Homage To a Niçois...

Niçois Designer's Work Makes a Statement at Michael Jackson Auction

One year after Michael Jackson's sudden death, Julien's Auctions in Las Vegas held an impressive auction for the late King of Pop, presenting the furniture that Jackson had commissioned for his Kent residence in England. Michael Jackson was planning to use that home as his residence for his “This is It” concert series. Along with furniture there were 200 pieces of memorabilia such as his Swarovski crystal studded glove from his Victory Tour, a signed "Beat It" jacket, and signed "Bad" Lyrics.

One of the pieces that sparked our interest was a stool designed by our Niçois neighbor, Jean-Antoine Hierro. Jean-Antoine is an artist and furniture designer who designs under the name "Hierro Desvilles". His gallery is just a short walk down the street from us in the antique district of Nice.

Forever the showman onstage and off, Jackson always aimed at making a statement and his interior design and furniture were no different. This spectacular red velvet upholstered stool is accented with gold welting and decorative bronze gilt carved wooden feet. Called "La Dimora di un Gentleman" this piece was designed by Hierro and handmade in Italy to exact specifications by the Italian furniture design house Colombostile. "La Dimora di un Gentleman" translates as "The House of a Gentleman". Michael Jackson originally commissioned the piece at a retail price of $17,000. Estimated at auction at $10-15,000, it outperformed the odds selling for $21,250.

Bravo, Jean-Antoine Hierro!

Most Expensive Work of Art Ever Sold At Auction: Giacometti's "Walking Man" Breaks The Record

Alberto Giacometti’s life size bronze, “L’Homme Qui Marche I” (Walking Man) made history last month becoming the most expensive work of art ever to sell at auction; it sold for £65, 001,250 ($100.3 million) at Sotheby’s of London on February 3, 2010. The final sale price just beat the previously held record, set in 2004 by Pablo Picasso’s “Garcon a la Pipe” (Boy With A Pipe) at $100.1 million, but stunned bidders and bidding wannabes from all over the world anticipating a sale price closer to the estimated £12–18 million. Kind of ironic for a bronze sculpture with existentialist themes…

"L'Homme Qui Marche I" at auction at Sotheby's London.

Working the phones at Sotheby's Impressionist and Modern Art Auction.

What’s even more ironic is that this record-breaking sale comes at a time of historic, worldwide economic crisis and recession. Obviously there are those who are not feeling the pinch – ten to be exact (ten buyers were involved in the eight minute bidding, narrowing down to two after the bid hit 50 million). According to two London based art dealers, the piece was purchased by Lily Safra, the Brazilian-born widow of Lebanese banker Edmond J. Safra, who died in a fire in his Monaco apartment in 1999. (Forbes says her net worth is $1 billion). The seller, Commerzbank AG, a German bank that inherited the work when it took over Dresdner Bank last year (also a result of the economic crisis), says it plans to use the proceeds to fund philanthropic endeavors…

Giacometti's "Walking Man".

There are two versions of “Walking Man,” I and II, each in editions of six plus artist proofs. The six-foot-high bronze was initially acquired in 1961 by New York art dealer Sidney Janis, who bought it from Galerie Maeght in Paris, according to the auction catalogue. But interestingly enough, these world renowned figures came to be thanks to a New York achitect by the name of Gordon Bunshaft who commissioned Giacometti to create a large group of figures for the outdoor plaza of Chase Manhattan Bank in New York in 1956. The public art project was never completed but it was the American connection that encouraged Giacometti to create larger-scaled works.

Alberto Giacometti.

So just how do works of art fetch such phenomenal prices in today’s economy? Apparently, it’s simple economics - supply and demand. According to Georgina Adam, editor-at-large of The Art Newspaper, the price was so high because there are so few Giacometti sculptures and it was very rare for them to be put up for auction. The Giacometti sale was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”. In fact one of the bidders said he had waited 40 years for this work to come up for auction. The sculpture is considered to be one of the most important by the 20th-century Swiss artist.

Alberto Giacometti.

Melanie Clore, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby's, says the answer is five-fold: condition, rarity, reputation of the artist, competition, and confidence that the piece will at least hold its value. "The competition which generated these exceptional results demonstrates the continued quest for quality that compels today's collectors," says Clore.

Giacometti at work.

It makes sense that in times of economic crisis and financial bailouts, investors would be keen to move their moneys towards more tangible investments such as art, antiques, precious metals and stones. And as the returns continue to grow, so will the art market. And if Sotheby’s Impressionest and Modernist auction last mon this is any indication, “la tendance” seems to be moving in an upward direction for now. Investing never looked so good!

