The almost unbelievable style involved in owning a door knocker by Diego Giacometti speaks volumes about Hubert de Givenchy — a collector with a unique taste for mixing and matching modernity and classicism.
Deeply rooted in the culture of his country the world-renowned couturier always considered furniture in dialogue with works of art. His magnificent homes — Hôtel d’Orrouer in Paris and Château du Jonchet in the Loire Valley — display the fruits of this hugely successful quest for an ideal of classical beauty.
There will be four live auctions on successive days beginning with masterpieces on June 14. With a remarkable gathering of nearly 800 pieces of French and European furniture Christie’s promise that these sales will be unmissable.
A Louis XVI bergere with a textile designed by Georges Braque is one example of his taste for reupholstering antique furniture with modern textiles. He loved the colour green for its calming and relaxing properties and a natural sponge painted in green by Charles Sevigny is a nod to another master of the art of mixing modern and classical works.
A key painting by Joan Miro is titled Passage of the Migratory Bird and there are several works by Alberto’s brother Diego Giacometti (whose door knocker was at Château du Jonchet) and more contemporary pieces by Claudio Bravo and Francois-Xavier Lalanne. It promises to be a sale to remember, well worth exploring online.
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