GENEVA.- From 30th September to 3rd October, Geneva’s
Hôtel des Ventes will auction over 2,000 lots of works of art, luxury items and collectibles with a global estimate of 2 million Swiss francs with starting prices ranging from 300 francs to 50,000 francs.
Amongst the selection features the final preparatory study for "Berceau de la Confédération", painted by Charles Giron for the National Council’s chamber at the Federal Palace in Bern. Over a century after it was given to the President of the Confederation, Adrien Lachenal, by the artist himself, this work - emblematic of Swiss history - was recently rediscovered by Hôtel des Ventes. It will be put on sale on Wednesday 2nd October.
This Autumn’s auction will also be distinguished by a superb collection of Bordeaux grands crus with an exemplary provenance also benefitting from perfect storage conditions!
Other features: numerous high quality pieces of Classical Archeology and Eastern and Far Eastern works of art from private Swiss and English collections.
Bernard Piguet, CEO and Chief Auctioneer at Hôtel des Ventes, underlines : “All of the estimates in this Autumn’s sale are deliberately low in order to increase competition for those exceptional pieces and at the same time allow the amateur collector to find a good deal amongst the 2000 lots offered for sale”.
A work symbolic of Swiss democracy goes under the hammer…
The discovery of this final study for “Berceau de la Confédération”, signed by Genevan painter Charles Giron (1850-1914) by Hôtel des Ventes is an event in itself. The finished work – the fresco painting back drop at the National Council – is likely the most known work of art in Switzerland as most citizens gaze upon it during the televised parliamentary sessions throughout the year. In the foreground stands the Grütli meadow, upon which the three Confederates united in 1291 to take their oaths and create the Confederation. With a somewhat innovative composition for the time, the view depicted of Lake Lucerne portrays a serene and harmonious relationship between man and nature. The white clouds formed above the Grütli may also be interpreted as a female body bearing a golden olive branch indicative of the angel of peace. This oil painting (lot 1181, estimate 5,000-8,000 Swiss francs) on a canvas measuring 41x80 cm is what gave birth to the masterpiece that ordains the walls at the National Council and has inspired our politicians for over 100 years. The final hammer price will reflect its historical interest, whether patriotic or symbolic…
Featuring in the evening sale on 2nd October, this important work will be accompanied by a further 200 paintings, engravings, drawings and sculptures from the 17th to 20th centuries. Swiss art is strongly represented in the auction by Pierre Louis De la Rive’s (1753-1817) Interieur de foret avec un petit perce sur le lac, le matin (lot 1206, estimate 30,000-50,000 Swiss francs), by works from Castan, Hainard and other mountain views signed by Abrate.
Wednesday evening’s sale also presents a fine selection of Old Masters, amongst which a captivating portrait of a lady by Pourbus (1524-1584) (lot 1207, estimate 20,000-40,000 Swiss francs).
The portraits of the renowned Genevan noble family of Bontems-Sarasin, who reside at the château Penthes, have been passed down through the family until the present day. Along with these, over one hundred lots of archeology, Oriental and Far Eastern art, French furniture and paintings from their various residences will go under the hammer.
A remarkable collection of Bordeaux grands crus with an exceptional provenance
Hôtel des Ventes proposes a superb collection of almost 1,500 bottles of Bordeaux grands crus from vintages over the last 10 years (Latour, Margaux, Mouton-Rothschild…) and in a wide variety of sizes: standard, magnum, jeroboam and imperial (6 l.). This ensemble comes from a private swiss collector who ordered his entire wine collection directly from the châteaux themselves to ensure perfect conservation conditions from source until reaching his professional wine cellar in Geneva. This perfect provenance provides an ideal guarantee for collectors and investors alike!
Highlights of the Autumn sale: Eastern and Far Eastern Oriental art, Archeology
The Eastern and Far Eastern Oriental art sale deserves a special mention this Autumn. It regroups a fine collection of Islamic ceramics, Indian miniatures, rare 18th century Japanese lacquerware, as well as Chinese ceramics and bronzes from an old English collection.
The Archeology sale on Monday 30th September encases a fine collection of antique vases and marble objects from the 7th to 3rd centuries B.C. as well as pre-Colombian ceramics and objects made from gold. An attic terra cotta amphora attributed to Peintre du Louvre and exhibited at New York’s Metropolitan Museum in 1963 (lot 266 modestly estimated at 10,000-15,000 Swiss francs) stands as the masterpiece of the sale.
The remainder of the week will see an important ensemble of 18th century furniture from a variety of chateaux as well as exotic furniture, notably one of the most beautiful Anglo-Indian tables known to date (lot 958 estimated at 15,000-25,000 Swiss francs).
Haute couture and prestigious furs will go under the hammer on Thursday 4th October without reserve prices (no minimum price), becoming more accessible to greater number of people. Similarly, luxury leather goods and the 600 lots of jewellery and watches will be auctioned at affordable prices.
Sale Event this December: new exclusives from Tsarist Russia
Bernard Piguet announces an Imperial Russian sale of great significance after the discovery of new unpublished correspondance from Tsars Nicholas I and Alexander II.
Owners of Russian works of art wishing to take advantage of this prestigious sale are invited to contact Hôtel des Ventes in Geneva.
