This rare commode, sold 2,4 million FF to Akkram Ojjeh by French dealer Maurice Segoura in 1983, was bought by London dealer Bill Redford for an American collector whose name was not disclosed. A French 18th Century commode by Leleu, estimated between US $ 2 and 3 million went for 41,8 million FF (US $ 6,48 million) while a series of lacquered furniture by Riesener from the former collection of Queen Hortense went for 38 million FF (US $ 5,9 million). All these bids were due to the fact that the French State had granted an export certificate for these pieces.
Most experts stressed that buyers were sticking to the idea of keeping these pieces and were not in the mood in trying to realise instant profits like those who followed speculative trends at the start of the 1990's.
Meanwhile, Sotheby's recorded a 59,4 million FF ( US $ 9,2 million) turnover for their sale of furniture and objects of art on December 11th 1999 in Monte Carlo.
A Weisweiler Mahogany and Lemon-Tree commode went for 7,2 million FF (US $ 1,11 million) while the «Rubens» silver ewer and its basin by Theodore 1 Rasier, produced in Antwerp in 1635-36, fetched 6,6 million FF (US $ 1,023 million) establishing a world record for a Flemish piece of silver.
The big sales in Monaco did cast some shadow over Paris where only a few interesting bids were recorded during the month of .
In their new Palais des Congrès salesrooms, Poulain and Le Fur reached a 61 million FF (US $ 945,750) turnover on December 10th. An 18th Century commode by Dubois listed as a national treasure and not allowed to be exported went for 3,9 million FF (US $ 604,700) while a cylinder desk by Canabas fetched 2,6 million FF (US $ 403,100).
A superb sculpture by Pajou, «Neptune on a conch calming down waters», was pre-empted by the Louvre Museum for 2,5 million FF (US $ 387,600). Paris was rather penalised by the lack of very good pieces and recorded a few bids over US $ 200,000. Four blown glass 18th Century Venetian chandeliers were sold by Jacques Tajan for 1,4 million FF (US $ 217,000) while a Flemish tapestry produced between 1630 and 1680 in Bruges and representing the liberal arts after the cartons of Cornelis Shut, a pupil of Rubens, went for 3,7 million FF (US $ 573,650) at Drouot. Meanwhile, a desk by Roetgen sold for a record price of 4,5 million FF (US $ 697,700) in Senlis.
Home
