Stunning Rothschild Family Treasures Surpass Expectations, Garnering Jaw-Dropping $62 Million at Unforgettable Auction
A remarkable assortment of art, furniture, silver, ceramics, and jewelry, hailing from the esteemed French branch of the Rothschild family, astoundingly garners over $62 million at an unprecedented North American auction
The Rothschild banking dynasty's extensive private collection of art, furniture, silver, ceramics, and jewelry was successfully sold at multiple auctions at Christies New York, fetching a total of over $62.6 million.
The recent conclusion of the sales on Tuesday marked an important milestone - the first dedicated auction in North America featuring works from the esteemed French branch of the long-standing banking family. The majority of the lots up for sale were originally acquired during the 19th century by Baron James Mayer de Rothschild, his wife Betty, and their son Alphonse. These remarkable pieces of art have gracefully passed down through the generations and remained a cherished part of their descendants' collection.
A German silver-gilt mounted nautilus cup and cover smashed estimates to fetch over $390,000.
Christie's Images Limited 2023
The collection features art pieces that were acquired by the family, with a special emphasis on works by Old Masters. Notably, the renowned painting by Gerrit Dous titled "A young woman holding a hare with a boy at a window," dating back to the 17th century, was sold for an impressive sum of over $7 million.
One of the most ancient items in the auction is a Roman Sardonyx cameo portrait of the Roman emperor Claudius, dating back to the first century AD. Surprisingly, this particular cameo was last sold at Christies in 1899 for £3,750 (approximately £395,000 or $496,000 in today's currency), just before it is believed to have joined the Rothschild collection. It fetched a substantial amount of nearly $116,000 in the recent sale.
"These are items that have been stored away since the late 1800s. And unless you were familiar with this specific branch of the Rothschild family, you would not have had the opportunity to view them," stated Jonathan Rendell, Deputy Chairman of Christies Americas. Rendell made this statement in a phone interview prior to the upcoming sales. He further added, "This is not something that we usually come across in New York. Sales of this nature are more commonly seen in Europe."
The consignors, who are descendants of James Mayer de Rothschild and members of the French branch of the Rothschild family, had a specific preference to hold the sale in New York, as confirmed by Christies. It is worth noting that during World War II, this particular branch of the family resided in the US. Rendell expressed confidence that the collection "would do incredibly well anywhere."
An oval Italian maiolica dish that sold for $163,800 at one of the auctions.
Christie's Images Limited 2023
The sale encompassed a wide array of items, such as furniture, ceramics (including valuable Italian Renaissance maiolica), silverware, tapestries, and jewelry. These pieces showcased the unique taste of the Rothschilds, which Rendell characterized as a remarkable fusion of luxury and homeliness.
"In the past, this would have sparked immense frenzy in the market, a century or even a century and a half ago. Nowadays, it is rare to come across such a substantial selection of this caliber of material available for purchase," remarked Rendell.
Christies has cancelled the auction of jewelry associated with a fortune from the Nazi era. The auction spanned multiple days, starting with an evening sale on October 11, followed by two day sales and a live auction running simultaneously. Christies mentioned that certain lots began with prices as low as $100.
The family may have decided to sell the collection now due to a rationalization and a generational shift in attitude. According to Rendell, even the Rothschilds do not live like they did in the 19th century. Read more stories from The Art Newspaper here.
