The house of Hubert de Givenchy is going up for auction.
On 2 February, Christie’s announced the June sale of over 1,100 works of art, sculpture, and furniture that once belonged to the late, great French designer. The collection, which ranges from Old Masters paintings to neoclassical armchairs, all comes from Givenchy’s palatial homes of the Hôtel d’Orrouer in Paris and the Château du Jonchet in Loire Valley. The news came at a very à propos time: February 2, 2022 is the 70th anniversary of Givenchy’s first haute couture show in Paris.
Givenchy amassed his artefacts over several decades – often with the sourcing help of his dear friend, horticulturist and socialite Bunny Mellon. Cécile Verdier, president of Christie’s France, notes that Givenchy had a particular penchant for 18th century furniture. (“Fashion changes, but the 18th century style will endure, as it is of exceptional quality,” Givenchy once remarked.)
Château du Jonchet.Photo: Anna Buklovska/©Christie’s Images
“There’s a taste for figure and a taste for structure,” Verdier says. He rarely strayed from a strict, stylish scheme of green – his favourite colour – gold, white, and black. “This very small palette of colours and very geometrical form, even if it is 18th century, results in something very timeless,” Verdier adds. Although that’s not to say everything in the collection will be old-world: Givenchy was also a collector of modern 20th century painters like Rothko, Miró, de Staël, and Picasso.
Before hitting the auction block, Christie’s will produce an exhibition of his collection. It will show in Palm Beach from March 5 through 26, New York City from April 15 through 23, and Hong Kong from May 26 through June 1. On June 8, it will open to the public in Paris. A dedicated online sale will begin on June 8, whereas the live sale runs from June 14 through 17. “Through this sale, we are very pleased to be able to celebrate the exceptional taste of Hubert de Givenchy and his lifelong companion Philippe Venet. We wish to share the elegance and aesthetic heritage that they have passed on to us in order to inscribe their vision in the history of art and interior design in a universal way,” the Givenchy family said in a statement.
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