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1 bottle per lot
Details
THE KASSAB COLLECTION
Braheem Kassab was a Syrian embroidery merchant born in 1891. He began in the linen trading business around 1905 and in 1916 he arrived on Madeira. While the following year he left the island, it was only to return and settle there in 1919. During this time, embroidery was a growing business in Madeira. Initially Braheem's brothers remained in New York to look after the retail business, but by 1921 Braheem was running his enterprise alone. During the Great Depression the local Reid-Castro bank fell into financial difficulties, and Kassab loaned money to the insitution. It was at this time that around 900 bottles stored at the Madeira Wine Association were added as collateral to the loan. Two years later, in 1933, Braheem called upon this collateral when the bank couldn’t fullfill its obligations. Braheem also bought a further 3700 bottles from William Reid and purchased wine from Padre Vale, though from 1934 onwards he stopped buying alltogether. While Braheem didn’t drink any of the wine himself, it was served to his guests. The stock was insured and remained in one store room at the family house on Quinta Vinsano, in Ajuda, located between Funchal and Camara de Lobos. The collection stayed intact for a significant period of time, until in the 1970s when Kassab offered a selection of bottles at auction. It was in 1980 that Braheem sadly passed away. As a result, from 1984-86 the property was split up and a significant portion of the wine was sold. In the years that have followed, many of the new owners have sold this wine at Christie’s.
The Kassab Madeira within this auction came directly from the island and were professionally recorked using the official KAB seal with approval from the family.
Kassab, Sercial Seco 1808
Madeira
Recorked in 2019. New wax capsule with Kassab family seal. Old three part moulded bottle with stencilling. Level: base of neck
1 bottle per lot
Braheem Kassab was a Syrian embroidery merchant born in 1891. He began in the linen trading business around 1905 and in 1916 he arrived on Madeira. While the following year he left the island, it was only to return and settle there in 1919. During this time, embroidery was a growing business in Madeira. Initially Braheem's brothers remained in New York to look after the retail business, but by 1921 Braheem was running his enterprise alone. During the Great Depression the local Reid-Castro bank fell into financial difficulties, and Kassab loaned money to the insitution. It was at this time that around 900 bottles stored at the Madeira Wine Association were added as collateral to the loan. Two years later, in 1933, Braheem called upon this collateral when the bank couldn’t fullfill its obligations. Braheem also bought a further 3700 bottles from William Reid and purchased wine from Padre Vale, though from 1934 onwards he stopped buying alltogether. While Braheem didn’t drink any of the wine himself, it was served to his guests. The stock was insured and remained in one store room at the family house on Quinta Vinsano, in Ajuda, located between Funchal and Camara de Lobos. The collection stayed intact for a significant period of time, until in the 1970s when Kassab offered a selection of bottles at auction. It was in 1980 that Braheem sadly passed away. As a result, from 1984-86 the property was split up and a significant portion of the wine was sold. In the years that have followed, many of the new owners have sold this wine at Christie’s.
The Kassab Madeira within this auction came directly from the island and were professionally recorked using the official KAB seal with approval from the family.
Kassab, Sercial Seco 1808
Madeira
Recorked in 2019. New wax capsule with Kassab family seal. Old three part moulded bottle with stencilling. Level: base of neck
1 bottle per lot
Special notice
On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 7.7% on both the premium as well as the hammer price.
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