NEW YORK.- On October 25 & 26, 2007 Sotheby’s New York will present a sale of property from the legendary Galerie Ariane Dandois in Paris. Following a decision to close her gallery space on the prestigious rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré to pursue other interests, Ariane Dandois will offer nearly 800 lots of high quality Continental furniture and decorative objects. As an illustration of her eclectic and wide-ranging taste, the sale will feature both European and Oriental works ranging from the 17th to 19th centuries. Renowned for her elegant and often daring displays at the international art fairs such as the Paris Biennale des Antiquaires, The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair in London, the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show in New York and the Palm Beach International Fine Art & Antique Fair, Ariane Dandois has been a force in the field for 34 years. Prior to the auction, the entire 10th floor exhibition space of Sotheby’s in New York will be devoted to a week-long exhibition highlighting Ariane Dandois’ signature taste and style which will be designed by the celebrated decorator Juan Pablo Molyneux. A lavish, two-volume catalogue will be available in late September. More than half of the sale will be offered without reserve and in total the auction is estimated to bring $12/16 million.

The two-day sale will feature works with estimates ranging from under $10,000 up to $500,000. The majority of the sale will comprise 18th and 19th century Continental furniture and works of art, with a particular focus on Italian, French Empire and Baltic and Russian Neoclassicism. The sale will also include a wide variety of objects of the period, including chandeliers, mirrors and candelabras; paintings, drawings, watercolors and etchings from various countries; as well as Japanese screens and various Chinese objects.

Mario Tavella, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, said: “I have long been an admirer of Ariane Dandois’ career, particularly of her pioneering efforts to popularise Italian and Russian furniture in France, where French style has been traditionally dominant. Ariane has contributed to the extension of knowledge about Italian and Russian furniture in particular, and her academic catalogues have always been used as reference works.”

Alistair Clarke, Worldwide Head of French, Continental and English Furniture for Sotheby’s, commented: “Ariane Dandois is a leading tastemaker and she enjoys a very wide and dedicated following. Sotheby’s is honored to have been entrusted with this auction, which represents an unrivaled opportunity for both existing collectors and those new to this area to acquire works of outstanding quality that have been selected by one of the foremost dealers in the field.”

Pre-sale exhibition – October 20-24, 2007. Juan Pablo Molyneux will design the pre-sale exhibition which promises to be one of the great cultural events of the season. His vision will center around the eclectic nature of the collection, inviting buyers and visitors to embark on a journey through time and across continents. The furniture and objects will be arranged in a way that, by their very own nature and by their juxtaposition, will be thought-provoking and inspirational.

Selection of Highlights
A pair of George II grey-painted benches in the manner of William Kent, c. 1735
A set of four Italian neoclassical giltwood armchairs, Rome, c. 1770
A suite of Hungarian seat furniture, c. 1800
A Spanish ormolu-mounted mahogany desk, dated 1817, by Gabriel Gomez
An Empire Sèvres porcelain vase, 1810, given by Napoleon to Caroline Murat
An Empire secretaire à abattant with chiffonnier en suite, c. 1810, attributed to Molitor
A Russian ormolu and glass candelabrum, c. 1825, attributed to Ivan Dipner
A pair of Italian chinoiserie double doors, early 19th century
Jacques Vigoureux Duplessis, Fantaisie Chinoise, oil on canvas, c. 1730
A Swedish Karl XIV Johan giltwood mirror, attributed to Per Gustav Bylander
A large pair of Venetian reverse-etched and blue glass mirrors, 19th century
A massive Genoese giltwood and cut crystal 96-light chandelier, c. 1820
A rare pair of Russian porcelain chimneypieces, c. 1830
A pair of Japanese six-fold screens by Mori Tetsuzan, depicting deer and horses, Edo period.