Over £1.4m worth of art and antiques from Lord Weidenfeld’s (1919-2016) Chelsea apartment is for sale at Christie’s in London on May 18.
The well-known publisher, philanthropist and social convener began collecting shortly after the war and continued to acquire art and antiques throughout his life.
The auction includes Old Master paintings and drawings, a group of 20th century works on paper – with a strong concentration on artists from his native Vienna – sculpture, furniture, decorative arts and soft furnishings. They filled his flat, which was decorated by the revered antique dealer Geoffrey Bennison – one of the few decorating commissions Bennison undertook.
The art includes this Alberto Giacometti (1901-66) double-sided 18 x 10in (47 x 25cm) pencil on paper from 1947 featuring Femme debout (recto) and Deux têtes d’homme (verso).
Femme debout dates from a pivotal moment in the artist’s career when drawing dominated his work and is one of the earliest in a series of standing figure drawings executed by the artist.
Estimate £250,000-350,000.
