Was the buyer more interested in the unique sculpture of the futuristic art piece?
Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are representations of digital art stored on the blockchain. Why you would want to spend real money on something intangible is beyond us, and some automakers have raised similar concerns. But for the most part, the NFT fad appears to be taking over the automotive industry. Bentley, McLaren, Pininfarina, and many others have jumped on the bandwagon. Bugatti has entered the metaverse with numerous NFTs of late, but its latest is one of the most notable. Well, not really, but it’s based on a notable car, namely the one-off La Voiture Noire, a spectacular reinvention of the Chiron.
Bugatti
Bugatti
At an auction hosted by the Phillips Auction House in London on June 30, the “inaugural centerpiece of the Bugatti Asprey collaboration attracted international interest at the 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale.” What is this collaboration about? Well, Asprey London is handmaking a sculpture over the course of six months by master silversmiths. This will be mounted on a bespoke base finished in the colors of Bugatti and Asprey. This will then be accompanied by a digital version (the NFT) that “unlocks the choice of an additional sculpture – an accompanying Noire version – that the buyer can choose to commission if they so wish for an additional cost.”
We assume that the winning bidder (who paid £378,000/$454,000, including Buyers Premium), will opt to have the additional piece made.
The sale of the “La Voiture Noire” sculpture follows 261 smaller, silver sculptures of the Bugatti Asprey collection (also accompanied by an NFT), which all sold out instantly.
Wiebke Stahl, Managing Director of Bugatti International, said: “We are delighted to have once again received such international demand for the flagship piece born of our partnership with Asprey of London. The one-of-one “La Voiture Noire” sculpture is an artistic representation of the passion shared by Bugatti and Asprey – a pioneering spirit and eye for perfection in the finest details runs at throughout this chef-d’oeuvre. The new owner of this highly exclusive piece is one of many impassioned admirers of the marque, and is no doubt looking forward to the sculpture becoming a cornerstone of their collection.”
Ali Walker, Chief Creative Officer of Asprey Studio, commented: “The Asprey Bugatti sculpture is a masterpiece that belongs in such a prestigious evening auction of contemporary and modern art. This is a first for Phillips to auction an NFT with a redeemable sculpture and continues the journey of both Asprey and Bugatti to use technology to advance creativity.”
At least this time, an automotive NFT is a bonus rather than an incomprehensible drawcard.
