“The Sale of the Century”
Nearly 50 years ago, while strolling down rue de Grenelle with Pierre Bergé, Yves Saint Laurent noticed a large wooden sculpture depicting a bird, its wings deployed, in the window of an antique shop. It was what the French call a coup de foudre, love at first sight, and the first object that the couple purchased together.
And so began the collection that has been described as the most sumptuous in all of Europe, valued at €300 million, although some would say the estimation is low. Beginning on Monday evening, the collection will be dispersed, the hammer in the hands of the able François de Ricqles, vice president of Christie’s France. Since Monday, more than 150 workers have been engaged in transforming the Grand Palais into a setting worthy of what has been called “the sale of the century.”
The couple seemed to have a knack for acquiring things before they were à la mode. The bird is a 19th century work from the Ivory Coast, acquired at a time when African art was less known and less prized than today. They amassed an extraordinary collection of Art Déco furniture long before it enjoyed the demand of today. The list of artists represented in the collection reads like a litany of virtuosi of the fine and decorative arts — painters such as Goya, Géricault, Ingres, Léger, Mondrian, Matisse and Picasso, and decorative artists like Rateau, Dunand and Jean-Michel Frank.
There is controversy, as well. The Chinese government has demanded the return of two Qing Dynasty bronze animal heads — a rabbit and a rat — that they claim were looted from the Imperial Summer Palace near Beijing. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Cultural property specialists feel the claim is weak, given that looting took place nearly 150 years ago.
A public exhibition will be held this weekend and Monday morning, followed by the sale beginning 23 February at 7:00 p.m. For those of you who aon’t be in Paris, check out Sale Highlights online at www.christies.com.
And the bird sculpture? M. Bergé will be keeping it.
Yves Saint Laurent in front of Les Coucous by Henri Matisse
Théodore Géricault, "Portrait of Alfred and Elisabeth Dedreux"
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, "Portrait of the Countess de La Rue"
Pablo Picasso, "Musical Instruments on a Pedestal Table"
Renaissance bronzes, with Dunand vase in the background
Photo Credits: 1 – 4, Le Figaro; 5, Point de Vue
Jan del Monte, blogging from the rue du Cherche-Midi, Paris, France
© 2009 Jan del Monte
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What an amazing collection. It’s a bit of a pity to see it split up though. Will you be attending the public exhibition?
Thats a very astute observation, rmagnolia. It’s possible that the whole may be greater than the sum of its parts. However, I think there are a lot of people who will want a piece of this, especially given the provenance.
And yes, you will probably see me (who hates lines) queued up in front of the Grand Palais on Saturday or Sunday.
Oh you would just HAVE to go to this! Line or no lines.
I have to say Jan, the Theodore Gericault painting of two children gives me the creeps! LOL Their faces are ‘adult’ to me. So – I shall not be making a bid on that one!
I love the 3 lots of green Italian glass vases and If I had that sort of money – I would bid for the claude Lalanne Love Seat too! Look great in my garden.
What would you bid for Jan if you won a huge lottery???
I have to agree about the Géricault. It’s interesting how, in certain periods, there was such a distortion of human form. On the other hand, Ingres was famous for this, and yet I love him.
I’ve been going through the catalogue, and so far I loike the meridienne by Ruhlmann (from YSL’s music room), some lamps by Giacometti and Rateau, and the candelabra by C. Lalanne. I may have to fight you for the love seat!
I will be standing in line tomorrow morning, so I may have some other ideas after seeing them in person. Pray that it doesn’t rain!
Oh what fun Jan! I am praying that the rain comes here!
I would put a bid in for the Ingres too. I bet a museum will try for that one!
I do like their collection of boxes.
I noted that his famous Warhol painting of his French bulldog is NOT for sale!