The pictures and sculpture that began proceedings had a rough ride; only 21 from 115 sold, led by Baranoff-Rossine's 1907 gouache Les Barques, 2ft x 19in (60 x 48cm), at €14,500 (£9665). There had been high hopes for A Sa Toilette, the market-fresh nude by Henri Gervex shown on the catalogue cover, 19 x 14in (49 x 36cm), but this sold short of low estimate for €10,500 (£7000).
Old Master highlight was an anonymous ensemble of 12 oval portraits of Hommes Illustres, 12 x 9 1/2in (30 x 24cm), that sold on low estimate for €7000 (£4665).
Appropriately enough, given that Napoleon III built the Hôtel de Palais, there was an enthusiastic response to three items dating from the Second Empire: a Baccarat millefiori paperweight, 3in (7.5cm) across, at €1500 (£1000); an ebonised and black-lacquered cigar box with mother-of-pearl inlay at €3000 (£2000); and a fanciful pair carved giltwood 'grotto' chairs at €20,000 (£13,350).
Top furniture price was €20,500 (£13,670) for an Art Nouveau Poppy walnut display cabinet by Gallé, 5ft 7in (1.71m) high. The ebony-veneered bureau plat (c.1710), expected to lead the sale with €70,000-90,000, failed to sell.
At least Claude Boisgirard could console himself with a pleasant surprise at his auxiliary saleroom in Nice on July 20, when a Vue de la Mer Noire (view of the Black Sea), 2 x 3ft (62 x 92cm), tentatively attributed to Aivazovsky, sold for €60,000 (£40,000) despite paintwork in indifferent condition - suggesting that the prolific 19th century Russian seascapist had at least a hand in the work.
