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Geneva Attracts China with Antiques from the Mavromichalis Collection – 100% of Lots Sold Totaling $3 Million
The Asian art auction held in Geneva this week garnered significant attention from China’s top collectors, resulting in an impressive $3 million in sales. This remarkable achievement not only establishes a new record for the auction house in this field but also solidifies Piguet’s position as a prominent player in Chinese art auctions. Chinese collectors made dedicated visits to Geneva, while others participated through telephone and online bidding, engaging in spirited competition with European and Swiss collectors, all vying to possess one of the extraordinary Chinese jades from the renowned Mavromichalis collection.
The highest bid went to a 6.5cm-high jade seal sold on Tuesday in the online auction for an impressive CHF 1,250,000 (approximately USD 1,374,175), the auction house’s record price for a lot sold exclusively online.
“These exceptional results confirm the ever-increasing attention from Chinese collectors to Piguet and Geneva,” commented Bernard Piguet, the auction house’s Director and auctioneer. “The consistency and quality of the Mavromichalis collection, which also offered 18th-century European jewellery and objets d’art, explain this enthusiasm”.
The library of Her Royal Highness Princess Maria-Gabriella of Savoy sold 100% of its lots, attracting a large number of collectors and institutions.
Music lovers did not miss Wednesday’s online sale of quartet instruments, a new specialty developed by auction house director Claire Piguet, while other collectors turned their attention to the third part of the Minkoff collection and rare pieces of fine jewellery.
The collection was kept secret by Brigitte Mavromichalis, a major patron of the arts based in Switzerland who has bequeathed millions of francs to institutions and hospitals such as the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Genève, the Fondation Gianadda, and the Musée d’art du Valais, which recently received a bequest of 45 master paintings.
In addition to these Chinese art treasures and the seal fetching over €1 million (USD 1,1 million), the heirs of Brigitte Mavromichalis entrusted Piguet with some rare jewelry from the 1930s. Numerous telephone and online bidders fought hard for the 3 Cartier brooches illustrating the “Cartier Indian Style”, which changed hands for CHF 47,000 (USD 51,733), CHF 62,000 (USD 68,193), and CHF 69,000 (USD 75,984).
1980s Jewelry is on the Rise!
Piguet auction received CHF 736,000 (USD 808,740) for a Marina B choker and earrings in the iconic 1980s style. The sale of jewelry and watches saw a total of CHF 3.9 million (USD 4,3 million).
The selection from the library of Her Royal Highness Princess Maria-Gabriella of Savoy, daughter of the last King of Italy, was another prestigious collection entrusted to Bernard Piguet’s gavel that attracted bibliophiles and institutions alike.
Works of historical interest, coming directly from the personal collections of the Kings of Italy and Belgium, such as the first work printed in Malta on the history of the island, won for CHF 6,200 (USD 6,824), rubbed shoulders with beautiful bindings bearing the arms of this illustrious family, like this binding bearing the arms of Charles-Emmanuel I, acquired by the Conseil Départemental de la Haute-Savoie for CHF 2,000 (USD 2,199).
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