Press Release ǀ  PARIS  ǀ  2 JUNE 2015 ǀ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

La Vie de Château

Collection Jean-Louis Remilleux

Paris, 28 & 29 September 2015

« Following a 2 year refurbishment, Le Château Digoine located in the French region of Burgundy, has now been salvaged. Further repairs still need to take place within the stables, the outbuilding, and to ensure the preservation of the small “théâtre de société”, with its beautiful ceilings, private viewing boxes and balcony, which were once frequented by Sarah Bernhardt and Offenbach. In order to fully restore this treasured site, which continues to be shared with the public, I have decided to part with my collection of paintings, furniture and works of art », explains Jean-Louis Remilleux, author and producer, passionate of Art and History and avid collector for over 30 years, who has entrusted Christie’s with the auction of his collection.

On September 28^th and 29^th 2015, Christie’s will offer over 1000 lots with remarkable provenance, many of which refer to important historical figures. The majority of these works date back to the 17^th and 18^th centuries, or from the Empire period and originate from many different countries such as France, England, Holland or Sweden. The collection reflects Mr Remilleux’s eclectic and refined taste, as he gathered works of royal portraiture, an impressive collection of sporting pictures by Carle Vernet, de Dreux, Delacroix and Herring, memorabilia from prestigious sales, as well as paintings and works of art from the 1940s and 1950s, which include artists such as Alexandre Serebriakoff, Emilio Terry, Jeanine Janet, Christian Bérard and Madeleine Castaing. The sale will also feature icons of decorative arts and objects bearing witness to great sales of the past (Charles de Beistegui, the Comte de Paris, the Windsor, Alexis de Rédé, Hubert de Givenchy, Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé…). The pre-sale estimates for these works range from €200 to €500,000, providing an opportunity for collectors to acquire affordable masterpieces of the highest quality.  

The producer on many renowned documentaries, including Va Savoir (presented by Gérard Klein) Sagas, Vu du ciel (presented by Yann Arthus-Bertrand) and Secrets d'Histoire (presented by Stephane Bern), Jean-Louis Remilleux, 56, was also a reporter at the Quotidien de Paris and at the Figaro-Magazine. He is the author of many publications endorsed by his passion for Art and History, such as the series Le Bal du Siècle, which focuses on the greatest patrons of the beginning of the 20^th century, or Le Génie Français, dedicated to the most talented French artisans of our time.

Jean-Louis Remilleux’s interest in 17^th and 18^th century antiques, from bronzes to paintings, with a predilection for animal art, started quite young in Paris, to then develop his skills and ambitions as a collector: « I assiduously frequented antique dealers. From the age of twenty until this day, I have always allowed my instinct to guide me, as beauty and harmony soothes the stress of a busy schedule ».

« Enthusiastic about history, I am as much interested in major historical events as I am in more anecdotal stories, such as that of the Café Society influential members, Charles de Beistegui, Marie-Laure de Noailles, or Arturo Lopez, who had a determining role in the evolution of decorative arts ». Jean-Louis Remilleux then found a home for his collection; the legendary château de Groussay, a meeting point for the well-travelled aesthetes and art connoisseurs including Charles de Beistegui, Charles de Noailles and Emilio Terry. « I was instantly enthralled with the château de Groussay, and dedicated over ten years of my life this historical site. I restored it in its entirety and immediately opened the castle and its beautiful gardens to the public ».  

In 2011, he left Groussay for the château de Digoine, in the south of the Bourgogne region of France. This site classified as a Monument Historique, renowned for its remarkable gardens, is being entirely restored by the collector, from roof to ceiling. « Digoine is the region of my childhood, as I was born in Lyon, and was immediately seduced by this sumptuous 18^th century castle and its undulating landscape ».

