Designer’s collection sells at Christie’s
The eclectic collection of international interior designer Alberto Pinto (1943-2012) has been sold in Paris in a three-day sale by Christie’s.
With 999 lots on offer, including furniture, Asian art, silver, porcelain, glass, and art and design, the sale realised a total of £10,800,000, more than three times its pre-sale estimate.
François de Ricqlès, President of Christie’s France, said, “This sale is an immense success. These outstanding results are a real recognition of Alberto Pinto’s great talent and I am especially delighted for this outstanding designer. His celebrated name invited collectors from 38 countries to bid and acquire a piece from his extraordinary universe. This sale was a real tribute to him”.
Ahead of the three-day sale, 1267 clients had registered to bid in the different auction sessions across Christie’s bidding platforms, with buyers from 38 countries.
The top lot of the sale was The Bureau Croco by Claude Lalanne, which sold £771,225 after several minutes of intense bidding, involving 11 parties, becoming the fourth highest price for the artist. Two further lots by Lalanne realised also very strong results: a gilt bronze table Lotus et Singe a gilt bronze stool Crococurule.
More outstanding results during the first session of the auctions were achieved including a pair of Anglo-Indian Ivory-Inlaid Padouk chairs, Vizagapatam, from the 18th century and a pair of Baroque style ormolu crystal and glass mirrors.
Alberto Pinto’s passion for tableware was well represented in the sale with hundreds of beautiful porcelain items. The highlights of this section were a Famille Rose porcelain part dinner service from China and a pair of iron-red and grisaille-decorated duck tureens and covers.
About 250 silver pieces were offered in the sale, including rare silver animals created by renowned Portuguese artist Ferreira. The top lot of this bestiary was a couple of silver giraffes.
Always paying attention to small details, Alberto Pinto was renowned as a very elegant man who used to change his cufflinks daily. His whole collection was sold for a total of £348.445.
Nearly 2,000 visitors came to discover the fabulous collection of the celebrated decorator during the viewing, which was on public display until last Sunday evening at Christie’s Paris.