PARIS.- Christie's presents its sales dedicated to classical and decorative arts through The Exceptional Sale and The Collector: Le Goût Français on November 24th. After the cartes blanches given to renowned gallery owners, collectors and artists, such as Hervé Van der Straeten, Elie Top or Kamel Mennour, Christie's has chosen the artist Louis Cane to bring a new perspective to these two iconic sales of the Classic Week.
The Exceptional Sale features outstanding pieces with unique origins and stories. One of the highlights of this sale will be André- Charles Boulle's Louis XIV period "Aux Saisons" cabinet on legs (estimate €500.000-1.000.000). Dating from the 1670s, this extraordinary cabinet illustrates the genius of Louis XIV's cabinetmaker. Other known copies are kept at the J.-Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, the Wallace Collection in London and Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland. Decorated in chased bronze, this sumptuous cabinet with drawers rests on a sculptural base supported by two terminal figures representing Ceres and Bacchus. Part of the prestigious Aga Khan collection, this lot will attract the attention of the most demanding collectors.
One of the other highlights of this sale will be an impressive Japanese armor of the Uchidashi Nimai-Dô type, in natural iron, dating from the 17th-18th century (estimate €70,000-100,000). It bears the coat of arms used by two younger branches of the powerful Nabeshima clan: that of Kashima (⿅島) and that of Hasuike (蓮池). Imposing and finely crafted, this armor includes a helmet with 62 natural iron slats and comes with a luxurious transport case called Yoroi Bitsu. This particularly precious and rare lot perfectly illustrates the essence of The Exceptional Sale.
Hubert Robert's work of exceptional proportions, Caprice architectural avec un escalier en pierre monumental animé de personnages, is striking because of its outstanding characteristics. The largest known version of staircase composition, this oil painting from a Parisian collection (estimate €200,000 - 300,000) reveals a reiteration of a recurring theme in Robert's work, and appears as a brilliant example of his art in its great maturity. Hubert Robert grants the ruins a philosophical dimension, almost emotional, which Diderot described as "poetics of ruins". By joining in his paintings ordinary life and ancient ruins, the artist wished to depict the continuity of existence, the passing of time, and leaves his mark in history.
An unusual set of objects will come to close this sale: the gold baton of Marshal of France from Marshal Juin (estimate €20,000 - 40,000), and the matching lipstick case in enamel and diamonds (estimate €2,000 -3,000).
Works of art created by great goldsmiths, highest symbols of military power, marshal's batons have a strong symbolic dimension, like regalia. Evolving through the centuries and political regimes, they were stud with fleurs-de-lis under the Ancient Regime, decorated with eagles or bees under the Empire, before being ornated with stars during the Republic. This baton here, which belonged to Marshal Juin (1888-1867), was probably made by the Arthus-Bertrand goldsmiths, like other specimens kept at the Musée de l'Armée, dating from the same period.époque. Almost 40 cm long, it is covered with 'bleu de France' velvet, and studded with 30 five-branch stars.
Remarkably, this lipstick case is a nod to the marshal's baton. By using the same cylindrical shape with the famous gold stars on a royal blue background, this precious and unique miniature copy belonged to the wife of Marshal Juin, Marie-Cécile Bonnefoy. The subtle martial symbolism, intrinsic to the marshal's baton, is here overthrown by the symbolism of love and beauty, in an aesthetic symbiosis, poetically recalling the union of Mars and Venus.
The Collector : Le Goût Français celebrates the art of collecting through a selection of works from private French and European collections. The highlights of this extraordinary sale include the creations of the greatest names of the 20th century, such as Bagues, Jansen, Henri Samuel ou Georges Geffroy. Following the Exceptional Sale's lead, this sale presents both major pieces but also more affordable lots illustrating the history of styles and interior design.
Formerly in Karl Lagerfeld's collection, a beautiful console from the beginning of the Louis XVI style, in limewood and molded softwood, sculpted and golden, will be one of the key lots of the sale (estimate €60,000 - 100,000). Dating from about 1770, this console is close to the à la grecque style, in fashion in Paris at the time, which designated the then pioneering and modernist furniture which reclaimed its roots from Antiquity.
An elegant fall front desk from the Transition period, signed by Pierre Macret (estimate €30,000 - 50,000), will also mark the sale The Collector: le Goût Français. In European varnish and lacquer, with a satin and amaranth veneer, this sumptuous piece symbolises the important attraction for precious and costly lacquers, which worth and beauty were emphasized by the merchants of the middle of the 18th century. Decorated with gilded and chiseled bronze, and overhung by Breche d'Alep marble, this cabinet presents on its facade a scenery of gallant scenes and lake dwelling landscapes. It comes from the mythical collections of Sir Philip Sassoon, and thereafter of the Marquis of Cholmondeley, kept at the Houghton castle.
