Christie’s is proud to announce an exceptional and historic group of Modern Masters: Works from an Important Private Swiss Collection which will be offered at auction in February 2014. Collections often reflect their collectors’ tastes and histories, but seldom do they also reflect their friendships and relationships as much as the 22 works of art assembled by a private Swiss couple. Behind almost all of these works are tales of friendship, as the collectors came to know many of the artists who are represented, meeting a number of the leading figures of the avant garde from the 1920s onwards. Living a reality confined merely to dreams for many, they were able to meet Constantin Brancusi, to see Pablo Picasso’s Guernica while it was in its studio, to support the impoverished and embattled Piet Mondrian and to entertain Hans Arp on a regular basis. Two published authors, who were authorities in their field, the couple were prominent in the cultural milieu of Switzerland and Europe as a whole, particularly in the middle decades of the 20th century. The collection is led by a magnificent still life by Juan Gris, Nature morte à la nappe à carreaux, 1915. Coming to the market for the first time, the works will be offered across all four King street sales: The Art of the Surreal and The Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sales, 4 February; The Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale and Impressionist and Modern Art Works on Paper Sale, 5 February. The collection is expected to realise in the excess of £30 million.
PUBLIC DESCRIPTION 