Aguttes To Present Exceptional Asian Paintings and Chinese Antiques Amassed by Former French Mayor Achille Peretti

The auctions lineup of French auction house Aguttes in June will continue to excite international collectors with two prestigious sales, namely:

  • June 7 | Asian Painters - Classic Masterpieces Auction
  • June 9 | The Soul of a Collector Chinese Antiques Auction
     

The two auctions will offer collectors rare masterpieces of Asian art, including a collection of beautiful jade pieces of Mr. Achille Peretti, former President of the French National Assembly and colleague of General de Gaulle in the war, and an exceptional four-page lacquer screen by Pham Hau, the master of Vietnamese lacquer art, which shows the timeless beauty of Asian art.

 

The 29th "Asian Painters, Major Works"

The 29th "Asian Painters, Major Works" sale will be held on June 7 (Monday), with some 20 works selected by Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, the expert specializes in this highly targeted segment of the art market. Among the artists presented, there will be coveted Vietnamese artists Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu, Pham Hau and French artist Alix Aymé.

An exceptional lacquer Landscapes with Junks by the master Pham Hau (1903-1995) representing a Vietnamese lakescape is part of these amazing artworks. Shaping a screen of four panels, this lacquer pays tribute to the beauty of these regions. The luxuriant vegetation, made of banana leaves, apple blossoms and bamboo, underlines the tropical nature of the place. Pham Hau sublimates the bay thanks to a masterly work of blue and gold reflections, punctuated by the presence of junks and rocks. 

Pham Hau (1903-1995), Landscapes with Junks

Painted in circa 1943
Lacquer with gold and silver highlights
Estimate: €150,000 - 250,000

 

A French artist with strong links to Asia, Alix Aymé (1894-1989), occupies a special place in this sale, in particular with a marvelous scene of a model in the studio, painted in Hanoi. The oil on canvas titled The Naked Woman by the Lotus borrows from a typical subject of European artistic culture, while bringing an Indochinese perspective. This young woman is lasciviously lying down and her body is outlined in black in the manner of the impressionists, which is reminiscent of Manet, Gauguin and even Titian’s works. 

However, the scene is very restrained. A magnificent bouquet of lotus flowers, which is a symbol of femininity, catches the eye like a fragile and delicate shield. The flowers placed between the viewer and the model give the scene a peaceful and pure atmosphere. The languid young woman turns her head away and seems to be dozing. 
 

Alix Aymé (1894-1989), The Naked Woman by the Lotus

Painted in circa 1938
Estimate: €100,000 - 150,000

 

Mai Trung Thu (1906-1980) with her Young Woman and Child in the Landscape takes its place in this sale. Painter of intimacy, the artist captures maternal tenderness, illustrated by the gestures of the figures and also by their shared affectionate gaze. 

Although the Western influence is felt through the choice of an open perspective, the essential figurative elements of this composition borrow from the artist's native culture, the figures are dressed with traditional outfits and the scene is set in Asian vegetation. The long silhouettes, the palette of primary colors and the format are characteristic of the artist's works, forging his unique style.

Mai Trung Thu (1906-1980), Young Woman and Child in the Landscape

Painted in circa 1960
Estimate: €140,000 - 60,000

 

The artist Le Pho (1907-2001) adorns our walls with spring bouquets of flowers, including a magnificent composition titled The Opal Vase. The power of Le Pho's art lies in its clever blend of cultures. The artist managed to take up the artistic codes of his native country while mastering Western technique. 

He plays with influences by combining the ancestral technique of silk and still life, while adding a new freshness of his own. The bouquet, composed mainly of chrysanthemums, is a reminder of this constant double reading in the artist's work. These flowers pay tribute to the dead in Europe, but are symbols of nobility and durability in Asia. Le Pho establishes himself as a great artist who can link cultures to offer a unique and beautiful art.   

 

Le Pho (1907-2001), The Opal Vase

Estimate: €40,000 - 60,000

 

Another female portrait, this time in lacquer, Young Girl, will be added to the group of selected artworks. This lacquer shows Alix Aymé's unique craftsmanship. By applying new materials, such as gold leaf and eggshell, to the classic colors, she preserves the Asian heritage while adding a touch of modernity. The artist's Western contribution can be seen in the approach of the subject, where the open window overlooking a garden in the distance is reminiscent of Renaissance portraits. 

The gold leaf background shows the model as a Byzantine icon. Yet some of the details are undeniably linked to Indochinese culture. The banana leaves in the lower part of the painting, as well as the model's slender, elongated features, are typical of the local culture. Playing with references, mixing materials, Alix Aymé sublimates this young girl with a sweet face and shows the enrichment of the portrait thanks to lacquer.


Alix Aymé (1894-1989), Young Girl

Painted in circa 1935
Eggshell, lacquer painting with gold highlights
Estimate: €60,000 - 80,000

 

With The Three Children, Alix Aymé chooses lacquer to immortalize these young models. The little girl with the collar stands proudly upright looking at the viewer, while the middle girl is pensive, and a little boy is tenderly resting his head on her shoulder. Traditional colors such as black, red and brown are enhanced by tones of blue. The result of recent innovations is made possible by Joseph Inguimberty, a professor at the Indochina School of Fine Arts.