Sotheby's employees move works for the Impressionist and Modern Art auction in London.
The large painting is by Gustav Klimt, the still life is by Paul Cezanne.

But you don’t have to be a billionaire to get a glimpse of and appreciate truly fine works of art such as Giacometti’s “Walking Man”. Fortunately for the rest of us, it can be seen in several museums around the world: Carnegie Institute Museum of Art (Pittsburgh, PA), Albright-Knox Art Gallery (Buffalo, NY), National Gallery of Art (Washington DC), Kröller-Müller Museum (Otterlo, Netherlands), Fondation Beyeler (Basel, Switzerland ), Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (Humlebaek, Denmark), Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL), Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Cornell University, (Ithaca, NY) and Fondation Maeght (St. Paul-de-Vence, France).

I’ve seen the one in St. Paul de Vence, along with several other works by Giacometti – it’s definitely worth the trip!

Fondation Maeght, St. Paul de Vence, France.

Bronze by Giacometti at Fondation Maeght, St. Paul de Vence, France.

Giacometti figures in courtyard at Fondation Maeght.

Giacometti's "Dog" at Fondation Maeght, St. Paul de Vence.

Giacometti's "Cat" at Fondation Maeght, St. Paul de Vence.

The Surreal Life of Salvador Dalí

by Lauren Stewart-Ebert


On October 18th, the Hotel Drouot in Paris held an amazing auction in tribute to the Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. Featuring a multitude of photographs and objets d'art, the collection chronicled an intriguing and surreal life.


He was born in 1904 in Figueres, Spain nine months after the death of his older brother, also named Salvador. When he was five, Dalí's parents told him he was the reincarnation of his deceased brother.

On the subject of his brother, Dalí said, "We resembled each other like two drops of water, but we had different reflections."


In 1922, Dalí began his studies of art in Madrid, where he became friends with Federico García Lorca (and rejected the poets' advances). He was expelled from the academy several years later when he said that no one on the faculty was competent enough to examine him.

Salvador Dalí and Gala

He met his muse and future wife, Gala, in 1929. His father greatly disapproved as Gala was already married and eleven years Dalí 's senior. This ended Dalí's relationship with his father but began the most passionate and prolific period of the artist's life.

Salvador Dalí and Gala in front of "The Madonna of Port Lligat" 1950.

"The Persistence of Memory" 1931.

In 1931, Dalí painted what would be his most famous work, "The Persistence of Memory." The melting clocks in this painting would later be re-imagined as beautiful crystal sculptures by Daum.

Clock Hanger, 1971.

The Big Guitar, 1971.

From 1954 to 1974 a series of photographers worked with Dalí on various occasions, including Robert Whitaker (best know for his work with the Beatles), Lucien Clergue, and Jean-Marie Perier.

The persona of Salvador Dalí was well accounted for in these photos.

Portrait of Salvador Dalí by Philippe Halsman, 1954.

"Emperor Dali" by Robert Whitaker, 1968.

When Gala passed away in 1982, Dalí lost his will to live and on several occasions was thought to have attempted suicide. In 1989, Dali died of heart failure in his home town of Figueres. He was buried at the Teatro Museo in Figueres only a few blocks from the Church of Sant Pere, where he was baptized as a child.

The Teatro Museo in Figueres, Spain.

Dali was admired as both an artist and an eccentric. Perhaps the legacy of Dalí was best summed up by Dalí himself in an interview with Mike Wallace:

"Dalí is immortal and will not die".

The "Tuzla" Baccarat Crystal Chandelier

by Lauren Stewart-Ebert


This spectacular Baccarat crystal chandelier was truly one of the highlights (no pun intended...) of Marc-Arthur Kohn's annual summer auction in Cannes, France earlier this month.

Originally designed for the 1855 Exposition Universelle held on the Champs-Elysées, this piece has been recreated for palaces around the world, including those of the Sultan of Turkey and the Shah of Persia.

Nearly 12 feet in height and 8 1/2 feet in diameter, it unabashedly counts over 9000 crystals, 157 lights and weighs over 1,400 pounds! This stunning piece was estimated to sell for $850,000 to $1.1 million.

Although the original took a mere six days to assemble prior to the auction, three years is the expected wait for a newly created version.

Baccarat chandeliers adorn many of the finest palaces around the world...

A Baccarat crystal chandelier hangs in the grand staircase of the Dolmabahçe Palace.

The Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, Turkey has the world's largest collection of Baccarat crystal chandeliers and features Baccarat crystal banisters on one of its many grand staircases.

Detail of the Dolmabahçe chandelier.

A pair of Baccarat crystal chandeliers hang in the Jai Vilas Palace

The Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior, India houses two of the world's largest Baccarat crystal chandeliers, weighing over three tons each.

