Collection of M. Louis Robert de Boccachoses

Collection of Mr Louis Robert De Boccachoses

A century of eclecticism

On March 8, Nouvelle Etude will auction the collection of Louis-Robert de Boccachoses, comprising over 260 lots, at Hôtel Drouot. Behind this comically bizarre name lies the pseudonym of a singular collector.

Through a vast array of art, furniture, objects and design, this sale presents a veritable panorama of twentieth-century artistic production.

No technique or modern experimentation could resist this outstanding collector, who accumulated as many works of art as objects, sweeping up a repertoire of forms and materials as varied as they were unusual.

From vases by Gallé and Daum produced very early in the century to more recent creations such as those by Hubert le Gall, via works by the Ecole de Nice and the Nouveaux Réalistes (Arman, Klein or César) or free figuration (a major group by Robert Combas) to the great names of Street Art (Speedy Graphito or Kriki), this collection is surprising in its heterogeneity.

A glance at Monsieur de Boccachoses' collection brings to mind the famous quote by the Comte de Lautréamont: "Beautiful as the chance meeting of a sewing machine and an umbrella on a dissection table.

For this collection clearly has a surrealist air, both in the very idea of its constitution and in the way in which seemingly unrelated objects are brought together. Thus, sculpture (Gérard Voisin's anthropomorphic compositions or Seyni Awa Camara's terracottas) naturally rubs shoulders with Design, represented here by iconic creations by Charlotte Perriand, Michel Ducaroy, Verner Panton, Charles Eames, Arne Jacobsen or Christian Astuguevieille. Occasionally, this eclectic body of work also includes pieces that straddle various disciplines, such as Jean-Jacques Argueyrolle's chair - a piece of furniture that is as functional as it is sculptural - or Ingo Maurer's "Birds birds birds" light fixture, which is closer to conceptual art.

What mind could have combined original works on paper by Derain, Marquet, Hartung or Mathieu with multiples such as lithographs by Antonio Segui or Nam June Paik, stencils by Jean Arp or publishing dioramas by Alexandre Fassianos? Certainly that of an audacious personality whose motto, if there were one, would probably be "Provided that artistic expression is (free)!"

Rounding out this astonishing ensemble, autographs by artists on postcards (including Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Viallat, Koons) will also be offered for sale, as well as the beautiful and rare manuscript of Serge Gainsbourg's "l'œil au beurre noir", a previously unseen lot that will appeal to fans of the man with the cabbage head and visitors to the famous Maison de la rue de Verneuil, recently opened to the public.

Finally, to keep an eye on the passage of time, a set of Omega, Cartier, Jaeger LeCoultre and Rolex watches completes the collection of this enthusiast with resolutely eclectic tastes.

Exhibition

Wednesday, March 6, 11am to 6pm

Thursday, March 7, 11am to 8pm

Friday, March 8, 11am to 12pm

Sale

Friday, March 8, 2024 at 2pm

Room 2 - Hôtel Drouot , 9, rue Drouot 75009 Paris

Nouvelle Etude - Missika.Thelliez

18, rue de la Grange Batelière

75009 Paris - 01 47 70 83 00

contact@nouvelleetude.fr

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