LONDON.- Presenting the essence of Haute Elegance, three private collections from St. Tropez, Antibes and a private villa in Switzerland will be offered at Christie's London this Spring. The three collections – united by their beauty and vibrancy - comprise over 370 lots and encompass a wide array of objects spanning many collecting fields - from Impressionist & Modern works, Modern British and Old Master Pictures, to French, Italian and Scandinavian Furniture, 20th Century Decorative Art, Chinese Ceramics and Carpets. With estimates ranging from £1,000 to £150,000, these stylish works will appeal to discerning international collectors and decorators. The sale as a whole is expected to realise in the region of £1.5 million.

The first collection comes from an interior by international taste-maker François-Joseph Graf in St. Tropez. A fusion of custom Le Manach fabrics upholstered by Phelippeau of Paris, the auction will offer exquisite Italian, Scandinavian, French and Russian furniture attributed to Hache, exemplified by a Commode Grenobloise, from the 18th century (estimate: £15,000-25,000). This collection will also feature stylish ceramic ‘Sirène’ appliques by Georges Jouve (1910-1964), circa 1948 and playful touches such as the Boîte à Pipes tête d’homme, circa 1930 by Robert and Jean Cloutier (estimate: £2,000-3,000).

The second collection, from Antibes, combines fine paintings from the French fin-de-siecle alongside Modern British Masters. Highlights include a superb still life of primroses, Pacquerettes et Oreilles d’Ours, 1890, by Henri Fantin-Latour, which is evocative of the perennial spring enjoyed along the Cote d’Azur (estimate: £100,000-150,000). Elsewhere, the collection is led by two important works by Matthew Smith, which include The Red Sari, Sunita Reclining, circa 1931 (estimate: £50,000-80,000) and Près de Lyons of 1922 (estimate: £40,000-60,000), and a warm and bright painting by British abstract painter Ivon Hitchens A Standing Jar of Flowers, 1975 (estimate: £50,000-80,000, illustrated below centre).

The third distinguished collection comes from a private villa in Switzerland and features presents 140 lots, which includes an important group of early Italian maiolica wares. This is complemented by fine French and Swiss furniture including a pair of bombe commodes by 18th century Swiss ébéniste Mathias Funk (1697-1783) (estimate: £25,000-40,000); a Régence ormolu-mounted and ebonized bureau-plat, formerly in the Collection of Baron Alphonse de Rothschild (1827-1905) (estimate £30,000-50,000) and a Deruta gold lustre ‘bella donna’ charger, circa 1530 (estimate: £12,000 – 18,000).