Hubert de Givenchy's Collection...

5:19 p.m.

 
08/01/22 - A few weeks ago Christie's in Paris auctioned the collection belonging to fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy (France, 1927-2018), an extensive set of almost 400 pieces including furniture, objects and artworks. The exhibition was held in the magnificent palace of the auction house at 9 Avenue Matignon, where each of the galleries was dressed as if they were Givenchy's original rooms (an excellent idea that placed pieces to be auctioned in the spotlight).

Of all the artworks, we will focus, in this post, on some of the sculptures and paintings that Givenchy treasured, such as the bronze figures by François-Xavier Lalanne and Janine Janet.

 

In front: Oiseau de Jardin, by François-Xavier Lalanne (2006-2008) 

Material: laminated bronze / Measures: 58 x 61 x 98 cm

 

Behind: Dos Cerf Couché, by Janine Janet (1964)

Material: laminated bronze / Measures: 129 x 62 x 110 cm

 

The deer were created by the artist for Cristóbal Balenciaga (Givenchy's mentor) and perfectly represent the sophistication of Janine Janet's baroque imagery. At first, the chimerical sculptures were placed in the windows of the Balenciaga Hall and later delivered by his Spanish mentor to Hubert de Givenchy, who placed them in his geometric garden. Lalanne's bird used to be at the entrance to the Château du Jonchet, owned by the couturier, along with another very similar piece by the same artist. Another Lalanne bronze (A turtle hiding in its shell) was placed up for auction on top of a piece of furniture. This small sculpture that had an estimated value between 20,000 and 30,000 euros reached 150,000 euros! We must also mention that the lamp by the same artist, in the same photo, reached 700,000 euros!

 

Left: Lampe à Poser Singe Allumé, by François-Xavier Lalanne (2002-2003)

Material: golden bronze / Measures: 34 x 26 cm


Right: Tortué, by François-Xavier Lalanne (1973)

Material: golden bronze / Measures: 15 x 19 x 27 cm

 

Portrait de jeune fille, by Cornelis Jonson Van Ceulen (1593-1661)

Material: oil on wood / Measures: 68 x 50 cm

 

On that same piece of furniture, a painting by Van Ceulen, the portrait-artist born in the Netherlands, more than doubled its value. And the small painting by Max Ernst (1891-1976), with an estimated price between 50,000 and 70,000 euros, reached 300,000!
 

Untitled (Soleil), by Max Ernst (1961)

Material: oil on wood / Measures: 22 x 15.9 cm

 

The magic of Givenchy seduced the entire world and was reflected in the results of this auction, which raised more than double the estimate. The general public accompanied the exhibition, with visitors from more than 40 different countries and more than 1 million, venturing to follow the auctions that took three days.

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Contents

Liliana Wrobel


Production & Translation

Carla Mitrani

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