FEATURES ARCHIVE

With two auctions this January focusing on French culture, we sat down with specialists from Christie’s Wine and Old Master Paintings departments to discuss everything from where to hang your Fragonard to how to construct a cellar in your new home. This is one rendez-vous you won’t want to miss.

The concept of a “French only” sale, how did that idea begin?

Georgina Wilsenach, Specialist, Old Master Paintings: Within the past year, I’d noticed a resurgence in the market for French 18th-century paintings. As part of my work here, I occasionally serve as an auctioneer for other sales, including wine auctions. The same phenomenon I’d seen in French paintings – that soaring enthusiasm and interest from new buyers around the globe – was occurring with French wines, so the categories seemed like a natural fit.

How does condition impact a wine or painting’s desirability?

GW: If something’s in absolutely superb condition, there’s no limit to people’s interest in it. On the other hand, if it’s been over-cleaned, that will decrease its value. When a work has gone through a heavy cleaning, you are essentially taking off the top layer, which gives the painting its spirit and energy. When it comes to certain French paintings,  what you really want to see are lively brushstrokes – the hand of the artist at work.

Charles Antin, Specialist, Wine: Condition, in terms of the appearance of the label, is an increasingly important issue for wine, too. As people become more interested in building cellars that are used for both storage and entertainment, we’ve seen some collectors looking for pristine labels because they intend to display their bottles.

What’s the most interesting cellar you’ve seen in someone’s home?

CA: We get to see a lot, and people have amazing cellars these days – fur coats lined up just outside the cellar door to keep the chill off, the whole nine yards. One of my favorites was a cellar that was circular with a dining table at the center. The cellar portion was walled off by glass, so you could have dinner surrounded by your collection, minus the cold.

What about people who are looking to create a cellar or hang these paintings in their home?

GW: These Fragonard paintings just behind me are some of my favorite works in the sale. It’s quite unusual when you have a pair as we have here, and in terms of hanging them, I think you could have a lot of fun. I could see them in a dining room on either side of a table.

CA: For people who are looking to build a home cellar, temperature and humidity are key. We have the French to thank for the temperature standard most cellars are set at, which is 55°F (13°C). That’s the approximate temperature of the subterranean cellars in which most French wines are kept – and because it’s worked so well for hundreds of years, it’s become the industry standard. You also want to keep proper humidity levels in mind so the corks don’t dry out.

Anything else people should know in terms of taking their auction purchases home?

GW: We always get questions about hanging, and it makes sense. It’s an essential part of the process. It goes without saying that requirements differ from painting to painting, but there are some rules of thumb. Echoing Charles’ emphasis on temperature, it’s also important for paintings. By and large, if you’re dealing with canvas, it’s not a huge concern, but if you have a painting on a wood panel, you’ll need to have temperature control to keep it from warping.

How can collectors new to these categories learn more?

CA: We’ve had clients in the past who buy a house with a great wine cellar but aren’t established oenophiles…not yet anyway. One of the best ways to gain experience is by attending tastings, and our specialists are always happy to talk with you, whether it’s about building a whole collection or acquiring a single lot.

GW: Definitely attend art fairs to learn more about the market and come to the viewings prior to our sales. Ultimately, I think the most important thing is to buy what you like. Collecting doesn’t have to be an overwhelming endeavor. It’s about falling in love, sometimes one painting – or one bottle – at a time.

Inquiries:
Georgina Wilsenach (Old Master Paintings)
gwilsenach@christies.com
Tel: +1 212 636 2120

Charles Antin (Wine)
cantin@christies.com
Tel: +1 212 636 2097