The painting “Le bassin aux nymphDeas,” or “Water Lily Pond,” was sold by Christie’s for £40,921,250, ($78.8m) including buyer’s premium, making it the most expensive work of art ever sold by the auction house in Europe.

It was part of a four-work collection of water lily paintings that Monet put up for sale during his lifetime, all of which are signed and dated by the artist in 1919. He saw the oil paintings of his water garden as a cumulative work in progress, and rarely sold them.

Record prices were also reached for other artists’ work including Edgar Degas’s Danseuse a la barre which went for £13.4m ($26.3m) and Natalia Goncharova’s Les Fleurs that sold for £5.5m (£10.8m).

Click here to read more and to watch a live recording of the auction taking place.

The Penthouse, an exclusive nightclub at One Leicester Square, located in the north western corner of the square, the substantial venue comprises the top three floors, 6th, 7th and 8th, of a prominent inter war building, the lower floors of which are occupied by the European headquarters of MTV and separate nightclub Sound. The nightclub has now gone into administration. 

Baker Tilly, the administrator, is said it was working with property agents Christie + Co and was looking to sell the business as a going concern, with a guide price of £1m.

Mark Wilson, a partner at Baker Tilly said: “It has been a difficult trading environment for which the business was not entirely prepared. There is enormous potential in the venue given its central location and panoramic view of Leicester Square.”

I’m sure this one will get snapped up pretty sharpish!

Records are set to break in Dubai after bids are received for two exclusive penthouses in the new Trump hotel on Palm Jumeirah.
Sales of the residences begin this week. Pre-sales of some properties have sold for $3,000 per square foot, with the average price per square foot selling for $2,450.

The 62-story tower made of stainless steel and glass, will be the tallest structure on Palm Jumeirah and is expected to be completed in summer 2011. The property will be comprised of two freestanding towers that straddle the center line of Palm Jumeirah, making it the gateway to the heart of the development.

Two expansive penthouses designed by Kelly Hoppen will sit atop both towers. But all the Tower’s 399 freehold residences will have the designer touches: Norman Foster bathtubs, Boffi kitchens and Gaggenau appliances. Furthermore, a “Soundcreation” package will be available with each residential purchase. This system provides owners with complete home automation, an awe-inspiring home cinema, multi-room audio, and spectacular custom lighting.  All residences will have access to the Beach Club which features multiple sports, leisure and entertainment facilities.

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That luxury penthouse in downtown San Jose may not be out of reach after all. In fact, you might be able to get one for just $150.

Developer Barry Swenson is raffling off one of his eight penthouses that sit atop the brand new City Heights condominium high-rise on Julian Street.

The lucky winner would have a choice of taking the penthouse or $1 million in cash.

The beneficiary of the proceeds will be InnVision, a San Jose-based nonprofit charity that provides emergency housing and services to the homeless.

The raffled penthouse is valued at $1.2 million (take a look at the slide show and video clip for a tour.) InnVision hopes to sell 18,000 tickets at $150 each with a goal of raising $1 million to support the organization’s services.

Aside from the grand prize there are a number of smaller prizes, including cash prizes ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 and a Hawaiian vacation. An early bird drawing is scheduled for June 28 at City Heights. The final drawing for the penthouse will be held on Oct. 3 at InnVision’s gala banquet at the Santa Clara Marriott.

Click here to read more.