PARIS.- Tonight, the first of five auctions taking place this week brought the eclectic world of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani's Avenue Floquet residence to the saleroom, with collectors responding enthusiastically to the extraordinary range of works assembled the extraordinary range of works assembled to decorate this storied hôtel particulier. 100% sold, the sale realised €7.3 million / $8.1 million, well above its pre-sale estimate of €3.7-5.6 million. The remarkable breadth of the collection was reflected in strong bidding across centuries and categories, from antiquities and Old Master portraiture to Dutch Delft, silver and European furniture, with as much as 60% of lots selling above their high estimates.

"The response tonight speaks to what made Avenue Floquet so special: an exceptional eye for quality, an instinct for bringing together works across centuries, and the confidence to create something entirely personal. With every lot sold and such strong competition throughout the evening, this first auction is a tremendous opening to the series and a fitting celebration of His Highness's remarkable vision as a collector." -- Mario Tavella, Chairman, Europe and President, Sotheby's France

Key figures

• Studio of Nicholas Hilliard, Portrait of a gentleman clasping a hand from a cloud soared to €249,600, more than seven times its high estimate (est. €25,000-35,000)

• English School, circa 1595, Portrait of Elizabeth I, Queen of England almost doubled its high estimate, selling for €230,400 (est. €80,000-120,000)

• Nicholas Hilliard, Portrait of Anne of Denmark, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland more than doubled its high estimate, totalling €104,960 (est. €30,000-50,000)

• Two portraits by Jean-Marc Nattier and his studio also more than doubled their high estimates:

• Studio of Jean-Marc Nattier Portrait of Louise-Henriette de Bourbon-Conti, Duchesse de Chartres as Hébé more than doubled its high estimate, selling for €96,000 (est. €30,000-40,000)

• Jean-Marc Nattier, Portrait of a Gentleman dressed in black sold for €96,000, more than double its high estimate (est. €25,000-40,000)
Further highlights from across the evening included:

• A pair of Italian giltwood sofas, Genoa sold for €345,600, well above its high estimate (est. €200,000-300,000)

• The Mentmore Venus and Atonius, probably for Lorenz Biller II, Augsburg, circa 1700 realised €332,800 (est. €150,000-250,000)

• A pair of George III giltwood armchairs, circa 1765, in the manner of Thomas Chippendale doubled its high estimate, totalling €256,000 (est. €80,000-120,000)

• Twenty-four Sèvres porcelain fond bleu agate plates from the 'Petites Vues de France' service, circa 1858 more than tripled its high estimate, selling for €160,000 (est. €30,000-50,000)

• A Louis XV gilt-bronze mounted Chinese lacquer and parisian varnish commode more than doubled its high estimate, realising €140,800 (est. €40,000-60,000)

• A pair of English gilt-brass and crystal thirty-six-light chandeliers in Adam style, late 20th century more than doubled its high estimate, selling for €121,600 (est. €30,000-50,000)