Christie's auction, L'Art du Luxe: Masterpieces of French Furniture, achieved outstanding results, totalling £8.1 million, exceeding its low estimate by 109% and selling 84% by lot. The sale took place during Christie's Luxury Week, highlighting the enduring appeal of French design, from the grandeur of the court of Versailles to contemporary couturiers. Bidders hailed from across the globe, including Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East, with nearly 10% of participants and buyers new to the category.
Photo: Christies.
The stand-out lot was a late Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Japanese Lacquer and Ebony Commode, almost certainly supplied to the duchess de Mazarin for the château de Chilly-Mazarin, which realised £663,000. Additional top results included a striking Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Bois Satine and Chinese Lacquer Bureau Plat by Joseph Baumhauer, one of only two known to exist, selling for £502,000; a Late Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Amaranth, Tulipwood, and Parquetry Commode, supplied to the court banker Micault d'Harvelay in 1774, which made £553,000; and a rare Pair of Late Louis XV Ormolu and 'Acier Poli' Consoles, achieving £337,000.
William Strafford, Deputy Chairman of European Furniture and Decorative Arts at Christie's, stated: 'From the moment this sale was announced, clients from around the world were captivated by the refinement and rarity of the pieces offered. Including the collection in Christie's Luxury Week added an electric sense of excitement as these exquisite works were presented alongside jewellery from prestigious French maisons such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and JAR. The success of the sale further reinforces Christie's New York as a destination for extraordinary collections of decorative arts, following landmark sales in recent years from the collections of Jayne Wrightsman, Ann and Gordon Getty, and the Rothschilds.'
Source: www.artdaily.com