Few artists were more eclectic and mysterious than Andy Warhol. Once his particular style of art started to catch on, Warhol was rewarded with the financial resources to pursue some of his more eccentric projects. One of the things that Warhol did was procure a six-story townhouse in the middle of Manhattan in 1974, and then moved in without ever unpacking his belongings. What made this behavior odd is that Warhol was a reputed collector of anything he could get his hands on that he felt was either valuable or unique. As a result, his collection of unique items sat packed in boxes for years.
After his death in 1987, the administrators of his estate started going through those packed boxes to sell the contents and settle on his final obligations. Finding Jean Emile Puiforcar silver or Pierre Lefrain tables among the contents of packed boxes in most people's homes would be a unique find. But when these kinds of items were unearthed in Andy Warhol's townhouse, it was considered to be par for the course. Also among Warhol's possessions was a gold Cartier Tank Solo watch with a black crocodile strap that wound up being sold in an auction to Kansas City art collector David Stickelbar. When Stickelbar passed away in 2011, his estate was also scheduled to be liquidated. Part of that liquidation will happen in November 2012, and it will include Warhol's watch.
The Cartier Tank Solo watch, brand new, would go for around $2,000 in any retail outlet in the country. Because this particular Tank Solo once belonged to Andy Warhol, and that chain of ownership can be proven, this designer watch is estimated to be worth approximately $2,500. It is doubtful that Warhol paid much more than $1,000 for it when he bought it in the 1970's. But it is the intrigue into his life that has increased the value on this beautiful timepiece.
Aside from the history of its original owner, there is nothing at all special about this Cartier Tank Solo watch. It has no special engraving on it and Warhol, as well as Stickelbar, kept the watch in immaculate shape. Whomever buys the watch will be buying a fine timepiece that looks as luxurious today as it did when it was made in the 1970's. But the chance to own a piece of Andy Warhol's legacy does not come along every day, and that is what makes this auction so very special to collectors.
World of Luxury is glad to offer limited stock of exclusive Andy Warhol Dupont pens.