France

Two Old Master oil on panel paintings by 17th century Dutch artists featuring very different subjects were best-sellers in large mixed-discipline sales held in Paris and Monaco.

Pre-emption, the right of a French museum or institution to step in at the fall of the gavel to claim a lot at auctions staged in France for purchase at the hammer price, is a common occurence in such sales.

At Ivoire Nantes’ (24% buyer’s premium inc VAT) auction in the French city on September 29, this 2ft 1in x 3ft (64 x 91cm) signed pastel by Louise Abbemé (1858-1927), showing the actress Sarah Bernhardt seated, sold for €8200 (£7455).

This 21½in (55cm) high Qianlong famille rose vase and stand sold for €3.7m (£3.3m) at the Drouot in Paris last month.

Furniture ensemble sold in French auction had been in the same family since being produced

A collection of bicycles spanning a century from 1892-1982, Tour de France jerseys and other sporting memorabilia will be offered for sale by Ivoire Chartres in the French city on October 17.

A newly-discovered work by François Desportes (1661- 1743) sold for a sensational €1.65m (£1.5m) at auction in Bordeaux.

Christo (1935-2020) is famous for the series of monumental projects to wrap landmarks around the world undertaken with his wife and collaborator Jeanne-Claude (1935-2008).

The highlight of an Asian art auction held at Drouot by Auction Art on September 25 is this 21½in (55cm) high Qianlong lantern-shaped vase famille rose vase and stand.

Aguttes stages a sale of paintings, works of art and furniture titled Passion Patrimoine taking place at Neuilly-sur-Seine on the outskirts of Paris on September 22.

Organisers of the Parcours des Mondes decided to go ahead with this edition instead of heading online – but only after careful deliberation

The two ink drawings reproduced here both made substantial sums in a June 27 sale of comic strip artwork held in Paris by Artcurial.

A work by the Orientalist artist Alphonse Etienne Dinet (1861-1929) was the object of keen competition at Drouot Estimations (24% buyer’s premium) in Paris.

Tajan (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) held a recent sale offering three paintings by Léonard Tusguharu Foujita (1886-1968).

Eighteenth century seat furniture took the top honours in Artcurial’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) two-day sale of furniture and works of art in Paris.

Early work by Spanish-born painter was identified by Old Master experts Cabinet Turquin

An unexpectedly high price was paid in a sale of Old Master paintings and drawings held this summer by auction house Aguttes (23/25% buyer’s premium plus VAT) in Neuilly-sur-Seine.

An ensemble of jewellery by René Lalique was on offer in a Decorative Arts sale held by Tessier & Sarrou (28% buyer’s premium) at Drouot. All the pieces were signed examples of his distinctive Art Nouveau style and inventive use of non-precious materials.