“LA BIENNALE PARIS AT CHRISTIE’S”
From September 24 to October 8, 2020
More than 90 iconic works from 42 international galleries
have been presented in an unprecedented online auction with an overall estimate of 7 to 10 million euros.
Wooden Sarcophagus Mask
dating to Ancient Egypt
La Biennale Paris and Christie’s were pleased to present an online auction involving 42 international dealers from 8 different countries. This unprecedented sale, featuring 91 works of art in a dozen disciplines, was held online from September 24 to October 8, 2020 on the Christie’s website.
Claude LALANNE
Candelabra
The works in this sale reflected the diversity and unique nature of La Biennale Paris. All of these objects – paintings, artworks and pieces of furniture from around the world, created by the finest masters, artists and craftsmen of their day, and spanning nearly 6,000 years of art history: from archaeology to modern sculpture, from 16th- to 19th-century antique furniture to contemporary design; from 16th-century Old Master paintings to 20th-century abstract art; from jewelry to watchmaking – have been carefully selected by the participating dealers and Christie’s specialists.
Marguerite GÉRARD – (Grasse, 1761 – Paris, 1837)
A Young Woman Just Received a Letter from Her Spouse. On the Globe, Her Father
Seeks the Distance From Whence the Letter was Sent 1808
Oil on canvas.
Signed lower left – 62 x 51 cm. (24 7/16 x 20 1/16 in.)
This unprecedented sale took place via a digital platform specially set up by the Christie’s teams for this auction, a platform that has been unveiled in phases as of September 10 on Christie’s website.
Several different guidelines have been devised to help clients navigate the catalogue of the sale. This system places great emphasis on participating galleries by encouraging collectors to liaise with both the Christie’s specialists and the dealers: the works were presented on virtual exhibition booths whilst the galleries could be located thanks to an interactive map.
Clients were able to engage in a direct conversation with dealers through a digital guestbook – all innovations specifically developed for this pioneering sale.
Pieter Brueghel le jeune – (Brussels circa 1564 – Antwerp 1638)
Summer: the Harvest
Panel 54 x 75 cm
Georges De Jonckheere, President of La Biennale Paris, noted:
“The remarkable selection of high-quality, rare, and astonishing pieces is testament to gallerists’ tremendous enthusiasm for this innovative event.
The sale reflects our ambitions for La Biennale in 2021, due to take place in the Grand Palais Ephémère, where we will have the great pleasure of meeting again.”
D. GIACOMETTI
Cat Butler
CécileVerdier, President of Christie’s France added:
“The discussions between the dealers and the specialists have resulted in a selection which perfectly illustrates the variety in the market today. I am very impressed by the accomplishments of all of the teams at La Biennale, the Syndicat National des Antiquaires and Christie’s, who have worked tirelessly on this ambitious project. I am convinced that this sale will be a great success, confirming the relevance and modernity of this collaboration and sending an extremely positive signal to the art market.”
Roman marble bust of Venus
Art enthusiasts and collectors were able to discover the works in this sale via the e-catalogue from September 21 on Christie’s website, and by visiting the participating Parisian galleries as well as Christie’s, where the works of international galleries were presented.
A preview of the exhibition was also organized, encouraging visits and exchanges between gallerists and collectors.
Russian Imperial gueridon by Heinrich Gambs offered by Tzar Alexander 1st in 1803 to the Queen of Prussia after a drawing of Andrej Voronikhin
On September 29, a symposium titled “Being an antique dealer today” was specially organized on the occasion of the sale to highlight the profession. It brought together antique dealers and collectors to analyze the new challenges facing the art market in the aftermath of the global health crisis.
Held at Christie’s Paris and broadcasted live online, the symposium concluded with an exchange between the guests and the experts. As previously announced, Christie’s have supported La Biennale Paris’s partner – La Mission Stéphane Bern pour la Fondation du Patrimoine – by granting it a portion of its commissions, illustrating this project’s cultural dimension and the synergy of the stakeholders in the cultural sector.
NERI DI BICCI – (Florence, 1418 – 1492)
Ascension of Christ. – Circa 1475-1480.
Tempera and gold on panel – 95 x 57 cm.
LIST OF DEALERS PARTICIPATING IN THE AUCTION:
Ana Chiclana (Madrid)
Galerie L’Arc en Seine (Paris)
Ariadne Galleries (New York, London)
Galerie AVELINE–Jean-Marie Rossi (Paris)
Helene Bailly Gallery (Paris)
Galerie Bérès (Paris)
Galerie Alexis Bordes (Paris)
Galerie Jean-Christophe Charbonnier (Paris)
Galerie Eric Coatelem (Paris)
Costermans (Brussels)
Gisele Croës (Brussels)
Galerie Laurent Dodier (Le Val-Saint-Père)
Galerie Dumonteil (Paris)
Dutko (Paris)
Galerie Fleury (Paris)
Galerie Yves Gastou (Paris)
Galerie Michel Giraud (Paris)
Bernard de Grunne (Brussels)
Haboldt & Co. (Amsterdam, Paris, New York)
Hadjer & Fils (Paris)
Galerie Hioco (Paris)
Iskenderian (Geneva)
Galerie Pascal Izarn (Paris)
Galerie De Jonckheere (Geneva)
Galerie Kevorkian (Paris)
Laffanour -Galerie Downtown (Paris)
Galerie François Léage (Paris)
Jacques Leegenhoek (Paris)
Galerie Marcilhac (Paris)
Galerie Mathivet (Paris)
Galerie Meyer (Paris)
Galerie Mitterrand (Paris)
Galerie Montanari (Paris)
Galerie Neuse (Bremen)
Galerie du Passage –Pierre Passebon (Paris)
Galerie Pellat de Villedon (Paris)
Galerie Perrin (Paris)
Perrotin (Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai)
Galerie G. Sarti (Paris)
Galerie Steinitz (Paris)
Galerie Univers du Bronze (Paris)
Galerie Florence de Voldère (Paris)
PETER BREUGHEL THE YOUNGER
THE NESTROBBER
OIL ON PANEL 18CM TONDO
Sale total including buyer’s premium: EUR 1,491,875
LA BIENNALE PARIS AT CHRISTIE’S
From September 24 to October 8, 2020
ONLINE AUCTION
