Six auctions to be held on November 13, 14 and 15 will offer buyers the chance to acquire a wide range of artworks and artifacts from postmodernism to erotic and esoteric, to Art Deco and rare books. Local auction house Artmark will hold the sales at the Hilton and the Cesianu-Racovita Palace.

The Erotica auction will feature an anniversary edition of Playboy magazine from 1969. Launched in December 1953 by Hugh Hefner and featuring legendary actress Marilyn Monroe, Playboy has become a publishing institution, arguably delighting and angering in equal measure over the years. The estimated value for this interesting little bit of cultural history is between EUR 75 to 150.

An Egyptian funerary statuette dating from the Middle Kingdom (2033-1710BC ) will be on sale in the Esoteric Magic and Science auction. A very rare piece, its value is estimated at EUR 1,500 - 2,500. The statuette is an image of a pharaoh statue bearing the insignia of power: false beard, head canopy of nemes type, crook and whip. The work is a testimony to the Ancient Egyptian belief in the possibility of life after death; such objects were intended to accompany the deceased to the afterlife.

Auctions will start at 19.30 and take place as follows:

Tuesday, November 13, Athenee Palace Hilton - Postmodernism and Contemporary Auction and the Erotica auction;

Wednesday, November 14, Palace Cesianu-Racovita - Esoteric Magic and Science Auction, Art Nouveau and Art Deco Auction - from jewelry to furniture;

Thursday, November 15, Athenee Palace Hilton - Graphics, Manuscripts, Rare Books and Traditional Values Auction.

Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com