Christie’s Auctions Hubert De Givenchy’s Collection: An Art & Furniture Collector’s Dream
The absolute accompaniments to Hubert de Givenchy’s clothing are his selection of fine and decorative art, meticulously curated over the span of his life.
This June in Paris, Christie’s will be offering Hubert de Givenchy’s extraordinary collection at auction. The coveted collection features more than 12,000 lots of French and European furniture, as well as Old Masters, Modern and Contemporary art masterpieces.
News of the auction was released on 2 February, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of Hubert de Givenchy’s first haute couture collection in 1952 — a nod to the legendary designer’s tremendous and acclaimed success.
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In 1952, de Givenchy started his own fashion house in Paris and was instantly noticed for his innovative style in the “Bettina blouse”, which was named after model Bettina Graziani. Following that, he went on to dress the most glamorous and distinguished women of the late 20th century, including Jacqueline “Jackie” Kennedy Onassis, Audrey Hepburn, Countess Mona Bismarck, the Duchess of Windsor, the Duchess of Devonshire, and Marella Agnelli.
The art and furniture will be taken from two of de Givenchy’s most iconic and refined homes: the Hôtel d’Orrouer in Paris and the Château du Jonchet in the Loire Valley. Each fine item was picked out by the late designer’s scrupulous eye and shows his exquisite, timeless taste. Several of the pieces were unseen on the market for decades, and some were recent works he acquired before passing.
Charles Cator, deputy chairman of Christie’s International, shared that de Givenchy was a member of Christie’s international board and entrusted the house with the sale of his items twice during his lifetime.
“This summer the auctions are an opportunity to celebrate Hubert de Givenchy as one of the greatest ambassadors of French taste and to tell his story of the art of living, collecting and the elegance he sought to capture in all things.”
The spirited designer had always considered his passion for art, decoration and gardens as an extension of his fashion design work. The collection will see de Givenchy’s inspiring choices, through the lens of interior design; a palette of green, gold, white and black in a structured style. The Givenchy family expressed their delight in celebrating de Givenchy’s and his lifelong partner Philippe Venet’s remarkable tastes.
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“We wish to share the elegance and aesthetic heritage that they have passed on to us in order to inscribe their vision in the history of art and interior design in a universal way.”
This spring, a curated presale exhibition with highlights from the collection will be announced and tour key cities such as New York and Hong Kong, before arriving back in Paris at Christie’s auction house. The exhibition is confirmed to appear in Palm Beach from 5 to 26 March, New York from 8 to 13 April, and Hong Kong from 23 to 26 May.
A dedicated online sale will be held from 8 to 23 June 2022, while the live sales will commence from 14 to 17 June 2022.
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