sotheby's to sell aristocratic collection of prince and princess henry de la tour d’auvergne...

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  • 8/2/2019 Sotheby's to sell Aristocratic Collection of Prince and Princess Henry de La Tour dAuvergne Lauraguais

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    For Immediate ReleasePress Release London

    London | +44 (0)20 7293 6000 | Matthew Weigman | [email protected]

    Leyla Daybelge | [email protected]| Mitzi Mina | [email protected]

    Paris | Sophie Dufresne | +33 (0)153 05 53 66

    SOTHEBYS LONDON TO OFFER THE COLLECTION OF

    PRINCE AND PRINCESS HENRY DE LA TOUR

    DAUVERGNE LAURAGUAIS

    ON MAY 3rd

    2012

    The Aristocratic Auction of Furniture, Decorative Arts and Paintings

    includes Drawings and Books from the Library of the Princes Uncle,Renowned Designer and Architect Emilio Terry

    Prince Henry de la Tour dAuvergne Lauraguais and Emilio Terry

    SOTHEBYS LONDON will offer for sale The Collection of Prince and Princess

    Henry de La Tour dAuvergne Lauraguais on 3rd

    May 2012. The auction comprises

    property from the familys London homes. It will include very fine Neo-classical and

    Empire furniture, the finest collection of 18th

    century scagliola to appear at auction,

    Old Master paintings, silver, objets de vertu, and drawings and books from the library

    of celebrated designer and architect Emilio Terry from Chteau de Rochecotte.

    Estimates in the sale range from 400 to 300,000. In total, the auction is estimated torealise 2-4 million.

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    The history of the de La Tour dAuvergne Lauraguais family is a long and

    distinguished one. Related by marriage to the noblest dynasties in France, it is one of

    only six families (alongside the houses of Savoie, Lorraine, Grimaldi, Rohan and La

    Tremoille) to be granted the rights and privileges accorded to foreign princes.

    Mario Tavella, Deputy Chairman,Sothebys Europe commented: It

    is an honour for Sothebys to be

    entrusted with this wonderful

    collection from one of Frances

    greatest and most glamorous

    families. Collectors will be

    delighted with the quality and

    breadth of items on offer, which

    together exude a very chic look.

    Emilio Terry was at the heart of

    avant-garde circles in 1920s Parisand many of the books in his library

    reflect his intimate relationship with key figures such as Henri Matisse and Salvador

    Dali. More than that, his passionate interest in architecture is manifest in the host of

    important architectural books that he owned, as well as in his own fabulous and often

    fantastical drawings.

    FURNITURE

    The sale includes museum quality Neo-classical and

    Empire furniture by some of the greatest Frenchbenistes, including Jacob and Joseph. The group is

    headlined by a magnificent gilt-bronze mounted

    amaranth and tulip wood secrtaire by Joseph, circa

    1770, which, with its very strong neo-classical outline,

    represents the pinnacle of Le Got Grec style.

    Estimated at 150,000-300,000*, an identical

    secrtaire is held in the Getty Museum in Malibu.

    For further examples of the exceptional pieces in the

    collection, please see page five.

    SCAGLIOLA

    The sale will present the greatest collection of 18th

    century scagliola ever to come to

    the market. Developed in 17th

    century Tuscany as an alternative to the costly marble

    inlays of pietra dura, scagliola is an extraordinarily complex technique, often used to

    produce decorative effects resembling inlays in marble and semi-precious stones. The

    technique is a particular passion of Princess Anne de La Tour dAuvergne Lauraguais,

    who is an expert in the field. The sale will offer eight rare scagliola panels by virtuoso

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    craftsmen Enrico Hugford and Lamberto Christiano Gori, which depict seascapes and

    marine scenes inspired by the Tuscan coast.

    Princess Anne de La Tour dAuvergne Lauraguais commented:"It was my father,

    Prince Henry who inspired me to study the art of scagliola, and in turn it was my

    father's uncle Emilio Terry who also truly appreciated this form of art and who hadinfluenced him. In my father's opinion, scagliola had a refinement of colour, texture

    and sensuality softened as if dimmed by a veil of fog, not like pietre dure which could

    be bright and almost screaming with colour. Scagliola is a man-made stone, not

    meant to be used outside, but to live with.... I followed his advice and am indebted to

    him for giving me a life-long love for the art of scagliola."

