The number of arts students has plunged in the past decade
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The gifts, from the foundation of the late trustee Aso O. Tavitian, will allow the Massachusetts museum to build a new wing
Works in the artist’s show at the New York institution include a video installation in which he narrates a story of racially motivated violence told by his father against images of the actor Al Jonson in blackface
BY ALBERT CHEN
The collection of famed Irish musician Rory Gallagher reached an extraordinary milestone at Bonhams New Bond Street auction house this October, where every item offered was sold. Leading the sale was Gallagher’s legendary 1961 Fender Stratocaster, which fetched a remarkable £889,400 ($1,156,793). The guitar, which Gallagher famously purchased for £100 on credit from Crowley’s Music Store in Cork in 1963, has become an icon in rock history for its worn look and unmistakable sound.
The auction, a 94-lot live sale comprising guitars, amplifiers, and accessories from the late musician’s life and career, achieved a total of £2.3 million. The items came directly from the Gallagher family, and the collection was made available to the public for viewing for the first time before the auction took place.
The sale has drawn an enthusiastic international response, with fans and collectors from around the world attending both the exhibition and the auction. Bonhams’ Head of Popular Culture, Claire Tole-Moir, shared her excitement about the success, saying, “This was a truly amazing sale, and we are absolutely delighted with the response. We had a queue to enter the saleroom on the day, and people flew in from all around the world to see the exhibition. Rory Gallagher was a true inspiration to many, and we would like to thank the Gallagher family for entrusting us with this collection.”
Gallagher’s brother and former manager, Dónal Gallagher, also expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response. “We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and respect shown towards Rory and his incredible legacy,” he said. “Though it was a difficult decision to part with this collection, I am grateful that these treasured instruments can now tour the globe as Rory did, spreading his music and memory. We are also delighted that Rory’s 1961 Strat will be returning to Ireland, where it can be shared with his fans for generations to come.”
In addition to the famed Stratocaster, other highlights of the auction included Gallagher’s 1958 Fender Stratocaster “Backup Strat,” which sold for £127,400, a 1968 Martin D-35 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar that went for £102,000, and a 1959 Fender Esquire Electric Guitar, which fetched £95,650. A rare 1930 National Triolian Resonator Guitar also sold for £95,650, while a 1966 Fender Telecaster Electric Guitar went for £82,950.
Rory Gallagher’s legacy was captured by music writer Neil McCormick in the Autumn edition of Bonhams Magazine, saying, “He was one of the all-time great blues rock guitarists, with an aggressive yet lyrical touch that made the instrument burn under his fingers. He wrote songs that expressed his wonder and mystery at the world, and he sang them with growling power.”
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Story submitted by Bonhams. The World Art News (WAN) is not liable for the content of this publication. All statements and views expressed herein are opinions only. Act at your own risk. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. © The World Art News
The post Rory Gallagher’s Legendary 1961 Fender Stratocaster Sells for Over $1.15 Million, Returns to Ireland appeared first on World Art News.
Rachida Dati has framed the potential move as a means of protecting French heritage sites, yet it has been met with opposition from the Catholic church
The new space's inaugural show is dedicated to the pioneering Cuban artist Belkis Ayón
The 47-year-old gallery has made a big move Downtown—to street level—and launched its new space with a sprawling show of works by 50 artists
Plus, some all-American nostalgia and a classic Dorothy Bohm photograph
A content creator's positive post has led to a massive uptick in the gallery's footfall
BY ALBERT CHEN
In a landmark auction event, a medallion featuring the original mold used in Alexander Fleming’s groundbreaking discovery of penicillin sold for a record $76,000 at Bonhams History of Science and Technology sale in New York on October 23. The medallion, one of a select few made by Fleming himself, was inscribed with the words: “The mould that first made penicillin / Alexander Fleming.”
This sale set a new auction record for a Fleming mold medallion, surpassing a previous sale of a similar medallion in 2016, which sold for $46,000
The medallion was one of several created by Fleming as tokens of his discovery, a breakthrough that would change the course of modern medicine. Most of these medallions were gifted to prominent figures of the time, such as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.
According to Darren Sutherland, Bonhams’ Senior Specialist of Fine Books and Manuscripts, “Fleming’s discovery of penicillin changed the course of human history—furnishing medicine with the ability to completely cure many diseases and infections. As part of one of the most important medical advancements, which has saved an incalculable number of lives, it’s no wonder that this sample of Fleming’s wonder drug attracted global interest and set a new record.”
The Discovery That Changed Medicine Forever
The story of penicillin began in 1928 when Alexander Fleming, a Scottish bacteriologist, accidentally discovered the antibiotic properties of mold. After returning from a vacation, Fleming noticed that a petri dish in his laboratory, which he had left out, had developed a mold that killed surrounding bacteria. This mold, later identified as Penicillium notatum, was found to secrete a substance that inhibited the growth of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause serious infections in humans. Fleming named this substance “penicillin,” setting the stage for what would become one of the most significant medical discoveries of the 20th century.
Fleming’s initial work laid the foundation, but it would take over a decade before penicillin could be effectively used in medical treatments. Fleming, while convinced of penicillin’s potential, faced challenges in isolating and producing the drug in large quantities. It wasn’t until World War II, when the urgent need for effective treatments for infected wounds became paramount, that a team of scientists, including Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain, succeeded in developing a method to mass-produce penicillin. With funding from the U.S. and British governments, these efforts transformed penicillin into a drug capable of treating soldiers on the frontlines and patients around the world.
A Legacy of Life-Saving Impact
The widespread use of penicillin changed the face of medicine, ushering in the age of antibiotics and saving countless lives. Penicillin enabled doctors to treat infections that were once deadly, including pneumonia, scarlet fever, and sepsis. This breakthrough has since paved the way for the development of other antibiotics, transforming healthcare by significantly reducing mortality rates from bacterial infections.
Fleming’s work earned him a Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1945, shared with Florey and Chain, for their collaborative efforts in the development and production of penicillin. Fleming remained humble about his discovery, often emphasizing that it was a matter of chance. He cautioned against the misuse of antibiotics, foreseeing the potential for antibiotic resistance—a reality that has become an increasing concern in modern healthcare.
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Story submitted by Bonhams. The World Art News (WAN) is not liable for the content of this publication. All statements and views expressed herein are opinions only. Act at your own risk. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. © The World Art News
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