CHRISTIE’S PRESENTS THE SPRING SALE OF 500 YEARS: DECORATIVE ARTS EUROPE 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe, including Oriental Carpets - April 20, 2010
News-Antique.com - Apr 14,2010 - Photo Caption - Set of four North Italian beechwood and parcel gilt armchairs, circa 1840 (estimate:
$15,000-25,000),
New York – Christie’s is pleased to offer the sale of 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe on April
20. The sale includes over 400 lots of furniture, porcelain, works of art, ceramics, tapestries and
carpets spanning collecting periods from the Renaissance to the 19th century, with estimates to suit
every level. Last fall’s inaugural sale was highly successful, which demonstrated the strength of this
long-established market, and the spring season will once again provide a comprehensive collecting
opportunity featuring works of art from private collections, institutions, and a pair of faience
greyhounds from property from renowned French designer Hubert de Givenchy.
Classic Chic: An Atlanta Interior by Thomas Britt
This notable collection was formed by the owners along
with the celebrated interior designer Thomas Britt,
comprising 46 lots ranging from French furniture,
decorative objects to modern furnishings. Widely
honored and recognized within the design industry, Britt
has been selected by Architectural Digest for the “AD
100” every year since the award’s inception. This
collection includes an assortment of neoclassical and
modern furnishings and objects in a range of estimates
including a group of three Italian porphyry vases
(estimate: $8,000-12,000), a Baltic ormolu and cobalt glass
twelve-light chandelier, 19th century (estimate: $20,000-
40,000), a set of four North Italian beechwood and parcel gilt armchairs, circa 1840 (illustrated leftestimate:
$15,000-25,000), and a pair of terracotta Egyptian caryatid lamps (estimate: $3,000-5,000).
Highlights
Among the exceptional lots is a rare Flemish exotic tapestry, circa
1504-1522 (estimate: $150,000-250,000). This tapestry reflects the
contemporary fascination with the exploration of the New World
and portrays a charmingly naïve way in which Europeans imagined
the East. It depicts ships, figures unloading exotic animals and
objects, Royal figures and possibly the Portuguese explorer Vasco da
Gama standing before an architectural setting. From a series known
as “The Story of Calcutta”, sets are known to have been delivered to
Philip I of Castile in 1504 and shortly thereafter to Cardinal Wolsey
and Emperor Charles V of Spain to adorn their state rooms. Few
tapestries of such exotic subjects remain from this period.
The cover lot of the sale is an important gilt-metal,
rock-crystal, chalcedony and cameo-mounted coffret
à bijoux on stand (estimate: $100,000-150,000). By
tradition, this magnificent jewelry casket was
reputedly owned by Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria
(1837-1898), fondly known to her closest
companions as "Sisi" or "Sissi". Of Wittlesbach
peerage, Sissi was born under the title of Duchess Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie and became an iconic
figure in Austrian, Hungarian and German history for her beauty, style, and patriotism. As the wife
of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria, Sissi was spoiled excessively and was known to indulge her
extravagant tastes. This coffret was very likely one of the many gifts bestowed upon the Empress
throughout her lifetime.
Intricately designed and exotically appealing is a Chinese Export black and giltlacquer
bureau-cabinet, mid 18th century (estimate: $80,000-120,000). Oriental
lacquer has been prized in the West
