BRUSSELS.- Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr announced the auction of treasures from the Adolphe and Philippe R. Stoclet’s collections on Sunday 23 October 2023 in Brussels.
The Palais Stoclet is considered a pearl of Viennese Art Nouveau in Brussels. A work of art in itself, it was built in Brussels by architect Josef Hoffmann, and embodies the peak of the Vienna Secession, an art movement founded by Gustav Klimt . Designed in 1905, it was completed in 1911 for the Stoclet family, who then occupied it as their private residence.
Adolphe Stoclet, Société Générale’s director, rail and coal magnate, art lover and patron, turned to Vienna when he decided to build his own private mansion and commissioned the architect Josef Hoffmann, the main driving force behind the Wiener Werkstätte. The mansion was located on Avenue de Tervueren, an area particularly favoured by the upper middle classes. Listed as a historic monument in 1976, the palace was inhabited until 2002, when Anny Stoclet, Adolphe Stoclet's daughter-in-law, passed away.
Christine de Schaetzen, Development Director of Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Brussels, commented: “It is a privilege to present pieces from such an unrivalled collection as that of Adolphe Stoclet, an enlightened patron who had the privilege of associating with illustrious artists such as Gustave Klimt and Fernand Khnopff, to whom he entrusted the interior decoration of the Palace. As an eclectic collector Adolphe Stoclet appreciated both contemporary art and ancient civilizations.”
Caroline Gentsch, Director of the Contemporary Art Department at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Brussels, added: “Philippe Stoclet's collection exemplifies a avant-gardiste taste for Contemporary Art. Having resided in the United States for an extended period, his collection reflects his interest in American art from the 1970s to the 1990s.”
Comprising two parts, this sale will first present works from the collection of Adolphe Stoclet (1871-1949), who bought, with singular passion, Italian primitives, Egyptian pieces, and Chinese ceramics. South-East Asian, Chinese and Japanese works of art will be featured in the sale, including a copper alloy Head of Buddha, Siam, Thailand (Estimate: €10,000 - €15,000), a Cloisonne enamel bowl from the Ming Dynasty, 16th Century (Estimate: €8,000 - €12,000), an Hanging scroll painting, follower of Kakusen Shogi, Japan (Estimate: €1,700 - €2,200), a Fine Maya stone Hacha (Estimate: €10,000 - €15,000), or an Egyptian necklace, made of amethyst beads (Estimate: €5,000 - €8,000). These exquisite pieces will be exhibited at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris ahead of the sale in Brussels.
Works on paper and engravings from the Adolphe Stoclet collection will also be offered at auction, including an etching by Theo Van Rysselberghe (1862-1926), dedicated 'épreuve pour Madame Ad. Stoclet' (Estimate : €300 - €500) and the top lot pastel and colour pencil on paper signed by Fernand Khnopff (1858-1921), Fore Aeternum Futur, circa 1909 (Estimate: €100,000 - €150,000). Displayed in the bedroom of Adolphe Stoclet, Philippe Stoclet's grandfather, this delicately shaded drawing, subtly enhanced with pastel, reveals a an angelic and androgynous face. The figure is frontal, in the tradition of Florentine bust portraits and a transparent veil slightly blurs the lower part of the face and spreads over the upper part of the chest, accentuating the hieratic aspect of the figure, enclosed in a circle. Khnopff considered the circle to be a symbol of perfection. On the floor of his studio, he had a golden circle traced out, in the middle of which he placed his easel before beginning any creation. Philippe Stoclet clearly remembers that this drawing and its counterpart, entitled Passé, hung on either side of his grandparents' bed.
The second part of the sale will offer at auction paintings, drawings and photographs that belonged to Philippe R. Stoclet, the grandson of Adolphe and Suzanne Stoclet. Works signed by artists including Jack Beal (1931-2013), Tony Berlant (born 1941), Peter Drake (born 1957), Lari Pittman (born 1952), Adam Fuss (born 1961), Peter Klasen (born 1935), Joel-Peter Witkin (born 1939) and Simon Frost (born 1961), among others, were acquired from 1970 to 1990 and reflect Philippe R. Stoclet’s and his wife Colienne de Dieudonné de Corbeek over Loo discerning taste and admiration for American and European artists.
From Galerie Xavier Hufkens in Brussels, Untitled is an acrylic and plexiglass from 2005 by Daniel Buren (born 1938). Mesure 9 is a diptych, 1972 oil paintings by Jacques Monory (1924-2018) (Estimate: €30,000 - €40,000).
Ed Paschke (1939-2004) was a Polish American painter who belonged to the second generation of American pop art. Philippe Stoclet particularly appreciated the work of this artist, several of whose works he has acquired, giving them a prominent part in his home. He is represented here with Bolo, an oil on canvas, 88 x 88 cm, 1999 (Estimate: €10,000 - €15,000).
A selection of works from these two collections will be on viewat 6, avenue Hoche in Paris from 5 to 7 September 2023, then at Chaussée de Charleroi, 89 in Brussels from 19 to 22 October.
Other highlights of the sale include:
• Lacquer inro and lacquer box, Japan. Estimate: €1,200 - €1,800.
• Four small bronze figures, Tang dynasty. Estimate: €1,000 - €1,500.
• Tony Berlant (born 1941), Night Sea, found metal collage with steel brads on wood, 1990, 108 x 169 cm. Estimate: €8,000 - €12,000.
• Adam Fuss (born 1961), Untitled, from the series My Ghost, silver print photogram, 1999. Estimate: €8,000 - €12,000.
• Peter Klasen (born 1935), Aluminium Window, acrylic on canvas,1974, 130 x 161 cm. Estimate: €8,000 - €12,000.
A lecture will be given by Constantin Chariot on Saturday 21 October 2023 at Bpnhams Cornette de Saint Cyr, chaussée de Charleroi 89.
