A $977,000 Mac Pro and The Other Top Selling Items At Jony & Marc's RED Auction.

On Saturday night, 44 special design items were auctioned at Sotheby's Jony and Marc's (RED) Auction to raise money to fight AIDS in Africa. Brought to you by Marc Newson, Bono & Jony Ive, the event raised an incredible $12,883,000 USD (more than double that when you add the Gates' Foundation donation) with many items going for far above the estimate.





The 44 items in the auction were a combination of specially designed items by Jony Ive and Marc Newson and their favorite vintage and new design items.

The hugely successful (RED) auction raised $26.2 million to fight against AIDS in Africa. The auction was 100% sold and three lots were sold for more than $1.5 million each. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matched the auction total of just over $13 million.

From Steinway Grand to custom Airstream trailer, here's a look at the 10 (actually there are 11, since a few went for the same price) items that sold for the most money at the auction.

1. $1,925,000:




2. $1,805,000




3. $1,685,000



4. $977,000



5. $845,000



6. $485,000




7. $461,000 (tied with #8)




8. $461,000 (tied with #7)




9. $425,000




10. $365,000 (tied with #11)




11. $365,000 (tied with #10)



Other items worth noting, because I like them and hey, this is my blog, are the following:

George Lucas Signed Stormtrooper Helmet:

A Stormtrooper Helmet from the "Star Wars" Series Signed by George Lucas for the (RED) Auction 2013. ABS. In original cardboard "Star Wars" Stormtrooper box.
Estimate 10,000 - 15,000 USD
LOT SOLD. 245,000 USD

Cosmonaut Suit That Went Into Space:

A "Zvezda" Cosmonaut Suit Worn on a Soviet Space Agency Mission into Space
Fabric with rubber lining
1990, Produced by RD & PE Zvezda, Russia
Estimate 50,000 — 75,000 USD
LOT SOLD. 305,000 USD

Dom Perignon with Special Label and Case:

Dom Pérignon Œnothèque 1966 Magnum in Custom Red Cooler Designed by Jony Ive and Marc Newson. The red cooler is unique to, and created for, the (RED) Auction 2013. The cooler is edition 01/01. Dom Pérignon has created a unique red foil label for the Œnothèque Magnum.
Estimate 15,000 — 20,000 USD
LOT SOLD. 93,750 USD

Christian Louboutin's Custom Boots:

Unique to, and created for, the (RED) Auction 2013. Edition 01/01. The pair of boots will be made to size for the buyer.
Patent leather, 2013
Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 USD
LOT SOLD. 50,000 USD

Quadrophenia Lambretta Scooter Replica:

An Exact Replica of Jimmy's Lambretta from the film "Quadrophenia"
Signed by Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey for the (RED) Auction 2013.
Estimate 30,000 — 50,000 USD
LOT SOLD. 209,000 USD

The star-studded crowd of more than 1,000 guests was treated to a number of surprises throughout the evening including an appearance by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who took to the stage to sing ‘Perfect Day’ and ‘Beautiful Day’ with Bono.


above: Bono and Chris Martin from Coldplay performed at the event

The performance inspired more than a dozen bidders to compete for the Steinway & Sons unique “Red Pops for (RED)” Parlor Grand Piano, which was finally won by philanthropist Stewart Rahr for $1.9 million.

Later in the evening, the Azzedine Alaïa pink couture long ruffle dress was revealed in the salesroom worn by supermodel Christy Turlington before it sold to applause for $149,000. 


above: Christy Turlington models a custom Azzedine Alaïa dress onstage that was sold for $149,000. Next to her is a "Zvezda" Cosmonaut Suit which sold for $305,000.

After the sale, guests made their way to the 10th floor for a private concert with Bono, The Edge, Nile Rodgers, Chic, and Angelique Kidjo:


Jony and Marc's (RED) Auction highlights prior to the auction were shown in this 'teaser' video:

All information and images courtesy of Sotheby's

Airstream's Mod New Sterling International Trailer Comes In Two Color Schemes (and Two Sizes).

above: The new 2013 Airstream Sterling International shown with interiors in Obsidian Violet and Arctic Dijon

You may have heard about the newest travel trailer from Airstream when it was first written about as a concept in the NY Times and unveiled at Palm Springs Modernism Week earlier this year. Since then 2013 model has been produced in two sizes (the 25' and the 27' shown below) and with two available color schemes.




The Airstream International Sterling Trailer was designed by Christopher C. Deam, who was responsible for the design of the Bambi Airstream Trailer in 2000. A few readers who saw the concept on the design blog Design Milk and on the Airstream Facebook page balked about the color of the interior carpet (a mustard-like tone called Arctic Dijon).


above: Christopher C. Deam, designer of the Airstream Sterling International Trailer (image courtesy of NY Times)

Well, if you're not a fan of Arctic Dijon, may I interest you in Obsidian Violet?
Now although the only two differences in the color schemes are the woven carpet, the Marimekko throw pillows and bedding, and the ultra leather banquette cushions (white in the Arctic Dijon and black in the Obsidian Violet), because the interior is so loaded with shiny aluminum, the colors are reflected casting a glow over the entire interior. The Obsidian Violet gives off a bit of a disco feel, while the Arctic Dijon has more of a 60's modern aura.

Two floor plans are also available for the 2013 Sterling International ; 25' and 27'. The banquettes open to become beds, allowing the trailer to sleep five.

The Aistream Sterling International Trailer in Obsidian Violet:










With a typical sleek aluminum interior, the 2013 Sterling International is outfitted with a queen-size bed, a streamlined bathroom (complete with a shower), rounded cabinets for the sink, capsule-shaped accent windows, an LED HDTV, blu-ray player and is Wi-Fi ready. (Some dealers include a microwave and two HDTVs)

In Arctic Dijon:








There are some smart space-saving devices: cutouts in the rounded sink area, rolling vertical doors. It also incorporates use LED lighting, which uses less power, which is very critical when you are out on the road. The split bathroom (a toilet and sink on one side of the hall and the shower on the other side) has thin accordion doors on either side that you can use if you want to create one larger bathroom.

The floor plans for the 25 and 27:


Both the Obsidian Violet and Arctic Dijon Airstream Sterling International Trailers are available at several RV dealers around the country.

Colors: Obsidian Violet or Arctic Dijon
Floorplans: 27FB or 25FB
MSRP $84,192 plus freight and options for the 25FB
MSRP $86,718 plus freight and options for the 27FB


Airstream