Geneva – On 13 November, Magnificent Jewels from a European Collection, the first of 10 auctions featuring property from the Beyond Boundaries collection, realised CHF12,354,375/ $12,430,343/ €10,654,581, selling 100% by lot and by value. Every single one of the 110 lots sold above the pre-sale high estimate. This ground-breaking collection of Art Nouveau and Art Deco jewels sparked international interest, with extremely competitive bidding in the saleroom, on the telephones and online via Christie’s LIVETM with bidding from around the globe. Following the extensive international pre-sale tour including Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong and London, the sale welcomed registered bidders from over 30 countries across 5 continents.
A new world auction record for any piece of Art Nouveau jewellery was achieved, alongside individual auction records for makers including René Lalique, Eugène Feuillâtre, Paul Brandt and Ostertag, marking a new era for this period of jewellery at auction.

Highlights of the sale included:

An Art Nouveau brooch by René Lalique, the first lot of the sale, set the tone for the next four hours of bidding when it sold for CHF 212,500 /$213,137, more than double the pre-sale estimate.

The top lot of the auction was lot 45; an Art Nouveau pendent necklace by René Lalique, selling for CHF 972,500 / $978,480 against a pre-sale estimate of CHF 90,000-130,000, and setting a new world auction record for any piece of Art Nouveau Jewellery as well as for a piece of Jewellery by Lalique.

Another notable price was achieved for lot 72, an opal, diamond and enamel “Cedars” pendent necklace made in 1901 by Georges Fouquet, selling for CHF 480,500 / $483,455.

Much acclaimed was lot 22, a sapphire, enamel and diamond ring made circa 1900 by René Lalique sold for CHF225,000 /$226,350 against a low pre-sale estimate of CHF30,000.

The last lot of the sale – an important emerald, onyx and diamond pendant necklace made in 1925 by Georges Fouquet – was a fitting finale, the hammer came down under a round of applause at CHF 492,500 / $495,528.

Christie’s New York will offer several works from to the Beyond Boundaries Collection later on 13 November, at 6.30pm EST in the Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale, including an early painting by Wassily Kandinsky, entitled Improvisation mit Pferden, executed in 1911.

Full auction schedule for the Beyond Boundaries Collection

Impressionist and Modern Art
Works on Paper and Day Sale 
New York - 14 November

Post War and Contemporary Art 
Evening and both Day Sale sessions
New York - 15-16 November

Design
Paris - 20 November

African and Oceanic Art
Paris - 22 November

Contemporary Art

Paris - 6 December 

Modern Art, Works on paper sale
Paris - 22 March 2018