PARIS.- The “Collections” auction which was offering four different collections in one sale, was very successful as 83% of the lots were sold to international collectors. The top lot of the sale was a beautiful bronze sculpture by Rembrandt Bugatti which came from the collection of Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle who acquired the Villa des Cèdres made famous by Léopold II, the King of Belgians. This beautiful decorative art piece sold for an impressive €596,000, doubling its presale high estimate. From the same collection, a spectacular pair of monumental Napoleon III crystal and glass chandelier sold for €131,250 against a presale estimate of €30,000-50,000 and a pair of monumental Louis XVI ormolu nine-branchs wall-lights realised €62,500, way above its presale estimate of €8,000-12,000. The European collection originating in part from the former collection of HRH Princess Murat realised strong prices such as for a late Empire ormolu center-table made circa 1815 which sold for €25,000. The group of furniture originating from the estate of Ms. Françoise Heftler, who furnished her apartment on the Bois de Boulogne, saw a pair of Directoire ormolu and patinated-bronze twin branch candelabra sold for €20,000. Finally, international collectors paid tribute to the exploits of the medieval trade guilds which were well represented in Henri Klinger’s collection. Indeed, the majority of the pieces sold above their high estimate such as an impressive walnut staircase model which sold for €10,625.

Lionel Gosset, Head of Collections : “These excellent results pay tribute to the eye of these collectors who gathered these incredible and eclectic works of art for decades. In every domain, high quality was present to attract connoisseurs from all over the world. Christie’s France is pleased to continue its successful season start with this great auction, which realised more than 1,8 million euros”.