Sotheby’s sells cars, jewelry, handbag at Abu Dhabi auction

Sotheby’s first Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week raised $133 million from a series of auctions, including sports cars, jewelery and a Hermès handbag owned by Jane Birkin, which went for $2.9 million.

Among the most jaw-dropping sales was a 31.68-karat pink diamond that sold for $8.8 million and a 1994 McLaren F1 car for $25.3 million.

The glitzy event, held at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort last week, fortuitously coincided with the Milken Middle East and Africa Summit, an event known for attracting billionaires, held at the same venue.

Collectors’ Week, which included a showcase of $500 million worth of non-selling art, follows a $1 billion injection by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign fund ADQ for a minority stake in Sotheby’s.