    EMILIO TERRYS DRAWINGS AND BOOKS

    Emilio Terry (1890-1969), the maternal uncle and mentor of Prince Henry de La Tour

    dAuvergne Lauraguais, was a well-known designer, artist and architect. He was a

    member of the 1930s Parisian avant-garde, and in 1936, his work was exhibited

    alongside Salvador Dali and Meret Oppenheim at the Fantastical Art, Dada and

    Surrealism exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Many of his

    designs are now held at the Muse des Arts Decoratif in Paris. Renowned for his

    magnificent library at Chteau de Rochecotte, the sale presents part of Emilio Terrys

    collection of architectural books and livres dartistes from the Chteau, which were

    passed down to the de La Tour dAuvergne Lauraguais family by descent. A selection

    of Emilio Terrys architectural drawings and paintings (below) ranging in estimate

    from 1,000 to 8,000 will also be offered for sale.

    A pair of Italian C18th scagliola panels by Enrico

    Hugford, est. 20,000-30,000.

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    Highlights from Emilio Terrys library include a near

    complete set of the first Paris edition, 1800-1807, of

    Giovanni Battista and Francesco Piranesis works,

    (29 works in 27 volumes) estimated at 150,000-

    240,000. Giovanni Battista Piranesis much

    admired prints of Rome contributed considerably tothe growth of the Neo-classical movement in art and

    architecture. His depictions of the drama and

    romantic grandeur of ancient Rome and his technical

    mastery make his works some of the most original

    and impressive representations of architecture found

    in Western art.

    The largest known version of Antoine Ignace Mellings Voyage pittoresque deConstantinople et des rives du Bosphore to have been offered at auction, is estimated

    to realise 20,000-30,000.

    Published in Paris in 1819, the

    grandest book of engraved

    views of Constantinople

    contains the earliest interior

    views and plans of the harem

    and palaces of Sultan Selim III.

    The exhibition of Mellings

    original paintings for the

    Voyage pittoresque earned him

    the title of Painter to the

    Empress Josephine.

    A selection of Emilio Terrys livres dartistes includes:

    George Braques illustrated Hesiod by Thogonie, Paris, 1955, number 12 of 150

    copies, estimated at 5,000-7,000 (below left) and Henri Matisses illustrated

    Pomes de Charles dOrlans (below right), estimated at 1,500-2,000.

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    A Carved Mahogany Fauteuil De Bureau Stamped

    G. Jacob, Louis XVI, c. 1790, Estimate: 12,000-18,000

    A Carved Mahogany Desk Armchair Stamped

    Jacob Frres Rue Mesle, After a Design byCharles Percier Convention, 1792-97, Estimate:

    20,000-30,000

    Three Gilt-Bronze and Green Painted TleChandeliers in Empire Style, 20th Century

    Estimate: 80,000-12,000

    The sale will also include a selection of other items integral to the daily lives of this

    great aristocratic family: porcelain, silver, glass, linen, jewellery, clocks, objets de

    vertu and paintings, medals, orders and Cardinals regalia. In particular, lots 43, 62,

    63, 138 and 139 have the provenance of Chteau de Rochecotte, the magnificent late

    18th

    century chteau bought by Emilio Terry from his brother-in-law Stanislas de

    Castellane in 1934.

    A Pair of Carved Mahogany Armchairs, one stamped Barreau. Charles X, c. 1830

    together with a French upholstered small sofa and four matching curtains with four gilt metal acorn finials, the fabricdesigned by Emilio Terry

    Estimate: 2,500-4,000

    A Mahogany Caned Armchair, Louis Philippe, c. 1840

    together with a pair of rattan and bamboo chairs, 20th century, after an Emilio Terry design

    Estimate: 1,000-1,500

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    French School, Late 17th CenturyA still life with various fruits in a basket and on a ledge, flowers in

    a vase, musical instruments and a monkey with a flute, oil oncanvas

    Estimate: 20,00030,000

    A Collection of Jewels, comprising: a gold bell inscribed

    DAuvergne De La Tour; a crucifix with French assay marks;and a ring with an oval portrait miniature on ivory framed by

    circular-cut diamonds and set onto a purple enamel

    background.

    Estimate: 1,500-2,000

    *Estimates do not include buyers premium

    Images available via email

    A Pair of sapphire and diamond earrings,

    designed by Emilio Terry, together witha packet of 22 loose French-cut sapphires

    Estimate: 4,000-6,000

    A Portuguese silver Sugar Caster in the Form of a Walrus,David Ferreira, Oporto, Mid-20th Century

    Together with a silvered metal model of a standing bear

    Estimate: 500-800

    A three-colour gold snuff box inset with anearlier enamel miniature of Henry de La Tour

    dAuvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, by Jean

    Petitot Senior, Paris, circa 1670, makersmark of Pierre Mathis de Beaulieu, Paris,

    1780.

    Estimate: 60,00080,000

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