The dazzling effect these chandeliers have on the rooms they embellish makes it easy to understand why, after 245 years, Baccarat has earned (and kept) its reputation as the "Crystal of Kings".

Kenzo Auctions Art Collection

by Lauren Stewart-Ebert

Last week's auction of Japanese designer Kenzo Takada's personal collection of art and artifacts at the Paris Drouot auction house was a resounding success. The auction netted a total of $2.63 million, selling over 75% of the pieces on the block. The wide range of prices (from $850 to $150,000) kept the auction accessible and the diversity of his eclectic collection attracted huge crowds of buyers from all over the world.

Amongst his stunning assemblage was furniture, statuary, and laquerware from around the globe including China, Japan, France and Belgium.

Living in Paris since the early 1960's, the retired fashion icon developed a keen sense of style. His home was a tasteful mix of Asian and European elements.

A French Louis XV armchair sits next to a Japanese rice paper sliding door.

Bamboo flooring and neutral colors reminiscent of a Zen garden are complimented perfectly by a pair of French Louis XVI meridiennes and Italian Chiavari chairs.

A beautiful eighth century pure gold goddess statue from Thailand drew the highest bids. Originally estimated at $80,000 to $100,000, it sold for $150,000.

Kenzo's reason for offering up his remarkable collection at auction was a desire to simplify, "After 20 years in this house, I wanted to turn the page and live lighter. For parties, it was great, but sometimes when I’m here alone, it’s far too big".

He is moving from his spacious 12,000 square foot mansion in the Bastille area of Paris to a 2,700 square foot apartment on the Left Bank.

Chinese funereal statues from 5th century BC, valued at $20,000 to $60,000.

Chinese horse statues from the 6th century, valued at $14,000 each.

One piece which, surprisingly, did not sell was a large Chinese Han era wooden horse from the 2nd century B.C., estimated at $100,000 to $140,000.

Kenzo has said his new apartment, in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres neighborhood, will have a markedly European feel. The influence of living in France for the past 45 years is significant, "I discovered Japan only after I had moved to Paris. Now I'm going to rediscover Paris."

We have no doubts that the mix will be nothing short of a masterpiece...

Yves Saint Laurent - Pierre Bergé Auction of the Century at Christie's

Breaking seven world records in auction sales, including those for Matisse, Brancusi, Mondrian, and de Chirico, Pierre Bergé has the "Auction of the Century" in February with the Collection Yves Saint Laurent et Pierre Bergé in Paris' newly renovated Grand Palais. The Christie's auction pre-sale expectations standing at $274 million were greatly exceeded with a final result of $484,426,456. This comes as no surprise, with an Eileen Gray armchair selling for $28 million and a Brancusi sculpture at over $37.6 million. Obviously, buyers and collectors are both fascinated and passionate about decorative arts!

Mr. Bergé presented French president Nicolas Sarkozy with a painting by Goya: Portrait of Don Luis Maria de Cistué, representing a legacy to France from Mr. Laurent.

The first night of the auction, Impressionist and Modern works were presented, including works by Mondrian, Léger, Picasso, and Matisse. Take a look:

Piet Mondrian
“Ferme sur le Gein, dissimulee par de grands arbres” ($469, 313)

Fernand Leger
“Composition, dans l’usine” ($7,158,509)

Pablo Picasso
Portrait-charge: "Massine, Bakst et Diaghilev" ($217,862)

Henri Matisse
“Les coucous, tapis bleu et rose” ($46,286,022)

The second night of the auction featured Art Deco furniture in addition to Old Master paintings and drawings. Here's a glimpse at a few of the highlights:

French (four armchairs) (1925) ($132,780)

Alfred Porteneuve
Pair of benches (1930) ($155,984)

Eileen Gray
Armchair with dragons (1917-1919) ($28, 238, 277)

Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Meridienne “Elegant” (1920) ($117, 310)

Theodore Gericault
"Portrait d'Alfred et Elisabeth Dedreux" ($11,634,350)

The last day of the auction covered sculptures, ceramics, other furniture, objets d’art and antiquities such as these:

Constantin Brancusi
Madame L.R. ($29,185,000)

Bronze Head Representing Janus ($2,610,478)

This outstanding collection dazzled the public and the press from all over the world. It is easy to see why - the grandeur and sheer abundance of pieces that have been reintroduced to the art world, forever traveling through history, is simply mind-boggling. Now that Mr. Bergé has auctioned the entire collection, he will create a new foundation dedicated to scientific research for the fight against AIDS. Bravo Messieurs, c'était formidable!