Jean-Louis Remilleux has entrusted Christie’s with the sale of the collection in order to complete the renovation of the Digoine castle, where he now lives: « I have been frequenting auction houses for 30 years, in France as well as in England, and I believe that it is each work of art’s destiny to travel from one connoisseur to another. The château de Digoine is not a museum, and therefore needs to be furnished modestly in order to become a home suitable for welcoming large groups of people and for hosting various events, such as retrospectives of famous photographers or contemporary artists. The largest part of the renovation work has been completed, and therefore Digoine’s future has been secured, as well as its new vocation as a cultural institution in Bourgogne».                                                                                         

The Collection

The reception hall features a set of seven Sèvres biscuit statuettes from the série des grands hommes, produced during the 19^th century from models by Pajou. It includes figures of Fénelon, Descartes, the Maréchal of Turenne, or Bossuet and Louis II of Bourbon, which will be offered between €3,000 and €6,000. Two plaster busts, representing Françoise-Louise de Pange, who then became the Duchess of Saint-Simon, and Marie-Adélaïde of France, respectively attributed to the hand of Pajou (€20,000-30,000) and to his workshop (€25,000-35,000), originate from the former collections of the Count and Countess Niel.

In the grand living-room of the ground floor, stands a Neo-Renaissance cabinet executed by Georges Trollope & Sons around 1865. This grand cabinet, over two metres high and made of ebony, marble, hard stones and ormolu mounts, was presented at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1867 where it was awarded a gold medal (€60,000-100,000). Facing the cabinet is a pair of ormolu-mounted ebony pedestals that is decorated by a series of small medallions representing Henri de la Tour d’Auvergne, the Viscount of Turenne and Louis II of Bourbon, prince of Condé. Estimated between 60,000 and 80,000 euros, this stunning ensemble stems from the Baron of Redé’s former collection for the Hôtel Lambert. A canapé stamped by Mathieu Bauve perfectly illustrates the transition between the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles. It was previously owned by Madame Geoffrin and is estimated between 350,000 and 450,000 euros.

The following room, the Salon de l’Arcade, features a terracotta sculpture of Hercules and Atlas carrying the globe by Giovanni Antonio Raimondi, dated 1707. It was acquired in the Yves-Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé auction, and is estimated between €40,000-60,000. Another highlight of this sale is a magnificent pair of ormolu-mounted Sèvres biscuit Médicis vases (estimate: €15,000-€20,000). Old master paintings are at the forefront of the living room, as illustrated by the Portrait de Rainbeaux, écuyer de l’Empereur Napoléon III by Alfred de Dreux (1810-1860) estimated at €80,000-120,000 and a painting by Antoine-Charles Horace, known as Carle Vernet (1758-1836), entitled Pur-sang et manelouk devant une citadelle, estimated at €100,000-150,000. The selection also includes a Portrait d’Hortense Mancini à la chemise blanche by Jacob Ferdinand Voet (1639-1689) from the former collection of the Princes of Chimay (estimate: €150,000-200,000) and a Portrait de Madame Tallien en prison by Jean-Louis Laneuville (1748-1826) (estimate €150,000-€200,000). Measuring 1.5 metres when fully extended, a pair of Empire ormolu-mounted mahogany folios will be offered (estimate: €80,000-120,000). The stands have successively belonged to Elisa Bonaparte, Princess of Lucques and of Piombino and Duchess of Tuscany (1777-1820); to Napoleon I between May 1814 and February 1815, whilst he was held captive on the Isle of Elba, to the Prince Roland Bonaparte and were then acquired by Mr Hubert de Givenchy in 1999 during the sale of the Ancienne collection de la princesse Marie Bonaparte et de sa fille S.A.R. la princesse Eugénie de Grèce et du Danemark in Geneva.

The eighty-four terracotta medallions (estimate: €100,000-150,000) gave their name to the Salon des Ninis. Most of the medallions were executed by Jean-Baptiste Nini (1717-1786), others by his workshop. The room also features a leather medallion of the Profil de Louis XIV, dating back to the end of the 17^th or beginning of the 18^th century (estimate: €30,000-50,000). Finally, Eugène Delacroix’s work Oriental sellant son cheval (estimate: €80,000-120,000) stands out in the Ninis sitting room; this work is a study for the painting of the same name conserved in Saint Petersbourg.

