Aguttes dispersed, on November 8, 2023, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, the contents of the Sémonville House, an apartment in a private mansion (Paris IVe), for a total of €349,258*. While the Saint-Rémi Museum (Reims) preempted the two unpublished portraits of the Lorraine brothers attributed to Georges Boba (lot 21) for €65,000, European, Moroccan, and American bidders competed for the other pieces from this interior, transformed and reimagined by John Coury and Florent Maillard, interior architects, and decorators.

Top 5
Lot 21 – Attributed to Georges Boba - Portraits of Cardinal Charles de Lorraine and François de Lorraine, Duke of Aumale then of Guise - €65,000 - preemption
Lot 28 - Lot 29 – Stefan Rinck - Ballplayer #5 and Ballplayer #6 2014, Diabase - €40,300**
Lot 27 – an Boeckhorst - Allegory of the Orient - €29,900
Lot 97 – Significant suite of 92 prints - €18,200
Lot 23 – Attributed to Giusto Sustermans - Portrait of Gilberto Pio de Savoy - €12,350

Aguttes Conquering a New Market

"The eclectic nature characterized this auction, much like the spaces we create, and the two most outstanding adjudications bear witness to it. Namely, the portraits of the Lorraine brothers attributed to Georges Boba (c. 1540 – after 1593) as well as the two sculptures in carved sandstone by Stefan Rinck (born in 1973). To our great delight, several of our clients and friends have acquired some of our paintings, furniture, and objects; thus, we can enjoy them differently by paying them a visit. Another immense pleasure is to rediscover the pair of portraits of the Lorraine brothers pre-empted by the Saint-Rémi Museum (Reims). As for the lots that did not reach their reserve price, we confess our joy in being able to coexist with them a little longer..."

John Coury & Florent Maillard

"Collections always evoke enthusiasm among enthusiasts, who have paid tribute here to the taste of our interior designers. The results, commensurate with the works and objects presented, confirm this interest in places steeped in history and, more broadly, in heritage. Belgian, Moroccan, and American bidders, on the other hand, celebrated the French art of living."

Sophie Perrine, commissaire-priseur

Preemption by the Saint-Rémi Museum (Reims)

Lot 21 - Attributed to Georges BOBA c. 1540 – after 1593
Portrait of François de Lorraine, Duke of Aumale then of Guise (1519-1563)
Oil on canvas
201,5 x 111 cm


Lot 21 - Attributed to Georges BOBA c. 1540 – after 1593
Portrait of the cardinal Charles de Lorraine (1524-1574)
Oil on canvas
193 x 106,5 cm

John Coury and Florent Maillard entrusted Grégoire Lacroix, director of the "Old Masters" department at Aguttes, with the portraits of François de Lorraine, Duke of Aumale then of Guise, and Cardinal Charles de Lorraine. Intrigued by these oil paintings presented as dating from the 17th century, he deemed them older, conducted an investigation, and concluded that they were attributed to Georges Boba, an artist hitherto unrecognized. This discovery was rewarded with a preemption! The Saint-Rémi Museum pre-empted this pair of portraits for €65,000, thus joining a public collection. These paintings bear witness to the crucial role of private collections in preserving a significant part of heritage, and that of the art market, which regularly contributes to advancing research in art history.

Eclecticism and Harmony of the Sémonville House Applauded by Auctions

"This auction, with the collaboration and professionalism of the Aguttes teams, allowed us to immortalize the Sémonville House."

John Coury et Florent Maillard

Established over five years, this collection is characterized by a skillfully balanced eclecticism, which serves as its guiding thread. Alongside antique objects, paintings, and furniture are two sandstone statues carved in direct size and polished by Stefan Rinck (lot 28 and lot 29), depicting two frogs playing with balls, perfectly illustrating this diversity.

Lots 28 et 29 - Stefan Rinck (born in 1973)
Ballplayer #5 #6
Sandstone Sculptures  - 2014
Sizes: 50 x 30 x 27 ( 35 ) cm

After inciting one of the most exciting battles of this auction, these contemporary sculptures were sold for €40,300 and now belong to a Belgian enthusiast. Their previous owners are delighted to know that they remain together.


Lot 27 - Jan Boeckhorst Münster, 1604 - 1668, Anvers
oriental allegpry
Oil on canva 126 x 106 cm

By investing in the former residence of the Marquis de Sémonville, a French diplomat who notably lived in the Ottoman Empire, the two aesthetes ensured the preservation of the soul of the place and thus infused multiple oriental touches. Among them, Jan Boeckhorst's Allegory of the Orient (lot 27) was auctioned for €29,900, and 92 engravings by Charles de Ferriol (lot 97), a French ambassador sent by Louis XIV to the Sublime Porte, were acquired for €18,200.


Lot 97 - Significant suite of 92 prints, all taken from the collection of one hundred prints depicting the various nations of the Levant executed from life in 1707 and 1708 on the orders of Mr. de Ferriol, ambassador of the King.
Remarkable suite, almost complete, all the prints are framed by Maison L'Oiseau Bleu with a gouache mat.
Sizes : 35 cm - 25 cm

Among the portraits displayed in the living room, the one of Gilberto Pio de Savoy attributed to Giusto Sustermans (lot 23) caught the attention of enthusiasts and fetched €12,350.


Lot 23 - Attributed to Giusto Sustermans Anvers, 1597 - 1681, Florence
Portrait of Gilberto Pio de Savoy in Armor (1639 - 1676)
Oil on canva
Sizes : 133,5 - 99 cm

PROVENANCE
Sotheby's auction (london), 2 november 2000, n°353
Jean-Louis Remillieux's auction, Christie's (Paris), 28 - 29 september 2015, n°488.

"I truly felt that everything had always been there, every object, every artwork in its rightful place for centuries, when visiting the Sémonville House for the first time. The catalog of this auction bears witness to this and allows one to keep a memory of this unique place."

Grégoire de Thoury, expert in Furniture, sculpture & works of art

The auction dispersal of this collection leaves its mark in time, while the two founders of CM Studio Paris are already dedicating themselves to a new personal project...

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Contact
Sophie Perrine
+33 1 41 92 06 44
perrine@aguttes.com