Tag Archives: Mr & Mrs Wrightsman

The Collection of Raine, Countess Spencer

The Collection of Raine, Countess Spencer (1929-2016), Christie’s King Street, London SW1, Old Masters Evening Sale (6th July 2017) and The Collection of Raine, Countess Spencer (13thJuly 2017)

Interior
From the property of Lady Spencer © Christie’s Images Limited 2017

I count myself fortunate in having encountered Raine, Countess Spencer several times over the years and she was always the epitome of elegance and charm. That sense of style is very much reflected in her home, the contents of which are to be found in these sales. While the paintings, furniture and objects contributed to the glamour of the rooms they were not mere ‘background’ objects but were bought because Lady Spencer liked them and wanted to live with and use them.

Interior
From the property of Lady Spencer © Christie’s Images Limited 2017

She was very much drawn to the arts of 18th century France and numbered works by Boucher, Fragonard and Greuze among the pictures she collected. On some purchases she was advised by Sir Francis Watson (former Director of the Wallace Collection) who also advised the Wrightsmans with their legendary collection. Regency furniture was another love and it blended well with her French pieces. Her last dining room recalled the Art Deco period and there was also a collection of French Art Nouveau lithographs.

Interior
From the property of Lady Spencer © Christie’s Images Limited 2017

From her birth – she was the daughter of the novelist Dame Barbara Cartland – onwards Lady Spencer was the focus of media interest whether through her marriages or her work as a Westminster City Councillor and in the conservationist campaigns she supported. In later years she was a director of Harrods and had a hands-on approach. The thread of perfectionism that runs through her life is also reflected in her clothes, jewellery and other accessories in the 13th July auction. This is very much an opportunity to appreciate, enjoy or even acquire a piece of the elegant perfection that was Lady Spencer’s way of life.

Claude Joseph Vernet (Avignon 1714-1789 Paris)
A Mediterranean sea-port with fishermen unloading cargo
oil on canvas
Estimate: £300,000-500,000
© Christie’s Images Limited 2017

 

A LOUIS XVI COMMODE
CIRCA 1770-75, ATTRIBUTED TO ANTOINE-PIERRE FOULLET
Estimate: £60,000-90,000
© Christie’s Images Limited 2017

 

Interior
From the property of Lady Spencer © Christie’s Images Limited 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN 18 CARAT GOLD, RUBY AND DIAMOND PARURE, BY VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
Comprising a necklace, designed as a graduated series of ruby cabochon and brilliant-cut diamond clusters
Estimate: £100,000-150,000
© Christie’s Images Limited 2017

 

One of several ‘Lady Dior’ handbags, this one of black leather with studwork decoration.
Estimate: £1,000-1,500
© Christie’s Images Limited 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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UN MOMENT DE PERFECTION

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

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

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

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

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

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