To open its 2025 auction calendar, Salcedo Auctions unveils a roster of the best Philippine antique furniture and ethnographic and ecclesiastical objects for its first major event, The Well-Appointed Life sale.
Now on its 15th year, Salcedo Auctions meets the changing times with diverse offerings for the next generation of collectors. The auction catalogue has an expanded design section for younger buyers with a passion not just for art, but also for vintage fashion, watches, and jewelry.
(Left) ‘Selfie Among the Selfless,’ oil on canvas, Jose Tence Ruiz, estimated at P70,000- 80,000; (right) ‘Futile Displeasure (Self-Portrait),’ oil on canvas, Andres Barrioquinto, estimated at P550,000–650,000
(Left) ‘Faced,’ acrylic on canvas, Demi Padua, estimated at P2,000,000–2,200,000 (left); (right) ‘The Way To Keep Things Alive II,’ oil on canvas, Kim Oliveros, estimated at P240,000–280,000
This well-appointed edition sees the significant presence of modern and contemporary art specially curated with emerging collectors in mind. It reflects their eclectic taste, which spans abstractions (Poklong Anading’s austere canvas and Max Balatbat’s densely layered piece) to the fantasies of Geraldine Javier, whose auspicious The Season of the Rut depicts two male deer, their antlers garlanded by tatted lace and other embellishments. Jose Tence Ruiz’s Selfie Among the Selfless conveys a different fantasy, with the artist subverting the classic portrait of the Filipina. Ruiz paints his muse in what appears to be a futuristic imagination of traditional dress, with his subject holding a mobile phone and backdropped by an apocalyptic landscape instead of bucolic rural scenery.
Paintings by the younger collectors’ generational peers, including Andres Barrioquinto, Demi Padua, Kim Oliveros, and Ronald Ventura, are also up for bidding.
(From left) Cartier ladies’ two-tone Cougar wristwatch, circa 2000, estimated at P160,000–200,000; Cartier 18k Gold Tank, circa 1980, estimated at P220,000–280,000; Omega Seamaster Quartz Dress Watch, circa 1970s, estimated at P43,000–55,000
While they may have distinctly different tastes, the watch section unites the old guard and younger collectors who share a passion for classic timepieces. Whether new or vintage, a classic watch will look good on a wrist of any age. The room list is stocked with highly collectible tickers by some of the world’s most sought-after watch brands.
(Left) Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 with turquoise blue face, estimated at P828,000–950,000);
Rolex Datejust 36, estimated at P800,000–950,000
From Cartier, two models of its iconic Cartier Tank (from the ’60s and the ’70s) are listed for auction, along with a more recent vintage, the Cartier Cougar ladies’ wristwatch. Two important Omega vintage models—a Deville Automatic from the ’60s and a ’70s-era all-gold Seamaster Quartz dress watch—are up for bidding with later models.
Rolex takes things back farther through time with a rare military watch from 1916 and a “Snowite” watch from the 1930s joining newer, in-demand models, including the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 with the turquoise blue face and a Rolex Datejust 36.
(From left) Chanel black patent leather quilted flap bag from the late ’90s, estimated at P180,000–240,000; Louis Vuitton Vernise Pegase carry-on luggage, estimated at P80,000–100,000; Birkin 35 in yellow crocodile leather, estimated at P2,000,000–2,400,000.
With the increased demand for designer bags, the auction house lined up a spectacular series with lots from Hermès (a red Kelly 40 and a yellow Birkin 35), Chanel, represented by various iterations of its signature quilted editions, and Louis Vuitton luggage from its Vernis line.
Presented with exclusive bank partner UnionBank Elite, ‘The Well-appointed Life’ live and online auction will take place on Saturday, 8 March 2025, starting at 2 pm. The online catalogue is available at salcedoauctions.com. In-person preview runs up to March 7 at NEX Tower, 6786 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, from 9 am to 6 pm daily (including Sunday, closed Monday). For inquiries, email info@salcedoauctions.com or phone tel. nos. ( +63 917) 107-5581, ( +63 917) 591-2191, and ( +63 917) 825-7449. For the latest updates, follow @salcedoauctions on Instagram and Facebook.
