UN MOMENT DE PERFECTION, Christie’s King Street, London, 3rd December, 2014
The Hallway, showing to the left of the mirrored doors:
Lot 53
Christina Robertson (1796-1854)
Portrait of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia, née Princess Charlotte of Prussia, three-quarter length, in an ermine-lined red mantle, in a park landscape
signed ‘C. Robertson Pinxit’ (lower right)
oil on canvas
50 7/8 x 38 7/8 in. (129 x 98 cm.)
Estimate £30,000 – 50,000
CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2014
There is really no other way in my mind to describe an interior by Maison Jansen, especially where it’s legendary director Stéphane Boudin and his successor Pierre Delbée were involved. The interiors from which this collection comes are a fine example of the firm’s work.
Interior View
CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2014
Jansen’s clients included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Wrightsmans, the Agnellis, C Z Guest and President and Mrs Kennedy. I was fortunate enough early in my writing career to write about Boudin and the work he did for Lady Baillie at Leeds Castle and her London house and it was a fascinating exercise. I totally understood why she chose him to create the background for her life.
Lot 20
ONE OF A PAIR OF LATE LOUIS XVI ORMOLU SIX-LIGHT CANDELABRA
ATTRIBUTED TO PIERRE GOUTHIERE CIRCA 1785-1790, POSSIBLY RETAILED BY DOMINIQUE DAGUERRE
Each surmounted by a bouquet of rose stems from a flower and fruit-filled basket on a sphere-capped baluster issuing six scrolling horn-shaped branches on a circular plinth with palmette-cast frieze, the three supports headed by satyr masks and enclosing a suspended amphora to the centre, the base with griffin supports on a concave-sided tripartite base centred by Medusa masks to each side on fluted toupie feet, the rose stems late 18th century and possibly later embellishments
46 ½ in. (118 cm.) high; 16 in. (40.5 cm.) deep
Estimate £350,000 – 500,000
CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2014
Whatever the mise-en-scene Jansen were superb at incorporating their clients’ collections and advising them on suitable acquisitions. This sale contains some superb pieces of fine and decorative art, including two beautiful capricci of Rome by Hubert Robert, Italian commodes designed by Luigi Valadier and a superb pair of ormolu candelabra attributed to celebrated French ciseleur-doreur Pierre Gouthière.
Lot 30
ONE OF A PAIR OF ITALIAN NEOCLASSICAL ORMOLU-MOUNTED PADOUK, ROSEWOOD AND MARQUETRY COMMODES, ROME, CIRCA 1784-75, THE DESIGN AND MOUNTS BY LUIGI VALADIER
Each with a green, grey and white striated marble top above an ormolu stiff-leaf moulded edge, above two drawers centred by classical mask handles within laurel wreaths within a guilloche border, the sides similarly inlaid and centred by a handle, on turned tapering fluted columnar legs and stiff-leaf sabots
37 ¼ in. (94.5 cm.) high; 52 ¾ in. (134 cm.) wide; 26 ¼ in. (66.5 cm.) deep, overall
36 in. (91 cm.) high; 52 in. (132 cm.) wide; 26 in. (66 cm.) deep. without marble
Estimate £600,000 – 1,000,000
CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2014
There are many other beautiful things too that will inspire purchasers to buy a little piece of this superb lifestyle that Jansen created with their clients.
The Dining Room showing on the far wall:
Lot 36
Hubert Robert (Paris 1733-1808)
The Forum, Rome, with the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina and figures resting in the foreground; and the Forum, Rome, with the Temple of Saturn and figures conversing and resting by a sculpted vase
oil on canvas
25¼ x 31 in. (64.2 x 78.5 cm.)
(2) a pair
Estimate £200,000 – 400,000
CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2014
See: Un Moment de Perfection: An Important Private Collection of French 18th Century Furniture and Old Master Paintings at http://www.christies.com
Tim Forrest's E & A 