In the dining room, a set of four Louis XVI torchers, formerly in the property of the Duke and Dutchess of Windsor, will be offered in the sale and estimated between €100,000-150,000.

The Marie-Antoinette living room include several masterpieces including a 19^th ormolu-mounted ivory armchair seat estimated between 60,000 and 80,000 euros. A George III jardinière fits perfectly in the interior, as its pink, green and grey lacquer matches the pastel tones of the room’s felted atmosphere. Designed in the taste of Robert Adam, the jardinière is attributed to Mayhew and Ince and is estimated €100,000 to €150,000.

In the Salon des Jeux is a Royal leather coffer made by Pierre Vente (1722-179.), official binder of the Menus Plaisirs du Roi from 1753, and then celebrated librarian. The coffer (estimate: €30,000-50,000) is inscribed with the initials of the Ladies of France. Overlooking the board games is Tambon, the dog of Duke of Vendôme executed by Flamish painter Nicasius Bernaerts (1620-1678), estimated between 30,000 and 50,000 euros. Further highlights include two pairs of Louis XIV armchairs will be offered for €80,000 to €120,000 each.

Among the private apartments, the Appartement Carlin is named after the beautiful commode made by renowned cabinetmaker martin Carlin. Flanked by Japan lacquer panels decorated in red and golden hiramaki-e and tamaki-e depicting flowers, plants and butterflies, the commode stamped by Carlin is estimated between 100,000 and 150,000 euros.

On the 1^st floor, the Grand Salon includes major works. A pair of Baroque style cabinets depicting the siege of Grenada is offered for €80,000 to €120,000. A set of four chairs designed by Emilio Terry (1890-1969) was designed and commissioned following Charles de Bestegui desire to furnish his Parisian hôtel, before he moved the set to the Château de Groussay (estiomate: €20,000 to €30,000 euros). Four 18^th century gilded wood armchairs by Georges Jacob are estimated at €40,000-60,000. The walls are decorated with an Autoportrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659-1743) estimated €50,000-80,000 and a large oil on painting depicting the Vue intérieure de la loggia de la villa Médicis by Hubert Robert (1733-1808), master of the French 18^th century (€100,000-150,000).

In madame Roland’s apartment, a Transition canapé d’alcôve (€2,000-3,000), a Louis XVI chair (€1,500-2,000) and a beautiful pair of Louis XVI sofas (€4,000-6,000) fit together through a matching floral upholstery. Among the bedrooms, one is named Rochas in honour of the renowned Hélène Rochas. Her former bed, a delicate Louis XVI lit à la Polonaise attributed to Jean-Baptiste II Tillard, is estimated at €15,000-20,000. Another bedroom is named after Madeleine Castaing, reviving the soul of this major decorator and the spirit of the 20^th century Café Society. A suite of 6 English Neoclassical armchairs (€3,000-5,000) and a low chair (€100-200) directly come from the auction of L’univers de Madeleine Castaing. On the walls hang paintings and drawings by Marie-Laure de Noailles (Hivers! - €2,000/3,000), Alexandre Serebriakoff (from €1,500-2,000 to €15,000-20,000), Christian Bérard (including a Portrait d’Amedeo Modigliani estimated €20,000-30,000), Emilio Terry (including Étude architecturale – fronton coquille - €1,500-2,500) and Cecil Beaton (including a portrait of M. le baron de Redé – Palais Lambert - €1,500-2,500).

Evening sale: Monday 28 September 2015

Day sale: Tuesday 29 September 2015

Public viewing: 24 - 27 September 2015

Christie’s: 9, avenue Matignon – 75008 – Paris  

PRESS CONTACT: Mathilde Fennebresque ǀ +33 (0) 1 40 76 85 88 |mfennebresque@christies.com

Christie’s, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales in 2014 that totalled £5.1 billion / $8.4 billion, making it the highest annual total in Christie’s history. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers around 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery. Private sales totalled £916.1 million ($1.5 billion) in 2014, an increase of 20% on the previous year.

Christie’s has a global presence with 54 offices in 32 countries and 12 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong and the latest additions Shanghai and Mumbai. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.

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