Sotheby’s announced that, in partnership with the auction house PIASA, it will sell the Fabius Frères Gallery collection on the 18th and 19th October 2011 in Paris.
The 400 sculptures, pieces of furniture, works of art, drawings and 19th century paintings, estimated to sell for € 9 – 14 million, will be on view at the Galerie Charpentier for five days prior to the sale.
The Fabius Frères Gallery is known worldwide for the exceptional quality, condition and provenance of the works of art in their collection.
The selection of sculpture to be offered represents perhaps the most important group of 19th century sculptures ever sold at auction and includes works by two of the leading European sculptors of their time, Antoine-Louis Barye and Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux.
The furniture section comprises classical 18th century pieces and more exuberant creations from the 19th century. The classical furniture ranges from the period of Louis XIV to Empire Style. For decades the Fabius Frères Gallery promoted the furniture of the 19th century, including works by major cabinetmakers such as Grohé or Diehl, as well as astonishing Neo-Renaissance creations.
In the decorative arts section, ceramics and glass from the Fabius Freres Gallery collection are represented with a rich diversity of pieces, and unique and refined works by Théodore Deck, Eugène Collinot,and Maurice Marinot.
The collection brings to sale an interesting group of paintings and drawings by the sculptors Carpeaux and Barye, as well as some great 19th century portraits, and genre paintings by Carolus-Duran, Jean Beraud and Adolphe Yvon.
Founder of one of the most prestigious Parisian art galleries, Elie Fabius became one of the principal actors of the art market from the 1890s to the 1940s. Passionate about Napoleon and Lafayette memorabilia, and objects of historical significance, as well as sculpture by Barye and Carpeaux, Fabius brought the 19th century style back into fashion. Pieces which passed through his hands are now in the collections of the most important museums in France and in the United States. Elie Fabius’s work was carried on first by his sons and then with the same elegance and passion by his grandson François, deceased in 2006.
Sotheby’s and PIASA are very proud to have been entrusted by Mrs Armelle Fabius with the sale of such a prestigious collection.
A selection of the sale highlights will be exhibited:
New York at Sotheby’s 29th April – 4th May
London at Sotheby’s 10th – 16th May
Paris at Sotheby’s 18th – 22th June
Monaco at Hotel de Paris 4th – 7th August
Hong Kong at Sotheby’s 30th September – 5th August
The whole collection will be exhibited at the Galerie Charpentier from the 13th to 17th October 2011.
Image: The Fabius Freres Gallery Collection Photo: Sotheby’s.