New York – Christie’s landmark Rothschild auction series began with Rothschild Masterpieces, an evening sale that saw spirited bidding with prices soaring beyond their estimates totaling $43,237,900. The sale achieved an impressive 245 percent hammer above low estimate, and 95 percent sold by lot. The first-ever dedicated North American sale of works belonging to one of the great collecting families, epitomized the quintessential taste that has defined the Rothschilds for generations and produced strong results for paintings, decorative arts, and jewels. The leading lot of the day was Gerrit Dou’s A young woman holding a hare with a boy at a window, which made $7,068,000. Other top lots included, Dutch School, circa 1650 The Triumph of David, a monumental series of painted and embossed leather panels, which realized $4,406,000. Two sets of chairs by the 18th-century French furniture maker Louis Delanois brought important prices: a pair of late Louis XV giltwood and white-painted fauteuils made $6,221,000, while a pair of late Louis XV gilt walnut fauteuils a la reine made $4,406,00. A Roman sardonyx cameo portrait of the Emperor Claudius that had been sold by Christie’s in the 19th century, fetched $2,107,000. A Dutch silver-gilt mounted nautilus cup Delft, 1607 realized $1,502,000, while a Hispano-moresque earthenware blue and lustred armorial charger brought $1,033,200.

Cécile Verdier, President of Christie’s Paris said: “A lively auction with active collectors in the room fighting against 40 Christie's staff members, taking bids from international bidders. This sale expressed just how much le goût Rothschild remains relevant today.”

Jonathan Rendell, Deputy Chairman of Christie’s Americas said: “An exciting evening, which saw competitive bidding across the board from collectors, institutions and the trade. It was especially gratifying to see objects that were bought at Christies a century or more ago returning to our rooms in New York. The sale continues tomorrow.”

THE ROTHSCHILD SALES SERIES CONTINUES THROUGH TUESDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2023

UPCOMING SALES
ROTHSCHILD MASTERPIECES: THE KUNSTKAMMER | 12 OCTOBER 2023: LIVE
Furniture and works of art including Italian Maiolica, French Enamels, Silver and Vertu, from antiquity to the Baroque.

ROTHSCHILD MASTERPIECES: LE GOÛT ROTHSCHILD | 13 OCTOBER 2023: LIVE
European furniture, ceramics, and works of art, from approximately the 18th -20th century, in the opulent Rothschild style.

ROTHSCHILD MASTERPIECES: THE ONLINE SALE | 3-17 OCTOBER 2023
A wide-ranging selection of furniture and objects with bidding on all lots starting at $100, providing an opportunity for collectors at all levels.