Come this October, over 1,000 lots from one of the finest private collections of classical artworks at the Hôtel Lambert will be unveiled for the first time since a landmark restoration.
Located in the very heart of Paris on Ile Saint-Louis, the Hôtel Lambert was built and decorated in the early 1640s by the giants of arts and architecture who were the masterminds behind Versailles, Louis Le Vau, Charles Le Brun, and Eustache Le Sueur. Listed as a historical monument in 1862 and long regarded as a jewel in Paris’ crown, the house’s rich history dates back centuries: it’s once home to Voltaire and the Rothschilds and has played host to Chopin and Delacroix, Princess Grace of Monaco and Elizabeth Taylor, its rich history dates back centuries.
More recently, following a landmark restoration, its intricately decorated walls and gilded ceilings have housed one of the finest private collections of decorative arts ever assembled. The items to be offered at Sotheby’s were chosen for their significance in provenance, craftsmanship, academic significance and relevance to the heritage of the house.
“This spectacular collection will represent a high point of this year’s auction calendar. It is unique not only as one of the world’s greatest collections, but also because it reminds us that such collections continue to be built today with huge tenacity and curatorial passion for the best objects,” says Charles F. Stewart, Sotheby’s Chief Executive Officer.
At the core of the offering is French furniture, with important examples by André-Charles Boulle and Adam Weisweiler. Alongside these sit a magnificent group of French gilt-bronze mounted porcelain vases and a staggering group of porphyry vases. The taste for Kunstkammer at its finest is a further significant element of the collection, including rock crystal works of art, silverware and vermeil.