€83 Million For Hubert De Givenchy, Part I

On 14 June 2022, Christie’s held the first of six sales of the Hubert de Givenchy collection. Hubert de Givenchy – Collectionneur: Chefs-d’oeuvre | Masterpieces, featured 63 lots representing the very best examples of 17^th, 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th Century art selected from the couturier’s final collection, housed in his exquisite residences, the Hôtel d’Orrouer in Paris and the Manoir du Jonchet in the Loire Valley.

The sale realised €82,992,850 / $86,810,521 / £71,373,851 selling 100% by lot, 100% by value, 76% of lots sold above their high estimate and with bidding from 18 countries. Buying by lot came 46% from EMEA, 30% from APAC, and 24% from the Americas.

The top lot of the sale was Albert Giacometti’s Femme qui marche [I], which achieved €27,169,500 ($28,419,297), setting the record for the most expensive work sold at auction in France so far this year. Conceived in 1932-1936, this sculpture is one of the four numbered casts made during the artist’s lifetime. This work marries Giacometti’s fascination with ancient Egyptian art with his own, distinctive artistic vision.

“It is an honour for Christie’s to have been chosen by the de Givenchy family to bring this marvellous collection to auction. It was an immense pleasure and privilege to stand on the rostrum this evening and serve as co-auctioneer with my colleague Adrien Meyer who came especially from New York for the first part of this collection which Hubert de Givenchy and his partner Philippe Venet cherished so deeply. We are thrilled with the great success of this first sale and the extraordinary interest we’ve received for these masterpieces from our clients worldwide, including for our online sales, which have been open for bidders since June 8.”

Cécile Verdier, President of Christie’s France

“This was a historic night for decorative arts. This was Monsieur de Givenchy’s great love and it was particularly thrilling to see the spectacular prices achieved by the furniture, gilt bronze objects and sculpture.  At Christie’s, we feel privileged to have been part of Hubert de Givenchy’s journey as a collector, from his sales with Christie’s in 1993 and 2017 and his close involvement with Christie’s France as Chairman of the Advisory Board.

It has been a great honour to celebrate his extraordinary vision in a way that we hope he would have approved, as in the past we always were able to follow his lead. It has been immensely inspiring to see Hubert’s taste and all that he created with Philippe Venet so admired and appreciated by clients across the world. All these objects will take with them a part of his spirit as they find their way to new collections and new collectors.”

Charles Cator, Deputy Chairman, Christie’s International

 Top Lot

Other Sale Highlights

Christies

editor

Christie’s, the world's leading art business, had auction sales in the first half of 2019 that totalled £2.2 billion / $2.8 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and international expertise. Christie’s offers around 350 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectables, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery.