Paris art nouveau, art deco auction breaks records

The sale of a collection of Art Déco and Art Nouveau objects, belonging to Paris art expert Félix Marcilhac, attracted 21 record sums, auctioneers Sotheby’s and Artcurial said on Thursday.

A chest of drawers from the Félix Marcilhac collection DR

The collection included works by some of the most famous artists and craftsmen of the periods, including Jean-Michel Frank, Gustave Miklos, Zadkine, Jean Dunand and Jean Goulden.

Over 300 lots, including furniture, ornaments, sculptures and paintings were sold over two days beginning on Tuesday.

Over 88 per cent of the lots were sold and buyers spent at total of 24.7 million euros, much higher than the 8-11 million euros estimated before the auction.

Marcilhac is 73 years old and said he hoped the works of art would end up with people who “would be able to love them”.

Among the record prices fetched was a bronze Jean-Michel Frank cabinet made in 1935 and sold for 3.7 million euros.

A 1913 Paul Iribe armchair sold for 781,500 euros and a bronze head made by Gustave Miklos sold for 811,500 euros, four times its estimated value.

Passiflore, a Gallé vase made in 1900 and valued at 80,000 euros sold for 169,500 E.

“This auction will go down as a landmark in Art Deco”, said Cécile Verdier, the Europe Director of 20th Century Decorative Arts at Sotheby’s. “It has demonstrated brilliantly that the works of pre-war decorative artists are still considered as icons of modernity”.