Yves St. Laurent and Pierre Berge Auction at Grand Palais

Of course Yves. St Laurent was the greatest designer that ever lived but he was also an avid, obsessive collector of art, objets, sculpture, and furniture. With partner Pierre Berge they amassed a huge, eclectic collection for over 40 years. Berge decided to emotionally and literally clean house by putting it up for auction at Christie's  because the collection was so personal it didn't really mean anything anymore after Yves died last year. So large is the collection, the catalogue is five volumes and the estimated take from the auction is about 300 million euros, which will generously be donated by Pierre Berge to a new AIDS research foundation he is starting.

The collection is from the many houses they owned including the rue Babylone hotel/private house, the rue Bonaparte house where artist Edouard Manet was born, and Chateau Gabriel in Benerville-sur-Mer in Normandy. Highlights include paintings by  Fernand Léger, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Paul Cézanne, Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Piet Mondrian, and Edward Munch,drawings by the Old Masters David, Ingres and Delacroix, art deco furniture by Miklos, Legrain, Eileen Gray, Jean Dunand, Rateau, Ruhlmann, and Jean-Michel Frank, Asian works from the 16th and 17th century, a 16th and 17th century of silver, silver-gilt and gold and sculptures by Brancusi,  Giacometti and a Minatour.

PIET MONDRIAN (1872-1944), Composition avec bleu, rouge, jaune et noir, Signed PM, Oil on canvas, 79.6 x 49.8 cm., Executed in 1922 ; in original frame, Estimate : $11M - $16M). Image Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.

HENRI MATISSE (1869-1954), Les coucous, tapis bleu et rose, Signed and dated Henri-Matisse 1911, Oil on canvas, 81 x 65.2 cm., Executed in 1911, Estimate : $20M - $27M). Image Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.

SUITE OF 18 ITALIAN CHAIRS, Mid-18th Century, Height: 113 cm ; Length : 53 cm.; Depth : 53 cm., Estimate: $405K-$674K. Image Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd. 2008


EILEEN GRAY (1878-1976), Dragon armchair, circa 1920-1922, Height: 61 cm ; width: 91 cm ; depth: 67 cm, Estimate: $3.4M - $4.7M. Image Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd. 2008.

I read a recent interview with Pierre Berge and I thought it was interesting that they never collected any American art.

If you are lucky enough to be in Paris next weekend, contents of the auction are on display to the public for three days, from February 21 to February 23 at the Grand Palais.

Collection Yves St. Laurent et Pierre Berge
Preview days February 21-23, Sale days February 23-25
Grand Palais
3 Avenue du Général-Eisenhower, 8th arr.
Metro: Champs Elysees- Clemenceau
http://www.christies.com

Marcel Duchamp's Belle Haleine - Eau de Voilette (1921). A perfume bottle encased in a box that resembles a coffin, it features a picture of what appears to be a beautiful woman but is actually a photo of Duchamp in a wig taken by Man Ray. Christie's estimate: €1-1.5m


The Bodendieck table fountain (large goblet at centre), a rare gilt work by Evert Kettwyck, Hamburg, c1630. Christie's estimate: €150,000-200,000

An 18th-century French bust, parcel-gilt, with white-painted carved wood. The piece is similar to the marble sculptures ordered by Charles Le Brun during the Grand Commande of 1674, when major works were commissioned for the gardens of the Palace of Versailles
Photograph: David Leven

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[YSLGuy]

If only I was rich and could just bid and win ONE item. What a treasure.

[frank beringuel]

Actually, he did have one American art: an Andy Warhol painting of Mr. YSL that Mr. Berge is keeping, and therefore is not included in the auction. This according to the International Herald Tribune.