Christie’s will present the collections of the Château de Tournay across two sales on June 17 and 18, 2026. These auctions feature French decorative arts and a bibliophile’s library that defined aristocratic taste for centuries.
Voltaire’s Former Home
The Château de Tournay once housed Voltaire in the canton of Geneva. The philosopher himself described living with “one foot in France and the other in Switzerland.” This history runs through every piece in the current collection.
The owner restored the entire château to house these treasures. The library sits within the overall décor rather than standing apart from it.
Hippolyte de la Féronnière, Director of the Furniture and Works of Art Department, notes: “it is quite rare to find a collection of classical decorative arts paired with a bibliophile’s library. The current owner fully restored the château to house his collections in a refined and coherent setting, with a library perfectly integrated into the décor.”
The collection spans 220 pieces acquired between the 1960s and 1990s. Each piece represents the finest work from royal manufactories and master artisans of the 18th century, similar to the exceptional quality found in Christie’s Ardbraccan House Collection.
Royal Provenance Pieces
The Georges Jacob Chairs
96 x 67 x 63 cm
Two fauteuils à la reine bear the stamp of Georges Jacob. Delivered in 1786 for the Château de Fontainebleau, these chairs appear in Pierre Verlet‘s “Le Mobilier royal français.” The former Chief Curator of Works of Art at the Louvre documented their museum-quality status.
Estimate: €300,000-500,000.
Rothschild Connection
A Régence flat desk in kingwood veneer with gilt-bronze ornamentation comes from the collection of James de Rothschild. The piece represents French cabinetmaking during the most refined period of decorative arts.
Estimate: €150,000-250,000.
A Savonnerie screen shares lineage with a comparable example in the Musée Nissim de Camondo. Despite its modest estimate of €8,000-12,000, it maintains the same museum-quality standards.
Porphyry and Precious Materials
Porphyry worked in Rome rarely left Italy except for the greatest collections. This imperial stone appears throughout the Tournay collection, marking its exceptional status.
106.5 cm x 32 x 25 cm.
Estimate : €50,000-80,000
An obelisk clock uses Egyptian and Swedish porphyry alongside richly coloured marbles. The piece reflects the late 18th-century passion for classical antiquity. Estimate: €50,000-80,000.
Neoclassical pots-pourris (€7,000-10,000) and a library table veneered in porphyry (€30,000-50,000) continue this celebration of rare minerals.
Royal Sèvres Services
The dining arts receive proper attention through distinguished Sèvres services. King Louis Philippe I commissioned one service for the Château d’Eu (€20,000-30,000). The Duke of Nemours acquired another in 1839 (€15,000-25,000), proving royal appreciation for Sèvres porcelain extended well into the 19th century.
Paintings Across Centuries
FRENCH SCHOOL, CIRCA 1670
Vue de Paris prise du Pont Neuf
Oil on canvas
77.5 x 123 cm
Estimate : €80,000-120,000
A View of Paris from around 1670 captures the capital during Louis XIV‘s reign (€80,000-120,000). The painting provides historical documentation alongside artistic merit.
Albert Marquet‘s view of the Port of Algiers, painted in 1921, demonstrates his mastery of Mediterranean light (€40,000-60,000). Christie’s upcoming Bonnard Matisse Collections similarly showcases Post-Impressionist masters, while Émile Bernard‘s “A Meadow in Saint-Briac” represents Post-Impressionist landscape painting (€50,000-70,000).
François Rouan‘s contemporary work uses his signature weaving technique to bridge traditional craftsmanship with modern expression (€60,000-80,000).
Sans titre
Oil on canvas
200 x 150 cm
Estimate : €60,000-80,000
The Bibliophile’s Library
Vincent Belloy, Books & Manuscripts specialist, describes the quality: “the collector had impeccable taste and an exceptionally sharp eye for the condition of the books, a decisive criterion for bibliophiles.”
Voltaire’s Œuvres bound with the arms of Maria Feodorovna (€12,000-18,000) honors the château’s former resident. The celebrated “Kehl” edition in contemporary morocco follows (€10,000-15,000).
The library connects literary legends with their most distinguished readers. Montaigne to Marie-Louise, Madame de Pompadour to Picasso, La Fontaine to Léger.
Bindings by Paul Bonet, Pierre Legrain, and Rose Adler transform literary works into sculptural objects. Jean de La Fontaine‘s “Fables choisies,” published in Paris between 1755-1759, exemplifies this artistry (€60,000-80,000).
Fables choisies
Paris, 1755-1759
Estimate : €60,000-80,000
Viewing Opportunities
Selected lots will appear at Christie’s Geneva from March 3 to 5, 2026. The complete Paris exhibition runs from June 13 to 18, immediately before both auctions.
The collection spans from Roman marble sculptures dating to the 2nd century AD (€200,000-300,000) to contemporary works. This range proves how timeless aesthetic principles unite objects across millennia, echoing the diverse artistic heritage found in India’s thriving art market.
ROMAN MARBLE, CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D.
78 cm
Estimate : €200,000 -300,000
These sales will attract international attention from museums, private collectors, and institutions. The Collections of the Château de Tournay represent French artistic excellence where royal provenance, exceptional craftsmanship, and literary significance converge.
*Images: Christie’s
