PARIS, FRANCE.- The private collection of renowned Parisian dealer Mira Jacob raised € 5,767,207 when sold at Drouot Montaigne the 23rd and 24th September by I. Bailly-Pommery - P. Voutier and Associates, in association with Sotheby’s France.
The first session of the sale was devoted to Mira Jacob’s important collection of late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century paintings and works on paper. The auction of these works, mostly from the Symbolist and Surrealist movements, dominated by works by Odilon Redon and Paul Delvaux, offered an extraordinary opportunity to the international art market. Often little known to the public and never before seen on the market, the group of works retraces the history of an art collector with an acute eye for quality. They are all emblematic of the artists whom Mira Jacob encouraged and supported.
2,500 people visited Drouot Montaigne and Sotheby’s France to see the exhibition. Last night, the bidders came from all over Europe - including France, Germany, Belgium, England and Italy - as well as strong bidding from the United States.
Andrew Strauss, director of the Department of Impressionist and Modern Art at Sotheby’s France declared, « We are very pleased with the results of this sale, which reflect the strength of the market and which pay tribute to the fine taste of Mira Jacob. The synergy of Sotheby’s and of I. Bailly-Pommery - P. Voutier & Associates in the promotion and organisation of this sale generated huge interest and intense bidding, both French and international, in all price ranges. »
Isabelle Bailly-Pommery, the auctioneer, added « I am delighted that this important sale took place at Drouot Montaigne in Paris ; and that European and American collectors honoured the work and talent of Mira Jacob. Works by, Paul Delvaux and Odilon Redon, whom she supported and loved, were embraced by bidders on an international level. »
The highly anticipated works of Odilon Redon (1840-1916), acquired by Mira Jacob from Arï Redon, the artist’s son, brought in very high bids on Thursday night. Coquelicots et marguerites dans un vase bleu, a stunning pastel on paper, estimated at € 180,000 - 250,000, sold for € 276,800 (lot 14). Fleurs dans une coupe bleue, an oil painted in 190 was acquired for € 192,800 (lot 51).
Among the many exceptional works by Belgian artist Paul Delvaux (1897-1994) whom Mira Jacob befriended and admired, Le Mirage of 1967, sold for the highest price of the evening - € 758,400 (lot 37). A further highlight by Delvaux was Les Vestales, an oil painted in 1972, was purchased for € 533,280 (lot 85).
Many fine works on paper by modern artist’s including Kupka, Léger, Robert Delaunay and Giacometti sold well above their estimates, including an exceptional pastel by Kupka entitled Ouverture that sold for € 60,000.
The Musée des Beaux Arts de Quimper pre-empted lot 75, Visage de face - Notations chromatiques by Charles Filiger, for € 9,600. This work will enrich their collection of works from the school of Pont-Aven.
The second day of sale comprised of prints and books achieved a total of € 933, 316.
The majority of the prints sold for prices well above their estimates and all works in this session sold. An album of 24 lithographs by Odilon Redon La Tentation de Saint Antoine made in 1896 (lot 170), achieved € 24,787 against a pre-sale estimate of €12,000 - 15,000.
The top lot of the book section, lot 321, was the magical Daphnis et Chloé in two volumes by Longus, illustrated with 42 colour lithographs by Marc Chagall. It fetched € 312,622, more than twice its high estimate.
