PARIS.- Today, Christie's paid tribute to the couple Antoine and Simone Veil by auctioning their collection consisting of 59 works of 20th-century art. The sale achieved a total of €3.7M | $3.9M, far surpassing expectations (pre-sale estimations: €1.8-2.8 M). The exhibition of the works was a success, with more than 2,000 visitors coming to admire the collection on Avenue Matignon.

The highlight of the sale was Untitled (Vase of flowers) (lot 312) by Zao Wou-Ki, from the early phase of his work. The delicacy of its subject captivated bidders, driving its price to €1,104,800 after several minutes of bidding. Another painting by Zao Wou-Ki, Untitled (Park) (lot 313), achieved €403,200.

Following the success of yesterday's Design sale at Christie's in Paris, Diego Giacometti's creations once again captured the attention of collectors. After the world record set for the artist during the Design sale, the Antoine and Simone Veil collection offered two of his coffee tables, both exceeding their estimates: (lot 326) €554,400 and (lot 327) €352,800. Additionally, a bronze "Chat maître d’hôtel," (lot 334) signed by Diego Giacometti, delighted the audience, reaching €453,600, tripling its high estimate.

The results of the sale reflect exceptional interest, with 73% of the lots selling above their high estimates. Among the particularly sought-after works, a watercolor by Jean Hélion (lot 301) fetched €18,270, three times its estimate; a painted ceramic by Olivier Debré (lot 307) doubled its high estimate, reaching €21,420; and a Composition by Victor Vasarely (lot 322) achieved more than four times its high estimate, soaring to €8,820. Finally, an oil and ink on cardboard by Henri Michaux (lot 310) registered an excellent result, surpassing five times its low estimate, with a price of €11,340.

This success highlights not only the appeal of the private collection of Antoine and Simone Veil but also the relevance and timelessness of the couple’s taste. Their political and public engagement generated strong interest among collectors and art enthusiasts, sparking a genuine enthusiasm for these landmark works of the 20th century.