GENEVA.- Now a tradition in December, Geneva’s
Hotel des Ventes opens another page on the history of Imperial Russia. This year, the Russian works of art will attest to the great history of master craftsmanship that Imperial Russia afforded (Bolin, Fabergé, Ovchinnikov…) with objects originating exclusively from private collections and families (Boutourline, Simon, Thyssen…) that have never before appeared on the market. Also featuring in the sale on Tuesday 9 December of historical interest is a collection of memorabilia from King Peter II, the last monarch of Yugoslavia.
This winter, Hôtel des Ventes has the pleasure of presenting the Olivier Reverdin collection – a prominent Swiss political and cultural figure who is a direct descendant of General Dufour. This eclectic collection consisting of antiquarian books, Asian art, furniture and paintings highlights the scholarly nature of this important Genevan family. Spanning from 18th century to the present day, the family’s patriarchs were politicians, military strategists, artists and collectors that left their impression on Switzerland’s modern history. It is, therefore, a great honour for Hôtel des Ventes to auction the made-to-measure drop front desk that General Dufour worked on for almost 30 years whilst creating the famous Dufour Map.
The sales taking place on 8, 9, 10 and 11 December present over 3300 lots varying from antiquarian book, silver, Oriental and Asian art, to furniture and contemporary art with a global estimate of CHF 2.5 - 3.5 million. The 900 odd lots of jewellery and watches featuring in December’s auction offer a wide range of gift ideas shortly before the festive season starts. With numerous lots estimated below CHF 300, there is something to suit everyone!
Russian Art: The master makers of the 19th century exhibited in Geneva
This year the Russian sale unites works of art from the best known 19th century Russian craftsmen from various large collections.
The Count Boutourline collection consists exclusively of objects that have remained in this richly aristocratic family that dates back to the 11th century. Count Dmitri Petrovich Boutourline (1790-1849), secret advisor to the Tsar and Senator of Imperial Russia was also a celebrated bibliophile and founded the famous Boutourline library which housed over 80,000 works. After the tragic destruction of the library when Napoleon seized Moscow in 1812, the Count moved to Florence in 1817 and created a new library housing of note the report of Saint Petersburg’s commission for inquiries of His Imperial Highness Emperor Nicholas I (lot 276). The generations that followed continued to collect Russian Imperial treasures to furnish the family palace in Florence.
The lots presented for auction have not appeared on the market before, nor have they been on public display as they remained conserved by the same family until the present day. Many pieces come from the workshops of the great craftsmen and master makers of the 19th century such as the important set of three silver and ruby glass sweetmeat stands by Carl Tegelsten (lot 367, estimated CHF 8,000-12,000) or a silver and rock crystal paper weight of a Sevruga hallmarked Nicholls and Plincke (lot 454 estimated CHF 2,000-3,000). The main piece featured in this collection is a charming 1908 desk clock created by Carl Fabergé for Countess Elisabeth Boutourline. The delicate elegance of this clock attests to the excellence of Fabergé’s workmasters and why the company was awarded the Imperial Warrant by Alexander III in 1884 (lot 456 estimated CHF 30’000-50'000).
In competition with Fabergé was another famous creator holding the Imperial Warrant; the house of Bolin. The magnificent pair of silver and cut-glass decanters (lot 407 estimated CHF 10,000-15,000) created by Bolin in 1885 demonstrate the capabilities of finely skilled workmanship in the chased and sculpted Pegsus handles and rams head decoration and allows the public to compare the incredible works of these rival houses.
Aside from Bolin, Fabergé and Tegelsten, December’s auction reveals other great names from the Russian workshops. There is a silver-gilt and cloisonné enamel beaker by Pavel Ovchinnikov (lot 446), a porcelain tea service by the Gardner manufactory painted with landscapes (lot 365) as well as a number of silver flatware services by Grachev from the Bernhard Simon collection (lots 372, 373 and 374), a Swiss architect known in Russia for his important contribution to many palaces in Saint Petersburg (the Tatistschev palace, the Galitzin palace, the Naryshkin Palace…) and the construction of Château Marina for Count Vorontsov-Daschkov near Moscow.
The Russian sale includes over 200 lots of silver as well as religious icons, paintings and antiquarian books.
