La Biennale Paris Partners with Christie’s To Organize A Major Online-Only Auction

More than 50 internationally renowned dealers, brought together by La Biennale Paris and the Syndicat National des Antiquaires, will be invited to participate in an online auction at Christie’s from September 10 to 21, 2020. The planned sale follows the postponement of the 32^nd edition of La Biennale Paris to September 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the health risks associated with the organization of an international event.

All disciplines will be represented, covering 6,000 years of art history. From antiquity to contemporary art, from classic furniture to design, dealers will offer a carefully established selection of works and objets d’art, of furniture and jewelry. The works offered online will also be exhibited and on view at the participating galleries, for the duration of the sale.

Georges De Jonckheere, President of La Biennale Paris, commented:

“La Biennale Paris is an event organized by dealers for dealers. It is essential that we support the profession in this unprecedented crisis with new and appropriate initiatives.   We are very pleased to be partnering with Christie’s for this sale. Christie’s wide reach and extensive capacities worldwide will bring great visibility to dealers and will enable them to reach out to new collectors.”

Guillaume Cerutti, the CEO of Christie’s said:

“Christie’s has the utmost respect for antique dealers and gallerists, whom we consider key art market players and privileged partners, particularly in the period we are living through. The prestige of La Biennale Paris and its ambitions for the future add to our enthusiasm to build an innovative and ambitious online auction, together.  Christie’s digital resources and sales networks in the world will be deployed to ensure the greatest level of success for this project.”

Ariadne Galleries (New York, London); Galerie AVELINE (Paris); Galerie de la Béraudière (Brussels, Geneva); Brun Fine Art (Milan, London); Carpenters Workshop Gallery (London, Paris, New-York, San Francisco); Didier Claes (Brussels); Laffanour - Galerie Downtown (Paris); Yves Macaux (Brussels); Galerie Mermoz (Paris); Galerie Neuse (Bremen); Galerie Steinitz (Paris) have already agreed to participate in the sale. The full list of participants will be unveiled at a press conference in July 2020.

In 2020, La Biennale Paris made a commitment to donate the profits from its Gala Dinner to the “Mission Stéphane Bern” for the protection of historic monuments and ancient buildings. Christie’s will support this commitment and will donate a part of the proceeds from this sale to the “Mission Stéphane Bern”, underlining the cultural dimension of the project.

La Biennale Paris announced, on May 11, the postponement of its 32^nd edition to September 2021.  The measures it put in place, in March, allowed exhibitors to avoid any financial risks in 2020.

The next edition of La Biennale Paris will take place in September 2021 inside the Grand Palais Éphémère designed by the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte who continues to collaborate with La Biennale.

La Biennale Paris

The unmissable gathering that launches the cultural season every Autumn, the Biennale Paris is one of the world’s leading art events, bringing together internationally renowned art and antique dealers, design galleries, jewelers and collectors under the iconic nave of the Grand Palais.

An annual show, organized by prominent art and antique dealers, in what is the undisputed capital city for the profession, the Biennale Paris presents museum quality works spanning 6,000 years of art from across all continents and disciplines, including archaeology, painting, textile, sculpture, ceramic and the decorative arts.

About Christie’s online sales

Christie’s is the world’s leading auction house with sales totaling GBP 4.5 billion / USD 5.8 billion in 2019. In 2011, Christie’s was the first auction house to launch its own online sales platform during the landmark sale of Elizabeth Taylor’s collection (Total: USD 9.5M).  In 2019, Christie’s registered a total of USD 270.4 million online transactions, with 64% of its clients buying or bidding online.  Christie’s online sales attracted 41% of new clients in 2019.

The Mission Stéphane Bern

Initiated by the President of the Republic, “Mission Stéphane Bern” aims to safeguard French heritage according to three criteria: the identification of endangered heritage, the protection of listed sites and the promotion of heritage, to foster the development of local economies and combat inequalities between regions.

About Christie’s

Christie’s, the world’s leading art business, had auction sales in the first half of 2019 that totalled £2.2 billion / $2.8 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and international expertise. Christie’s offers around 350 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie’s also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery.

Alongside regular sales online, Christie’s has a global presence in 46 countries, with 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

*Please note when quoting estimates above that other fees will apply in addition to the hammer price - see Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of the sale catalogue.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and are reported net of applicable fees.