PARIS.- On 25 & 26 May 2021,
Christies hosted the sale of the collection of Marion Lambert which realised a total of 8,315,000/ £7,180,484/ $10,174,751 selling 97% by lot and 99% by value. These exceptional results reflect the relevant choices Baroness Marion Lambert had made throughout her life with the most exquisite taste. To continue Marion Lamberts engagement, her son Henri Lambert decided to have 30 lots of the collection sold to benefit the association War Child. The total of this selection achieved 1,253,750.
Cécile Verdier, President Christies France and Lionel Gosset, Head of sale: Continuing Christies long history of offering prestigious collections at auction, we are honoured to have paid such a beautiful tribute to Baroness Marion Lambert. This collection celebrated her taste which included Design, Post-war and Contemporary Art, Photography and Jewelry. The pristine quality of the works have attracted bidders from 34 countries, establishing once again Christies Frances leadership in selling collections with success. We are honoured to have been entrusted by Marion Lamberts son, Henri Lambert, whose involvement into this sale was key to its great success.
Connoisseurs and collectors were present in the room, on the phone and online to pay tribute to an exceptional woman who was convinced by her choices; becoming one of the first woman collector. These great results demonstrate continued interest in high quality 20th century pieces such as the important work My wife # 2 by Richard Prince which sold for 437,500 (lot 35), the bureau présidence N.201" by Jean Prouvé which realised 300,000 (lot 60) and Gary Humes Back of a Snowman (Poppy) which was sold for 237,500, more than three times its high estimate (lot 46). The classical furniture which was adorning Marion Lamberts homes achieved strong prices, as illustrated by a splendid late Louis XV ebony bureau plat, cartonnier and its ormulu bronze clock which achieved 462,500 (lot 30) and by the immense Ernest Boiceaus carpet which sold for 237,500 (lot 32). The section dedicated to jewels was highlighted by the magnificent Sheep head clip by JAR which is the top lot of this entire auction selling for an impressive 500,000, a very high price for a piece created by the mythical jeweler JAR (lot 1).
The group of 13 silver prints by Mike Kelley, Untitled &-13 (Dust), 1994-1999 was the top lot of the photographs section achieving 150,000 (lot 41), followed by the Autoportrait of Claude Cahun which sold for 122,500, doubling its high estimate (lot 42). Further highlights included the Hairstyles series by J.D Okhai Ojeikere (lot 268) which sold for 42,500.