(English) Sotheby's Paris - Excellence Française: remarkable decorative artworks from the 17th and 18th centuries

Press release Paris

| 33 (0)1 53 05 53 66 | Sophie Dufresne | sophie.dufresne@sothebys.com

| 33 (0)1 53 05 52 32 | Claire Jehl | claire.jehl@sothebys.com

Paris, November 2017 - Sotheby's announces that it will stage its inaugural auction Excellence Française on 28 November in Paris. The dedicated sale includes remarkable decorative artworks from the 17th and 18th centuries, chosen for not only their rarity and aesthetic appeal but also for their quality and prestigious provenances, some of them royal.

Cabinetmaker to the King, André Charles Boulle was the first craftsman of his time to use gilt bronze in cabinetmaking, and the pieces for sale here are two perfect examples of this practice. This bas d'armoire 'à Hercule enfant faisant des bulles de savon' (Estimate: €500,000-800,000) is unique amongst Boulle's oeuvre. The cabinet was identified for the first time in the collection of Barthélémy Blondel d'Azincourt (1719-1795), Intendant des Menus Plaisirs du Roi. It was found later in one of the largest late 18th-century collections of Boulle furniture: that of the Dutch Baron van Hoorn. It then

Registration no. 2001 - 002 of 25 October 2001 Sale conducted by Cyrille Cohen

formed part of the Vogüé family's collection before coming to the market in the middle of the 20th century.

Another extraordinary object from Boulle and his sons is an important gilt-bronze and patinated bronze, tortoiseshell, brass and ebony clock 'au Jour et la Nuit', (Estimate: €120,000-180,000), which once belonged to Etienne Perrinet de Jars, a

farmer-general during the French Regency.

The outstanding lots in the sale also include a magnificent gilt-bronze mounted tortoiseshell and engraved brass marquetry cartel clock with console by Charles Cressent (Estimate: €150,000-250,000), which has remained in a private Parisian collection for over sixty years. A master cabinetmaker who studied with André-Charles Boulle, Cressent's true artistry can be seen in his clocks, whose consoles are genuine masterpieces of sculpture, including the one in this sale, apparently made for the King of Portugal. Another work illustrating the virtuosity typical of 18th century bronze-makers is an impressive gilt-bronze cartel clock surmounted by a Chinese male figure (Estimate: €50,000-80,000). A remarkable example of the Rococo style, its ornamental repertory is extremely rich, and each component is chiselled with remarkable skill.

Designed to embellish the bucolic waterfall in the Marly Estate gardens in 1706-1709, this lively life-size marble Flora by René Frémin (Estimate:

€100,000-150,000) was commissioned by the Direction des Bâtiments du Roi. Largely considered to be his magnum opus, Flora is a prime example of Frémin's signature work, showcasing the phenomenal quality of his craft: delicate folds of drapery cling to her curves, the finely detailed flowers in her crown and garland are meticulously rendered, and a serene smile lights up her face with youthful merriment.

Innocence and gaiety appear again in this small terracotta group of a Seated Girl (Estimate: €60,000- 80,000). Made in around 1560 by an artist in Mannerist

sculptor Germain Pilon's circle, the work depicts a little girl with a bowl on her knees and a pear in one hand. Very few comparable statuettes have come down to us, because the material is so fragile. A real window onto the past, this "Fillette" embodies the spontaneity of childhood, seemingly taken from life.

The sculpture section of the sale ends on a high note with a portrait of the Grand Dauphin in marble by Coyzevox from the former collection of the Comte d'Armaillé (Estimate: €60,000-100,000), and an exceptional bronze medallion, portrait of the Comte de Caylus in profile, by Louis-Claude Vassé from a now-lost monument (Estimate: €50,000-70,000).

Silver

A rare set of four large Belgian silver toilet boxes (Estimate:

€200,000-350,000) appears at auction for the first time, having remained in the same family since 1905. Commissioned by Charles Antoine de Salms (1657-1698), son of the taxes receiver for the Cathedral and States of Liège, and Catherine Gruysen, it was made by Bertholet Labeen de Lambermont, one of the most iconic goldsmiths.

Skilful silver work is also illustrated in the travel necessaire of the Duc de Talleyrand-Périgord (Estimate: €15,000-20,000), in which each piece, in silver and silver-gilt, is engraved or pierced with the arms of Talleyrand. This luxurious set was commissioned from the prestigious Aucoc Company, immortalised by Alexandre Dumas in his novel La Dame aux Camélias.

The selection of mounted objects and porcelains demonstrates the virtuosity of ceramists, particularly at the Sèvres factory. For example, The Sèvres porcelain 'Coupe de Pise' named 'The Dudley vase', (Estimate:

€60,000-100,000), one of the first vases of this form to have been produced, is monumental in size (height: 65.5 cm; diameter: 74.5 cm). Only a small group of Pisa Vases were made at Sèvres. These vases were very expensive to produce when we consider the list drawn up by the chemist Victor Regnault (1810-1878), director of the Sèvres Manufacture from 1854 to 1871. This piece, dating from 1853, was sold to Lord Ward,

Earl of Dudley, and joined his magnificent collection of French porcelains and paintings.

A long way from Sèvres, in China, Cong vases symbolised the earth, eternity and longevity. Originally made from jade, they were found from the Neolithic period onwards in the tombs of high-ranking dignitaries. Their singular form continued to be used for centuries, and they were produced in various materials, like the celadon porcelain of this pair of gilt-bronze mounted Cong celadon vases, Louis XVI, circa 1780 (Estimate: €100,000-200,000).

Estimates do not include the buyer's premium, and prices consist of the hammer price and the buyer's premium

Images are available on request

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