PARIS.- Sotheby’s France is will offer at auction on 30 June, over 170 pieces that mainly come from the collection of dealer Bernard Steinitz, who died on 12 October 2012, and his wife Simone. Justly nicknamed the "Prince of dealers" by his peers, he started his career as an autodidact in the early 50’s, driven by his devouring passion for rare items of furniture which he hunted down in an insatiable quest. Always on the lookout for pieces of which he was the only person to understand the importance, and armed with an iron determination, Bernard Steinitz left a splendid collection marked by his taste for 17th and 18th century furniture.

Bernard Steinitz (1933-2012) began his life as a dealer by travelling all over France in a delivery van with his wife and children, penniless, but determined to give full rein to his passion. Within a few years, he had founded an empire, between his first shop in a former bar in Saint-Ouen where he first set up and the splendour of his gallery in the heart of Paris's 8th arrondissement. Eagerly awaited at international biennials, his gallery stands always attracted a throng of people and garnered praise from public and critics alike.

Long before the death of his father, Benjamin Steinitz took on the former's business with the same passion. Despite the changing times and tastes, Benjamin perpetuated with unequalled energy and determination what his parents had built up throughout their lives. Today, the atmosphere in Benjamin's apartment in Rue Royale faithfully reflects the ambiance that once reigned at his parents'.

Benjamin Steinitz has chosen Sotheby’s to pay tribute to his parents, who passed on to him their love of beauty and finely-honed knowledge of objets d’art. A tribute with which Sotheby’s France is proud to be associated. According to Brice Foisil, Director of Development, 18th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts at Sotheby’s France: "I first met Bernard Steinitz in May 1992 in the furniture department at Sotheby's in New York. I clearly remember that sparkling gaze, full of mischief. Bernard Steinitz was a genius with a keen eye, fired by the fever of possession, and always generous with his knowledge. Sotheby's is proud and honoured to be associated with the vibrant homage Benjamin Steinitz now wishes to pay his parents."

Highlights

• A pair of pewter and ebony marquetry medaillers, made by Alexandre-Jean Oppenordt to designs by Jean Berain, from the Cabinet des médailles of Louis XIV at Versailles, circa 1684 (estimate: €70,000-100,000).

• A set consisting of a mahogany suite comprising two armchairs and a sofa, stamped IB Sene, French Consulat, circa 1799, comes from the collection of the Prince-Archichancelier Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès (1753-1824), (estimate: €40,000-60,000).

• A large carved giltwood sofa attributed to Georges Jacob, Louis XVI, circa 1770-1780, (estimate: €80,000-120,000), is similar to an armchair with Georges Jacob's stamp bought in 1928 by the Metropolitan Museum of New York.

• A pair of gilt-bronze two-lights wall-appliques, Italian, Piemontese, mid-18th century, attributed to Francesco Ladetti, (estimate: €60,000-80,000) illustrate the virtuoso expertise of Charles-François Ladatte. Ladatte's work is extremely rare, and most of his existent creations are now in the Palazzo Reale in Turin.

• A pair of large gilt-bronze mounted Chinese white porcelain Kangxi vases (1662-1722), the mounts French Régence, circa 1720, (estimate: €120,000-180,000), typical of the pieces most sought-after by keen porcelain-lovers throughout the 18th century, belonged in turn to Jean de Jullienne, Pierre-Louis-Paul Randon de Boisset, and finally the Duc d’Aumont; they were found in his post-mortem sale in 1782.

• A pair of Chinese lacquered copper figures, late 17th/early 18th century, on a gilt-bronze base, French Régence, circa 1715-1720, (estimate: €30,000-50,000), made in China, certainly had mounts added by a marchand-mercier as their typically French gilt bronze bases show.

• One of the most outstanding lots is a Kangxi period crackled celadon vase in Chinese porcelain with Louis XV gilt bronze mounts, stamped with the crowned C, c. 1745-1749 (estimate: €30,000-50,000). This rare object is remarkably well-preserved.

• A giltbronze pierced craqueled celadon Chinese porcelain vase, Kangxi (1662-1722), the mounts Louis XV, circa 1745-1749, with the C couronné mark (estimate: €15,000-20,000), is one of the collection's most intriguing items. It was very probably carved after the most famous living model of the time: a female rhinoceros that came from India, named Clara. She was the fifth rhinoceros to reach modern Europe alive.

• Two French 18th century terracottas, Hope nourishing Love and Madness amusing Love, by Sigisbert-François Michel, on early 18th century bases attributed to André-Charles Boulle, c. 1774 (estimate: €70,000-100,000). Sigisbert-François was none other than the brother of Claude Michel, better known as Clodion.

• The marble figure of Diana as Huntress (estimate: €200,000-300,000) is impressive for its size (h.: 170 cm). Although it has not, to date, been precisely linked with a particular group of artists, its characteristics – at the confluence of the Mannerist legacy of Lombardy, and stylistic developments originating in Rome – make it a fascinating and complex work revealing a prolific mix of influences, c. 1600.

• An unusual and rare pair of bronze horses, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period, (estimate: €250,000-400,000), seem to have been inspired by the famous series of life-size portraits of the Qianlong Emperor's horses, executed in the 18th century by Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining) and Ignaz Sichelbarth (Ai Qimeng), and now in the collections of the Palace Museum in Beijing.

• A rare very large bronze figural censer in the form of Shoulao riding a stag, Qing Dynasty, 18th century (estimate: €80,000-120,000), stands out for its large size. It can be compared with several other remarkable pieces now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and another Shoulao group acquired by Auguste Rodin in 1911, now in the Musée Rodin in Paris.