The Facts
Artcurial is presenting a series of sales this season featuring private collections assembled over decades. The offerings include the Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection of African art, primarily from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formed from the 1970s onward and shown in major exhibitions. Another highlight is the Henri de Rothschild collection, comprising paintings, furniture, porcelains, and rare books that trace the legacy of the Rothschild dynasty. A portrait of Brigitte Bardot by Kees Van Dongen, kept in the artist's studio for over sixty years, will also be offered, alongside nearly eighty works tracing French and Belgian art from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism. Additional sales cover a wine cellar from the Parisian restaurant Les Climats, with more than 17,000 bottles, and memorabilia of aviator Jean Mermoz. The season also includes contemporary Peruvian art from the Shipibo-Konibo tradition, the collection of curator Marie-Claude Beaud, and a Swiss collector's ensemble of 16th- and 17th-century German and Swiss goldsmithing. A selection of collector cars from brands including Citroën, Ferrari, and Bentley rounds out the program.
The Signal
These sales offer collectors a rare chance to acquire works from meticulously curated private ensembles, each reflecting a distinct vision and deep connoisseurship. The breadth of categories—from African tribal art to Impressionist paintings and fine wine—underscores the growing market for specialized, single-owner collections that provide both historical context and investment potential. For buyers, the emphasis on provenance and the personal narratives behind each collection adds a layer of value that goes beyond the individual objects, appealing to those seeking curated narratives as much as aesthetic quality.
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- Artists: Kees Van Dongen, Sara Flores, Celia Vásquez Yui, Brus Rubio Churay, Roldán Pinedo, Pablo Amaringo, Petronila Cauper, César, James Turrell, Chéri Samba, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Francisco Goya
- People: Jean-Jacques Rotthier, Henri de Rothschild, Victor Barrios Llanos, Marie-Claude Beaud, Thierry de Lachaise, Carole Colin, Denis Jamet, Jean Mermoz
- Auction Houses: Artcurial
- Museums: Fondation Cartier, Mudam Luxembourg, Nouveau Musée National de Monaco
- Locations: Paris, Brussels, Barcelona
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