AMSTERDAM.- Sotheby’s announced today that it will sell the collection of arts and antiques of the late Mr Frits Philips (1905-2005). Mr Philips was chairman of Royal Philips Electronics NV, more commonly known as Philips, one of the largest electronics companies in the world. The three day auction will take place in November 2006.

The collection comprises paintings and works of art that are expected to generate wide international interest, as well as items of personal significance to Mr Philips. Characterised by a rare combination of taste and quality, the collection is set to attract the attention of collectors worldwide.

Mark Grol, General Manager of Sotheby’s Amsterdam, says: “We are very honoured that the Philips family has chosen Sotheby’s to bring this interesting and personal collection at auction. The Philips family is widely celebrated for its outstanding sense of business and entrepreneurial skills. In 1999, Frits Philips’ uncle Gerard and father Anton, founders of the company, were declared ‘entrepreneurs of the century’. The sale of the paintings, furniture and works of art add a different and rather unknown dimension to this image. With enduring passion and a good eye for quality, Anton Philips (1874-1951) and his son Frits together assembled a magnificent collection that radiates Dutch taste and style. What Anton Philips started to collect at the end of the late 19th century, has been subsequently expanded and refined by his only son Frits. What will be offered for sale at Sotheby’s, is the collection of a dynasty, the Philips dynasty.”

The collection, put together with great care and a taste for harmony, spans a wide range of themes. The subjects of the paintings witness an interest for shipping, city scenes and landscapes with cows and sheep; typically Dutch scenes that are popular as ever. A Portrait of Martin Luther from 1532 by (the workshop of) Lucas Cranach the Elder is a fine example of the old master paintings (€20.000-30.000). The 19th century paintings include works by 19th century artists such as Willem Maris, Hendrik Willem Mesdag en Anton Mauve.

The fine decorative arts and the extensive collection of fine silver, Dutch Delft and other ceramics were an integral part of the ambiance of fine elegance of Mr Philips’ residence “De Wielewaal” in Eindhoven. Collectors of traditional Dutch works of art will find a wealth of interesting items of the highest quality. One of the highlights of the extensive collection of silver is a set of four candlesticks by Dirk ten Brink II, Amsterdam, 1718 (€100.000-150.000).

The large collection of Dutch Delftware with blue white or polychrome decorations includes such rare items as a Delft Noir teapot from circa 1702-1720, attributed to Pieter Kocks for De Grieksche A (€40.000- €60.000, pictured) and a set of three bowls with on the covers the figures of Stadtholder Willem IV of Orange, his wife Princess Anna of Hanover and a lion resting under an orange tree (€60.000-80.000).

The furniture matches the general atmosphere of the house, both from an aesthetic point of view and as means of comfortable living. Collectors with a taste for the Dutch traditional interior will find many highly desirable items of top quality. Of special interest is the fine collection of pewter from Holland, Germany, Switzerland and France from the 16th to the 19th century. Highlights are two Dutch Guild pewter ewers - the so-called 'gildekannen', estimated €10.000-15.000 and €8.000-12.000.

The collection of bronzes is equally interesting. Apart from a number of candlesticks and jugs, the collection includes a few exquisite bronze mortars such as a large Deventer mortar, mid 17th century, decorated with hunting scenes and signed on the frieze Henrick ter Horst Fecit Daventria (€20.0000-30.000). The large number of early Works of art include a small 13th century Limoges champlevé enamel casket (€40.000-60.000) and a Saxon bronze aquamanile (waterjug in the shape of a lion, to be used for hand washing) dating from circa 1300 (€60.000-90.000). The lush gardens of De Wielewaal housed a number of fine garden sculptures such as an 18th century probably French group of Pan and Syrinx (€50.000-70.000). There are Chinese and Japanese ceramics and works of art including Chinese porcelain armorial chargers with the arms of Brabant (€15.000-25.000, pictured) and Flanders (€20.000-30.000); tapestries including a wonderful 16th century Flemish Oudenaarde tapestry Forêt Sauvage (€20.000-28.000); jewelry and objects of vertu such as a gold box with the portrait of Louis Napoleon (€15.000-20.000) and a diamond solitaire ring with a diamond of 3.75ct (€30.000-38.000). Books and manuscripts include parts 1 to 5 of Nederlandsche Vogelen (Bird in the Netherlands) by Cornelis Nozeman, Martinus Houttuyn and Jan Christiaan Sepp, with hand colored engravings, published in Amsterdam, 1770-1829 (€35.000-40.000).

Frits Philips - Born in the city of Eindhoven in 1905, the Dutch industrialist Frederik ‘Frits’ Jacques Philips was the only son of Anton Philips and his wife Anna de Jongh. Frits obtained a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Technology in Delft. In 1935 he was appointed vice-director and member of the board of Philips. When on the eve of WWII, the directors of Philips fled to the USA, Frits stayed behind in charge in the Netherlands. During the occupation of the Netherlands by Nazi Germany, Frits Philips saved the lives of 382 Jews by convincing the Nazis that they were indispensable for the production process at Philips. In 1996 he was honored as "righteous among the nations" by the Israeli Yad Vashem for this. Frits Philips succeeded Frans Otten as president of Philips in 1961, a position that he kept for 10 years. During his lifetime, Frits Philips has received many honors and awards. In 1965 he received the honorary citizenship of the city of Eindhoven for his "exceptional contributions to the welfare of the citizens of Eindhoven". In that same year he was made Commander in the Order of Oranje Nassau. In 1970 Frits Philips was awarded the prestigious Medal for Initiative and Ingenuity, a grade of the House Order of Orange. He received honorary titles in many countries, including Spain, Denmark, Japan and China. Frits Philips was immensely popular in Eindhoven. Affectionately referred to as "Meneer Frits" (Mister Frits), he made no class difference between factory workers and members of the board of directors, and chatted just as easily to each of them. The city has always played an important part in his life. His involvement in the city's various aspects of social life - cultural or in sports – is witnessed by Eindhoven’s football team PSV (Philips Sports Union), the Philips Football Stadium, the futurist Evoluon building, the Philips Symphony Orchestra and the Frits Philips Muziekcentrum (Frits Philips Music Hall). Even at the age of 100, Frits Philips enjoyed attending the home football matches of PSV. Although the Philips Stadium's business lounge was always at his disposal, he preferred to watch the game amidst the crowd on seat 43, row 22 in section D. This seat will now remain empty, as a memorial for PSV's most faithful supporter. His hundredth birthday in 2005 was extensively celebrated in Eindhoven. Frits Philips passed away at the age of 100. At his death on December 5, 2005, the entire city of Eindhoven mourned and shared the sorrow of his loss.