CNN —A vast collection of art, furniture, silver, ceramics, and jewelry long held in the private collection of the Rothschild banking dynasty sold for more than $62.6 million over several auctions at Christie’s New York.
The sales, which concluded on Tuesday, marked the first dedicated auction in North America of works from the French branch of the long-time banking family.
Coincidentally, the cameo last came to auction at Christie’s in 1899, when it sold for £3,750 (about £395,000 or $496,000, in today’s money), shortly before it is believed to have entered the Rothschild collection.
We don’t get a bulk of this type of material coming up for sale anymore,” Rendell said.
As for why the family chose to sell the collection now, Rendell believes it may have been a “rationalization” and a “generational shift” in attitude.
Persons:
Rothschild, Baron James Mayer de Rothschild, Betty, Alphonse, Gerrit Dou’s, Claudius, ”, Jonathan Rendell, “ It’s, James Mayer de Rothschild, Rendell, ” Rendell, Read
Organizations:
The Art, CNN, Christie’s, Old Masters
Locations:
York, North America, Christie’s, Christie’s Americas, New York, Europe