The artist's great skill allows her to work with finesse and precision, for instance the patterns of the dresses are particularly delicate. The bouquet of flowers brings a springtime touch and enriches this composition making it more than a simple portrait.

Alix Aymé (1894-1989), The Three Children

Lacquer 
Estimate: €20,000 - 30,000

 

Auction Details:

Acution house: Aguttes 
Sale: The 29th "Asian Painters, Major Works" Auction
Date: June 7, 2021 | 2:30pm
Address: 164 bis avenue Charles-de-Gaulle - Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris
Please view the online catalog here, and follow Aguttes on Wechat

 

Public Exhibition:
June 2-4 (Wed - Fri) | 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 5:30pm
June 7 (Mon) | 10am - 1pm

Head of Asian Art Department:

Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier 
Email: reynier@aguttes.com
Tel: +33 (0)1 41 92 06 49 


"Soul of a Collector" Chinese Antiques Art Auction

The "Soul of a Collector" Chinese Antiques Auction will be held on June 9 at 2pm in Aguttes auction house. The sale consists of five private collections of French families and more than 250 lots of beautiful provenances. Among these collections, Aguttes has the honor and privilege to present a part of Achille Peretti's collection, the former President of the French National Assembly and Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine.

Famous politician, great Resistance fighter, made Compagnon de la Libération by General de Gaulle, president of the National Assembly, Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine for 36 years, Achille Peretti (1911-1983) dominated the French political landscape of the 20th century. 

 

Among the highlights of his collection are three jade objects described below in the catalog:

An exceptional flattened Hu vase on a pedestal in naturally infused celadon jade, reminiscent of dream stones. Two twisted handles adorn the neck. 


Hu vase on a pedestal in naturally infused celadon jade, 19th century 

Height: 28.5 cm
Estimate: €20,000 - 25,000

 

A small white jade Gu vase, partially infused with rust, decorated in the central part with taotie masks, surrounded by stylized cicadas.  This small vase, whose white color is sought after by collectors, shows the meticulousness of jade work. 

Gu vase, partially infused with rust, with its wooden base, 18th century 

Height: 15.6 cm 
Estimate: €12,000 - 15,000
 

Finally, a delightful spinach-green miniature tripod perfume burner jade from the Jiaqing period, of circular form, finely openwork with foliage scrolls, decorated with two flower-shaped handles, topped with a chrysanthemum, which comes with its wooden base.


Spinach-green miniature tripod perfume burner of jade, Jiaqing period

Dimensions: 6.5 x 10 cm
Estimate: €2,000 - 3,000
 

Bronzes, beautiful porcelains, textiles, jades and other small unusual objects are waiting to join the collections of international collectors.

A rare Zun vase of the Song period (12th-13th century), in bronze with brown patina, archaic style, the decoration is organized in three horizontal registers, figuring stylized cicadas rising from a frieze of gui dragons, the middle and lower registers are decorated with taotie masks formed from stylized dragons, each level punctuated by four indented vertical ridges.

 

Zun vase of bronze, Song dynasty (12th-13th century)

Height: 23.5 cm 
Estimate: €8,000 - 12,000 

 

In bronze and cloisonné enamels, a crush for a delightful tripod covered perfume burner from the Ming period, in bronze and polychrome cloisonné enamels on a blue background, the lid and sides decorated with grapevines and leaves, resting on three legs spat out by taotie heads; the two flat handles decorated in relief with a peony in full bloom on its foliage and holding movable rings, originating on the rim underlined by a frieze of greek pattern.  


Bronze and cloisonné enamels perfume burner, Ming dynasty 

Height: 15.5 cm 
Provenance: 

  • Beaussant-Lefèvre April 19, 2017, lot 258 reproduced in the catalogue p.62 
  • Similar motifs: the complete collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, The commercial Press Hong Kong 2002, pp.15-16-17
  • Sir Harry Garner, Chinese and Japanese cloisonné, Faber and Faber, London, 1962, plate 40 C

Estimate: €6,000 - 8,000

 

A pair of Guangxu mark and period long-necked porcelain and Famille Rose enamels vases, decorated on a yellow ground in four concentric bands, with dragons and phoenixes chasing the sacred pearl among stylized ruyi clouds, bands of stylized lotus petals, shou and lotus characters, and dragons on the neck, with the Guangxu mark on the basis.
 

A pair of long-necked porcelain and Famille Rose enamels vases, decorated on a yellow ground in four concentric bands, Guangxu mark and period 

Estimate: €3,000 - 5,000 

 

Auction Details:

Acution house: Aguttes 
Sale: "Soul of a Collector" Chinese Antiques Art Auction
Date: June 9, 2021 | 2pm (local time)
Address: 164 bis avenue Charles-de-Gaulle - Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris
Please view the online catalog here, and follow Aguttes on Wechat
 

Public Exhibition:
June 8 (Tue) | 9:30am - 1pm, 2pm - 6:30pm
Private exhibition by appointment is available from May 27

Head of Asian Art Department:


Johanna Blancard de Léry
Email: delery@aguttes.com
Tel: +33 (0)1 47 45 00 90