Going Once, Going Twice . . .

On February 23rd, Christie's in Paris is hosting what has already been called "the sale of the century" . . . over 700 important pieces of art and décor from late designer Yves Saint Laurent and companion Pierre Bergé's Rue de Babylone and Rue Bonaparte apartments. It is a collection amassed during their five-decade-long partnership, in a quest for artistic beauty, and creative inspiration.

Bergé, who after Yves death in 2008, has said the items are nothing when not accompanied by the man, his partner in both life and design since 1958: and when you read the beautiful story in Bergé's own words of why he has chosen to part with the entire collection, I dare you not to feel your heart break.

Offered in this historic auction are important pieces by; Matisse, Picasso, Degas, Duchamp, Cézanne, Brancusi, Mondrian, Munch, Klee, as well as  Calder mobiles, African sculptures, Art Deco furnishings, an Eileen Gray dragon chair, (expected to sell for $6 million), extraordinary Lalanne and Limoges, ancient Roman sculpture, and various other things sure to keep The Met drooling for years to come.

(L) YSL's telephone table, with the original hand lettered art of the couture house's logo (one of the only items in the home not for sale), done in 1961 by graphic designer Cassandre. (M) The apartment's grand salon c.1971. (R) Laurent and Bergé's butler arranging the Jacques Grange-designed velvet curtains in the grand salon.

(L) Detail of the decadent grand salon, featuring Ingres's Portrait of the Countess de Larue (c.1812). (M) An ancient Egyptian sarcophagus adorning a plum purple room. (R) YSL and his beloved mummy c.1980.

(L) A model wearing a YSL gown, lounging in the library c.1972. (M) Ornate '70s Lalanne mirrors adorn the walls of the beyond-luxe music room. (R) Matisse's 1937-38 collage The Dancer, in YSL's library.

You can view all auction items here, and just for fun, here are some pieces I wouldn't mind bidding on:

(L) Calder's Dancers and Sphere c.1936 (estimate: $2 million), (M) portrait of Josephine Baker by Jean Dunand c.1927 (estimate: $20,000), (R) Francois-Xavier Lalanne's Oiseaux de Marbre petit chairs c.1974 (estimate: $50,000)

Photos: Pascal Chevallier (for Vanity Fair), Horst P. Horst, Condé Nast Archive, Christie's

Comments

[jennyegee]

I'm STILL waiting to see the YSL exhibit at the deYoung Museum here in San Francisco. The only US stop on the tour! Don't suppose you could high-tail it out here by April 5???

[J.B. Taylor]

I wish, but not likely : ( I'll be up your way in October for sure though, since we're taking a road trip up the coast, from L.A. to Portland.