The Collections of Château de Tournay, quintessence of French taste, on sale at Christie’s

This June, Christie’s will be showcasing an ensemble of rare coherence: the Collections du Château de Tournay. On June 17 and 18, in Paris, two separate sales, one devoted to the Decorative Arts, the other to La Bibliothèque, will reveal to the public a demanding vision of great French taste, brought together with discernment by a passionate collector.

Once the home of Voltaire, the Château de Tournay in the canton of Geneva has been restored to house these pieces in a setting worthy of their prestige. Furniture, objets d’art, paintings and precious books all come together here in a spirit of timeless elegance.

Royal progenies and furniture masterpieces

The sale, to be held at Christie’s on June 17, will be devoted to the Decorative Arts, and will bring together some 220 pieces acquired between the 1960s and 1990s. It celebrates the excellence of 18th-century master craftsmen and the refinement of royal manufactures.

Major lots include a pair of Georges Jacob-stamped fauteuils à la reine, delivered in 1786 for the Château de Fontainebleau, estimated at 300,000 to 500,000 euros. A Regency-period flat desk that belonged to James de Rothschild, and a Savonnerie screen comparable to a model in the Musée Nissim de Camondo, all bear witness to exceptional provenance.

Tableware also features prominently, with several services from the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, including one commissioned by King Louis-Philippe I for the Château d’Eu.

Mineral luxury and a dialogue between eras

The collection is distinguished by the nobility of its materials: Egyptian and Swedish porphyry, rare marble and colored granite. A spectacular Obelisk clock illustrates the taste for Antiquity at the end of the 18th century. Neoclassical potpourris and a porphyry-veneered library table complete this ode to erudite luxury.
A section of ancient, modern and contemporary paintings completes the ensemble: a Vue de Paris circa 1670, a Port d’Alger byAlbert Marquet, a Pré à Saint-Briac byÉmile Bernard, and a braided work by François Rouan.

A library bearing the arms of queens

On June 18, the sale dedicated to La Bibliothèque will unveil nearly 200 works from the 18th to the 20th century. Refined bindings, vintage morocco and the prestigious provenance of Marie-Antoinette, Madame de Pompadour and Marie-Louise make up a selection destined for the most demanding bibliophiles.
Works by Voltaire, including the “Kehl” edition, rub shoulders with Montaigne, La Fontaine and Picasso. Modern book lovers will appreciate bindings signed by Paul Bonet, Pierre Legrain or Rose Adler, all preserved in remarkable condition.

Highlights of the sale

Practical information

📍 Location
Christie’s Paris: 9 Av. Matignon, 75008 Paris

Auction dates
June 17: Decorative Arts
June 18: The Library

Public exhibitions
Geneva: March 3 to 5
Paris: June 13 to 18

A unique opportunity to acquire a fragment of France’s artistic and literary heritage, supported by illustrious provenance and exemplary conservation standards.

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