GENEVA.- With many exhibitions currently celebrating 200 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Russia, the art collections from these two countries remain closely tied. The Russian sale at Geneva’s Hôtel des Ventes on Tuesday 9th December symbolises this connection. The most beautiful pieces were the subject of many a fierce battle between Swiss and Russian collectors present in the saleroom or on the telephone. The elegant clock by Fabergé in 1908 from the Count Boutourline collection was bought by a Swiss collector against a Russian under-bidder for CHF 107,000 while it was a Russian buyer who fought to acquire the Kalgan jasper vase at CHF 110,000 over a Swiss collector, creating a new record price. “The success of this Russian sale confirms Hôtel des Ventes’ prime position on the international market in this speciality”, specifies Bernard Piguet, Director and Chief auctioneer of the auction house.

The sale from the descendant of General Dufour, the Reverdin Estate, saw equal success, particularly during the paintings auction on Wednesday evening. A portrait signed by Baron Gérard sold for CHF 91,000 – three times its low estimate – shortly before the portrait by Ingres was bought at CHF 66,000 to join the collections at Geneva’s Art and History Museum. An 18th century Atlas with the same provenance exchanged hands for CHF 14’000 during the antiquarian book sale on Monday evening.

Over 80% of the 3300 lots included in the catalogue (books, luxury leather goods, Asian and Oriental art, furniture, objets d’art, paintings, jewellery and watches) and put up for auction in December found new owners giving a total result of CHF 4.3 million. This ensemble includes close to 1000 lots sold at under CHF 300, allowing the greater majority to participate in the auction and leave with one or more unique gifts for the festive season. “We are always delighted to provide our ever increasing and loyal clientele the opportunity to buy or offer to their nearest and dearest, quality and unseen works of art at an affordable price” underlines Bernard Piguet.

Confrontation between Russian and Swiss collectors for Russian art
For the fifth year running, Geneva’s Hôtel des Ventes organised a December sale dedicated to the wonders of Imperial Russia. This year, all the workmasters purveying the Tsars of the 19th century were represented in the display cabinets at Hôtel des Ventes. The main protagonists of the sale were Russian and Swiss collectors who competed for the star lots. From the very start of the sale, a set of 19th century books illustrated by Alexeïeff was closely fought over between a Russian and Swiss collector before the latter won the lot for a total nearing CHF 56,000, 10 times the low estimate. In effect, these works were dedicated by the illustrator Alexeïeff to his parton who was none other than Swiss filmmaker Nag Ansorge – a true example of an object with bi-national significance.

The battle ensued over a Kalgan jasper vase sculpted with acanthus leaves and a pierced trellis neck which was won by a Russian collector for the exceptional price of CHF 110,000 (lot 362 estimed at 5,000-8,000) achieving a new international record for a single vase of this type and stature. A further confrontation between the two nationalities came about during the sale of the 1908 Fabergé clock which encased a Swiss movement by H. Moser, being bought by a Swiss connoisseur for CHF 107,000 (lot 456 estimated at CHF 30,000-50,000).

A Drawing by Ingres from the collection of Olivier Reverdin, descendant of General Dufour, joins the collections at Geneva’s Art and History Museum.

A portrait signed by Baron Gérard sold for CHF 91,000 (lot 1328) shortly before the portrait by Ingres was bought at CHF 66,000 to join the collections at Geneva’s Art and History Museum (lot 1329). Represented in the saleroom on the night, the museum is “delighted to have acquired this important drawing for the Genevan Heritage”. It must be pointed out that this work, which has never been seen at auction before, was steeped in strong historical heritage as it comes from the collection of Olivier Reverdin, descendant of General Dufour.

The hundred odd contemporary works of art included in the paintings sale met with great success, attracting buyers in Switzerland and abroad as with a high number of visitors during the exhibition that preceded the auction.

The Jewellery and watches sale was well-awaited by the public who gathered at rue Prévost-Martin before the festive season. The saleroom was verging constantly on full capacity from 19:00 until 23:00 where, throughout the evening, over 90% of the lots found a new owner.