Maxfield Mellenbruch's Platinum and Diamond Steak Sculpture "Rare" to Be Auctioned at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas

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Mar 28, 2025, 11:05 ET

SAN DIEGO, March 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rare, a provocative platinum sculpture encrusted with diamonds and rubies by contemporary artist Maxfield Mellenbruch, will be exhibited and auctioned at Bitcoin 2025, taking place May 27–29 at The Venetian in Las Vegas. A USPAP-compliant appraisal by a GIA-certified gemologist values the piece at $2.2 million.

Holding Rare for the camera - a steak sculpted in platinum and set with diamonds and rubies.

Rare, presented in its custom Haliburton case.

Weighing 2.56 pounds, Rare takes the form of a ribeye steak cast in pure platinum and adorned with 216 carats of hand-set gemstones—78 carats of natural, colorless diamonds and 138 carats of vivid Mozambique rubies. Each of the 12,159 stones has been individually set in a meticulous, freeform arrangement.

In the tradition of Fabergé, Rare reimagines the ordinary as opulent. Where once imperial courts commissioned gem-studded eggs to project dynastic power, Rare takes a cut of meat and elevates it into a crown jewel of contemporary art. It's Fabergé-level obsession and singularity—delivered with a modern, irreverent twist.

Throughout history, objects like this have blurred the line between art and asset. The Crown Jewels, Fabergé eggs, and other treasures weren't simply ornamental—they symbolized rule, permanence, and spectacle. They spoke a visual language of wealth and control, designed to awe, intimidate, and endure. Rare steps boldly into that lineage—not quietly, but with a smirk. It's not here to nourish; it's here to flex.

"There's playful tension in Rare," says Mellenbruch. "It thrives between seriousness and absurdity—and embraces both."

Wrapped in custom leather butcher paper and sealed in a Halliburton aluminum briefcase, Rare doesn't ask to be understood—it demands to be valued. It's a monument to decadence, a performance of value itself. Whether locked away, shown off, or handed down, Rare is a reminder that power is ultimately something you hold, display, and dare the world to price.

Mellenbruch first gained international acclaim through his groundbreaking Kialara series—which transformed physical Bitcoin storage into conceptual fine art. His influential global collector base includes Fortune 500 executives, astronauts, tech pioneers, and early Bitcoin adopters, and his early pieces have appreciated dramatically, achieving resale values more than 2,500% above their original prices.

Developed over the course of a year, Rare was brought to life in collaboration with renowned artisans, including Techform Casting (whose clients include Jeff Koons) and master gem setter Daniel Starling. Every detail of Rare embodies obsessive precision and creative vision.

Rare will be exhibited in The Deep VAULT VIP Lounge at The Venetian during Bitcoin 2025.

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