Ancient Art and Decorative Delights at Auction

Haute Epoque, the archaeology of Europe and the East, Art Nouveau and Art Deco will go under the hammer at Rossini's upcoming auction on 8 December. The catalogue features 319 lots, including, among many things, Chinese art, engravings and drawings, including one by Laurent de La Hyre (1606-1656), several Art Nouveau and Art Deco furniture pieces stamped Jules Leleu (1883-1961) and Louis Majorelle (1859-1926), old paintings, musical instruments and decorative objects from the 20th century.

Haute Epoque

Among the 'Haute Époque' sculptures, we find this important alabaster plaque carved in high relief enhanced with various colours and gilding figuring the Crucifixion. This panel was at the centre of an altarpiece probably dedicated to the Passion, a major theme of European artistic iconography in the Middle Ages.

Altarpieces appeared in the 11th century with vertical panels decorated with reliefs and sculptures and placed behind the altar. They were above all a works aimed at educating the faithful on the life of Christ, the Virgin and the Saints. In the 13th century, it was not uncommon to see altarpieces representing the passion of Christ on the forecourts of churches or market squares. As an art, it developed substantially in the Middle Ages, and some Christians liked to have them in their homes. This panel on sale at Rossini was the central element of an altarpiece made in England in the 15th century. It represents the most dramatic scene of the passion of Christ, namely Jesus crucified surrounded by two thieves and four angels coming to collect his blood in chalices. On the left, we see Mary of Clopas and Mary Magdalene supporting the Virgin with Saint John, figured above, holding the palm which was given to him on the day of the funeral of the Virgin, and Longinus armed with the lance. On the right, there are three soldiers and a bearded man in armour, grasping the end of a phylactery (a religious amulet) with his left hand. A similar relief is kept in the Museum of the Middle Ages in Paris.

A variation of caskets, chests have been used by powerful figures such as princes, aristocrats and even ecclesiastics since antiquity. Used to transport relics or precious objects, they are often produced in a resistant material such as wood, as is the case here for this charming box named 'Box of Souls'. The country of origin of this 17th century Indian chest can be recognised by the openwork ivory cover with floral decorations, an elephant and other figures.

Classical Art

Louis-Léopolod Boilly is a French painter of the classical period. A figure in Parisian life at the start of the 19th century, Louis-Léopolod Boilly painted interior scenes and portraits in a neo-classical style, plunging the viewer into the France of the Empire and the Restoration. Trained by a trompe-l'oeil specialist, he began his career as a portrait painter. His style recalls the freshness of Fragonard and Geuze, all with a particular appetite for details close to the Dutch school.

It is presumed that this charming portrait of a man with dark hair in a white shirt, with his black tie, his pale yellow waistcoat and his frock coat decorated with the red ribbon of the Legion of Honour is that of Pierre-Joseph Gauthier.

Works of Art and Decorative Arts

Lovers of beautiful, typically Art Nouveau objects will be able to bid on this elegant glass table lamp with a baluster base and conical lampshade from the 'Etablissements Gallé', which survived after the death of their creator Emile Gallé in 1904. Emile Gallé was the figurehead of applied arts in the early 20th century and a pioneer of Art Nouveau. Gallé is also famous for having founded the School of Nancy, leader of Art Nouveau in France, mixing industrial materials (such as glass, iron, steel, wood) and plant forms to create works of art accessible to all. This lamp in two parts, the base and the lampshade, presents a charming decoration of chrysanthemums engraved in cameo with acid on a glass lined in orange-brown colour on a yellow background.

The French artist couple Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne have never been as popular as they are today. Honoured by stratospheric results at Christie's and Sotheby's over the past two years – the most impressive records of which were attributed to the sculptures of François-Xavier – and an exhibition dedicated to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris in April, the Lalannes are unanimously recognised as amongst the most talented and original artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. An everyday object diverted in a humorous way, this 'Hen' egg cup created in 2003 and produced in only 100 copies is an exemplary object of the artist's work. Anyone will be able to recognise the touch of the sculptor who liked to say: "Art is like life, it should not be taken seriously."

Musical Instruments

We end this overview with two exceptional guitars whose many autographs will turn the heads of big Rock'n'Roll fans! Made available to artists in the bar of the prestigious hotel 'La Cour des Loges' in Lyon, the two instruments come with their covers and feature 33 signatures of the greatest rock legends, among whom: Johnny Hallyday, The Cure, Eddy Mitchell ,Guns N' Roses, David Bowie, Queen, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin…

This sale titled 'Ancient Paintings, Civilisations, Haute Epoque, Furniture & Works of Art' will take place on Thursday 8 December 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in the Salle Rossini at 7 rue Rossini 75009, Paris. The exhibitions will be held in the same room on Tuesday 6 December and Wednesday 7 December from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. as well as Thursday 8 December from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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