Arts & Culture
Duesenberg Classic Cars
Duesenbergs scream 1920s chic. Combining a breaktaking mix of speed and refinement, the American manufacturer took the country and then the world by storm throughout the decade. Established by a pair of German immigrant brothers in 1913,
the Duesenberg marque set the land speed record of 156 mph at Daytona in 1920, while it was the winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1924, 1925, and 1927. Yet it is the vehicles made for the general public that cemented
the Duesenberg name, and they are much coveted by collectors today. US talk show star Jay Leno owns four. Te slow, painstaking craft that went into the vehicles ensured that they exist today in very limited numbers. Tat and their considerable price tag of around $20,000 in the 1920s, which meant they were beyond most pockets. An estimated 1,150 cars were produced in all, between 1921 and the company’s demise in 1937. Te Model X, built between 1926 and 1927 is among the rarest, with just 13 units made. Tey are seldom seen at auction. Te more ubiquitous Model J, of which around 500 were
produced between 1929 and 1937, is a better bet for would-be buyers. Examples from 1929 tend to sell for around $1m.
Lalique Glassware Art deco took hold in the 1920s. And there were few exponents who could compare to glass maker René Lalique.
Always willing to push the boundaries, Lalique had already risen to prominence as a designer of art nouveau jewellery by the time his glass work took the world by storm during the decade.
Te world record for Lalique glassware stands at the £280,000 achieved by a 1922-made vase last year at auction. Tankfully, there are more affordable options for buyers.
Lalique began producing perfume bottles in 1907 and created more than 250 designs in his time.
While rare pieces can achieve huge sums, such as the $180,000 2006 sale of the “Trésors de la Mer”, more commonplace pieces can be found for around £50.
Babe Ruth Baseball Memorabilia
Babe Ruth was at the centre of all things baseball in the 1920s. Ruth led the New York Yankees to three World Series championships during the decade, following his stunning trade from the Boston Red Sox in 1919. Today he remains the most famous baseball player ever and indeed the only one that many people would be able to mention. It’s no surprise that he leads the baseball memorabilia sector.
Te earliest known Babe Ruth game-used jersey, from the Yankees’ 1920 season, sold for $4.4m last year. In doing so it became the most valuable piece of sports memorabilia ever auctioned.
Paul Fraser, founder of Paul Fraser Collectibles
www.paulfrasercollectibles.com
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