27.07.2012 0

Monaco: The hammer hit home for Artcurial this week as it enjoyed a successful run of auctions

Royal car sale triumphs

An epic week of auctions in Monaco drew to a close last night, Wednesday 26th July, as an array of cars from the late Prince Rainier III of Monaco's private collection was auctioned, generating impressive sales of over one million euros. Amateur collectors and professionals alike crammed into the auction room and watched as estimates were smashed. One Fiat 500, estimated at between 6,000 and 10,000 euros, was sold for a staggering 21,000 euros. Other cars under the hammer included a 1956 Bentley, which was sold for 47,000 euros, while the highest selling lot of the night was a Mercedes 500 SEC which was auctioned for 94,000 euros.

The late Prince Rainier III of Monaco amongst his prized collection of cars

The sale marked the close of an auction marathon that took place in Monte Carlo. Artcurial hosted a number of luxury watch and jewellery sales, during which a broach by Lalique, estimated at 200,000 euros, was sold for 450,000 euros. Handbags were also under the hammer as the auction house sold 55 handbags, taking more than 1.2 million euros in the process.

Edward Hetherington