevrolet with the number plate 1114 to mark Australia’s win in the 1930 Ashes Test.

Is Don Bradman’s number plate really worth $200k?

NSW is selling more historic licence plates but the Don’s isn’t the most expensive one on offer.

  • Elizabeth Fortescue

February 2024

Watch collector

How to pass on a prized collection to your kids

Precious collections of art, furniture, wine and watches are increasingly part of inheritances. What’s the best way to pass on these assets?

  • Bianca Hartge-Hazelman

January 2024

Melbourne Art Foundation chief executive Maree Di Pasquale pictured at the Sullivan + Strumf Gallery.

Collectors and wannabes take note: Melbourne Art Fair is where it’s at

A total reboot of the 35-year-old fair is on track to attracting the big money away from its behemoth NSW counterpart, Sydney Contemporary

  • Dan F. Stapleton

December 2023

The writer, in the driver’s seat, puts the $US1.85 million 300SL through its paces on the Cabrillo Highway.

Tony Davis reveals his best drive of 2023

Our motoring writer tested dozens of cars on all kinds of routes during the year, but nothing beat driving two Benz classics along the California coast.

  • Tony Davis
Land Rover Defender

Collecting classic cars for fun - and profit

Most cars will depreciate over time, but keen investors know that certain models will always buck that trend.

  • Nina Hendy

November 2023

John Brack’s Wig Shop Window, 1970.

Why you need to be in the room at auctions

How would-be buyers missed their chance to purchase works at Deutscher and Hackett’s final sale of the year when they failed to hear their phones.

  • Elizabeth Fortescue
A small part of Danny Adamopoulos’ extensive model train collection.

This Sydney exec’s collectables are worth a deposit on a house

Orbic executive vice-president Danny Adamopoulos has been collecting model trains for almost 35 years – the track layout is so large it occupies his garage.

  • Life & Leisure
Cora Sheibani wears a Cyclops Eye Ring from her Eyes collection.

The Swiss jeweller upending the entire industry

Cora Sheibani grew up surrounded by art (and artists including Basquiat and Warhol). It’s no wonder her output is both idiosyncratic and highly collectable.

  • Lauren Sams

October 2023

Got a spare $5m? How to renovate your Paris apartment

You think your reno is tricky? Try doing up a heritage pad in the 4th Arrondissement in lockdown. From Melbourne.

  • Michael Bleby
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Ferrari 250 GTO auction

Why this rare Ferrari is considered a true work of art

It could fetch $100 million or more at auction in New York next month. And no, we’re not talking car auctions here.

  • Tony Davis

September 2023

 Patek Philippe Reference 96 Quantieme Lune, once belonging to Aisin-Gioro Puyi, the last Emperor of the Qing dynasty.

What makes a man tick?

A watch is no longer a necessity, but the booming industry in new and used timepieces indicates deeper male psychologies are at play.

  • Horacio Silva

August 2023

Priced at $US260,000, the Grand Seiko Masterpiece SBGD213J is for discerning collectors.

Get a private viewing of a rare masterpiece watch

Seiko’s Spring Drive movement will be dissected at the About Time watch fair, while a rare, bejewelled Masterpiece model will be available to drool over.

  • Bani McSpedden

July 2023

Alessi reimagined corkscrews and kettles. Now it’s turning to chairs

Alberto Alessi lifts the lid on the storied design company’s move into furniture, its “most beautiful fiasco” and his unpublished murder mystery.

  • Luke Slattery

June 2023

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Treasure or tainted? Experts split on value of Roberts-Smith VC

Court findings against the decorated war veteran could take a million-dollar shine off his prestigious award.

  • Duncan Hughes

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/collectables-1ms1