PARIS.- Sotheby’s Paris presented the prestigious Art Nouveau glass collection of Swiss collector Francis Meyer, achieving a total of €2,824,920 in sales. Carefully curated over fifteen years, the collection features 228 pieces, including works by renowned artists mile Gall and the Daum brothers, offering a comprehensive look at the peak of Art Nouveau glassmaking.
Ccile Tajan, Head of Sale Design, remarked, “Francis Meyer was a passionate collector, assembling one of the finest privately-owned collections of 1900s glassware in Europe. It was a privilege to introduce collectors to this universe, featuring the most illustrious names in Art Nouveau glassmaking.”
Highlights and Museum Acquisitions
The auction drew attention with several notable sales. Two pieces (lots 34 and 69) were acquired by the Muse d’Orsay, and another (lot 57) went to the Muse de l’cole de Nancy, underscoring the cultural significance of the collection.
Among the standout items was mile Gall’s Coupe Conque la Libellule (lot 3), created circa 1884–1889, which sold for €49,200, doubling its initial estimate. Gall’s Vase Hippocampe (lot 56) fetched an impressive €148,000, more than six times its low estimate.
Additional Remarkable Sales
Other noteworthy pieces include:
• The Vase Hellbore by mile Gall (lot 12), sold for €48,000, more than twice its estimate.
• Gall’s Soliflore Chauve-souris et Pins (lot 24), which achieved €62,400.
• The Daum brothers’ Vase Tulipe et Œillets (lot 36) sold for €45,600.
• Gall’s Vase cume de mer (lot 53) and Vase Carpe (lot 54) reached €45,600 and €31,200 respectively.
• The Vase Coprins by Gall (lot 59) exceeded its estimate, selling for €38,400.
• Vase Arbres (lot 91) by Gall fetched €60,000, while Le plus petit cri ne tombe pas dans le nant (lot 94) sold for €56,400.
• The Vase Chardon des Alpes by Gall (lot 100) more than doubled its low estimate, achieving €42,000.
The auction highlighted the enduring appeal of Art Nouveau glasswork, with collectors and museums alike vying for these rare and exquisite pieces. The sale cements Francis Meyer’s collection as a cornerstone of European Art Nouveau heritage.