Memorabilia from the last King of Yugoslavia
At the young age of 11, Crown Prince Peter succeeded the Yugoslav throne in 1934 making him the last King of Yugoslavia. When he came of age, the 17 year old allied himself and his kingdom with Great Britain against the Tripartite Pact of 1940 that formed the military alliance between Germany, Italy and Japan. Being surrounded by hostile countries and ultimately invaded by the Axis powers, King Peter left Yugoslavia and went to England, joining the Royal Air Force. In 1945 the monarchy was abolished in Yugoslavia. Peter II eventually moved to the United States where he spent the remainder of his life until his death in 1970.
During his stay in America, the King became reacquainted with officer Radomir Petrovich Kent who was known for his mission assisting in the rescue of 500 American soldiers in the Bor mine region. Kent took the position of aide-de-camp to Peter II from 1951-1956 and the two became firm friends. The King gave his friend a collection of souvenirs that have remained with the family ever since and will now be presented for auction at Hôtel des Ventes. This ensemble includes objects from his service with the British Royal Air Force, the Yugoslave Air Force (lot 471) and signed photographs of King Peter II, his Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia (lot 474) and other military decorations (lots 475, 476 and 477).
The Reverdin collection from General Dufour
Olivier Reverdin (1913-2000) was a well-known Swiss politician, humanist, scholar and eminent figure in Genevan culture and journalism (director and chief editor of Journal de Genève, commentator at RSR). Descendant of illustrious families, his collection consists of objects that have never been seen at auction as they were passed down through the generations. It reflects the often eclectic taste of this tireless man of knowledge and art collector with objects ranging from antiquarian books and oriental art to furniture, archaeology and paintings.
The Olivier Reverdin collection is enriched by a strong family heritage and history
Olivier Reverdin was the great great grandson of General Guillaume Henri Dufour (1787-1875), inescapable Genevan personality in the modern history of Switzerland. This renowned soldier, engineer, talented strategist, politician, scientist, creator of the Federal flag, prominent figure in the early stages of the Red-Cross was also the first to complete a topographical geometrically accurate map of Switzerland: the Dufour Map. Whilst embarking on this long and arduous task which lasted 30 years, the General ordered a made-to-measure desk with a special drop front measuring 88 by 86 centimetres allowing him to work and consult maps with greater ease (lot 1169 CHF 3,000-5,000).
A long-standing friend of Napoleon III, the General was the owner of a painting by Alfred Van Muyden (1818-1898) which he received as a gift from the Emperor and his wife the Empress Eugenie after it was exhibited at the Universal Exhibition of 1855 in Paris (lot 1341 estimated CHF 3,000-5,000). The destiny of this painting was clear: according to family accounts, the painter had asked General Dufour to draw His Highness’s attention to the painting in the hope that it would find a place in one of the museums in Paris. Having seen the interest the General took in the painting the Emperor offered it to him …
Olivier Reverdin was also the heir of a long line of artists, notably François-Gédéon Reverdin, Gabriel Bouthillier de Beaumont (1811-1887) (lots 1320 and 1321) and Elisa Dufour (1796-1893) (lot 1325). François-Gédéon Reverdin (1772-1828), Swiss painter, draughtsman, engraver, was influenced particularly by the family’s collection and visiting renowned artists such as Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) of which he was a pupil, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres and Le Baron Gérard who both painted his portrait with a 27 year interval (lots 1328 et 1329).
Other features this December: Contemporary Art and antiquarian books
This winter, Geneva’s Hôtel des Ventes presents a new event: an important Contemporary Art sale including around 100 signed works by Geneviève Asse, Moïse Kisling, Yang Qian, and Antoniucci Volti…
In the sale taking place on the evening of Monday 8th December, around 300 books the 19th and 20th centuries will be auctioned. Bibliophiles will be delighted: all works have been checked meticulously (all pages and illustrations have been verified)!
Thursday’s auction will present over 900 lots of jewellery and watches with estimates ranging from CHF 100 to CHF 30,000. Antique jewellery from the 18th and 19th centuries, natural pearls, diamonds, emeralds, and rubies will be on sale as well as a large choice of modern jewellery and watches many of which still have their original fitted cases and estimated at a fraction of the shop price.
