The most exuberant item on offer was a three-doored lacquered display bookcase, 8ft 2in x 9ft 2in (2.49 x 2.80m), in what the catalogue dubbed “Indo-Chinese Chippendale” style (c.1800). Its unusual four slender columns, with geometric patterning in tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl, suggested an origin from the Gujarati region. Bidding climbed to a double-estimate €70,000 (£48,300).
A Régence commode stamped Hache à Grenoble, with ash, sycamore and walnut veneers, doubled hopes on €130,000 (£89,700). A pair of 18th century Russian ovoid malchite vases, 2ft 4in (72cm) high, went to €66,000 (£45,500), eight times estimate; and a late 17th century Brussels tapestry, 11ft 6in x 21ft 3in (3.5 x 6.5m), showing the Battle of Zama (from the Scipio series), although not in optimum condition, tripled estimate with €80,000 (£55,200).
Spicing up a ‘Chippendale’
FRANCE: The 162-lot Piasa (17.94/11.96% buyer’s premium) furniture sale on June 25 was 70 per cent sold by lot and brought €1.8m (£1.24m) hammer, with a three-drawered Louis XVI citronwood-veneered bureau plat, with painted metal decoration of arabesques and blue and white medallions, evocative of the work of Pierre Macret (active 1756-85), selling for €340,000 (£234,000) – helped by its leather top with crowned N and imperial corner eagles.
