Christie’s Paris has announced that the valuable collection of the late celebrated French filmmaker Claude Berri will go to auction from October of this year.
Berri, who passed away in 2009, was well-known for the incredibly popular Jean de Florette (1986) and its sequel Manon des Sources (1986), the former earning Berri a BAFTA for Best Film. He was also awarded the Oscar for Best Short Film for his 1965 Le Poulet.
The director, writer, and producer was known in the art world for his somewhat eclectic taste. The inveterate collector spent decades accumulating his extensive collection of postwar and contemporary art, building a collection of over 400 works during his lifetime.
Berri’s collection is being sold by his son, Thomas Langmann, who wishes to fund his own collection.
Yves Klein, Monogold sans titre (1961). Estimate : €800,000-1,200,000 ($895,371-1,343,088) Photo: ©Christie’s Images Ltd, 2016.
A significant selection of the artworks will be offered in a dedicated sale on October 22, during the 43rd edition of FIAC.
The sale will offer up 80 lots, including major artworks by Yves Klein, Eduardo Chillida, Francis Picabia, Jannis Kounellis, Jean Dubuffet, Wim Delvoye, and Tatiana Trouvé.
Wim Delvoye, Mickey et Minnie (2005). Estimate: €20,000-30,000 ($22,382-33,574) Photo: ©Christie’s Images Ltd, 2016.
A second auction will be held online from October 17-27. A selection of photographs from Berri’s collection will also be offered up on sale coinciding with the fair Paris Photo on November 12.
In December, some African and Oceanic artworks will be offered in Christie’s Paris general sale, followed by another online sale during the same month.
Tatiana Trouvé, Untitled (2005). Estimate : €10,000-15,000 € ($11,193- 22,382) Photo: ©Christie’s Images Ltd, 2016.
“Christie’s France is very proud to have been entrusted with this fabulous collection of more than 400 works of art. This sale will also be the occasion for international collectors, present in Paris during the international fair, to pay a last tribute to Claude Berri, one of the most talented French Film directors and producers of all times,” Edouard Boccon-Gibod, Christie’s France managing director, said in a statement.
See more highlights from Berri’s collection below:
Francis Picabia, Mechanical expression seen through our own mechanical expression (1913). Estimate : €200,000-300,000 ($223,818-335,727). Photo: ©Christie’s Images Ltd, 2016.
Roberto Matta, Woman playing ball in front of Volcano (1940). Estimate : €80,000- 120,000 ($89,581-134,287). Photo: ©Christie’s Images Ltd, 2016.
Jannis Kounellis, Untitled (1960). Estimate : €1,000,000-1,500,000 ($1,119,927-1,679,891). Photo: ©Christie’s Images Ltd, 2016.