PIGUET-20 years

PASSING ON A LEGACY UNDERSTANDING ITS VALUE

YEARS OF AUCTIONS, RECORDS AND TRUST

Twenty years of trust in the service of our clients

A Swiss family-run auction house

Inventories, estates, division of assets and insurance

Selling with Piguet

Our areas of expertise

37. 73. 164. 168. Exceptional collections

Cultural and philanthropic engagement

We are here for you

Twenty years of trust in the service of our clients

For almost half a century and for the past twenty years under the leadership of Bernard and Claire Piguet our auction house has advised owners, heirs, collectors and their professional advisers on the appraisal, presentation and sale of fine art and valuable objects.

From our offices in Geneva and Lausanne, we provide expert advice, discreet guidance, and attentive service across every stage of the process, from estates and inventories to asset division, insurance revaluations, relocations, and the sale of collections or contents of an entire property.

Our purpose is clear: to give every vendor considered, transparent and exacting advice, and to ensure that each object is presented to the market to its fullest advantage.

Discretion Commitment

A Swiss family-run auction house

A new family chapter since 2006

Founded in Geneva in 1978, the Hôtel des Ventes de Genève entered a new era in 2006 when Bernard Piguet acquired the business. Renamed Piguet Hôtel des Ventes in 2016, it has since become one of Switzerland’s leading auction houses, with a strong international following. With premises in the heart of Geneva and a branch in Lausanne, Piguet brings together

Bernard and Claire Piguet

Bernard Piguet studied economics at HEC Lausanne and art history in London, combining an instinct for business with a lifelong engagement with art. After several years at Sotheby’s, he founded his own advisory and valuation practice before taking over the Hôtel des Ventes de Genève and shaping the Piguet of today. As an auctioneer, specialist and entrepreneur, he has set a clear course for the house: expertise, exacting standards and international reach.

specialists, auctioneers, client advisers and logistics professionals capable of managing anything from a single object to a complex estate.

Our development has always been guided by one conviction: in our profession, prestige matters only when it is supported by rigour, transparency and results.

Claire Piguet, Director, oversees the organisation of the auction house and staff management, while also leading several specialist departments. Educated in history and literature at the Sorbonne, she revitalised the firm’s rare books and manuscripts sales before establishing the Music department, devoted to stringed instruments and musical scores. Her editorial judgement and scholarly standards are central to the quality of Piguet’s catalogues and to the character of the house.

N°1 FOR ON-SITE AUCTIONS IN SWITZERLAND

CHF 31 million TURNOVER IN 2025

240,000 LOTS OFFERED SINCE 2006 AN AVERAGE OF 87 % OF LOTS SOLD EACH YEAR

35 MEMBERS OF STAFF AT YOUR SERVICE

A team of specialists at your service

Every Piguet sale is the result of close collaboration. Our specialists examine, identify, value and research each object; our client teams guide vendors and buyers at every stage; and our public viewing, storage, shipping, administration and logistics teams ensure that the entire process is handled smoothly, discreetly and securely.

This integrated approach allows us to offer a genuinely personal service, whether you require a single valuation, a probate inventory, a private sale or the dispersal of a complete collection.

OUR AUCTIONEERS

Bernard Piguet, Claire Piguet, Christina Robinson, Bruno Mazat, Nathalie Combe, Céline Tochon-Danguy

ADMINISTRATION, FRONT OF HOUSE,

CLIENT RELATIONS AND INVENTORIES

Marine Ballotta, Marielle Berthet, Barbara Gerber, Sabine Goujon, Aurélie

Parmentier, Agathe de Sarrau, Gabriella

Tafalla, Céline Tochon-Danguy

DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Bernard Piguet, Claire Piguet, Elio Bonalume

PRESS AND COMMUNICATIONS, CATALOGUES AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Toni Cenko, Nelly Fessy, Morgane

Hérault, Fanny Moncorgé, Willian Pelissari

SPECIALISTS AND GENERAL VALUERS

Pascal Alioth, Adeline Bisch-Balerna, Guillaume Bourquin, Nathalie Combe, Clémentine Cure, Justine Gisler, Arianna

Jeanroy Cadario, Philippe Berger, Bruno Mazat, Vincent Noirmain, Baptiste

Prétôt, Maxime Rousselet, Christina Robinson, Ariane Sudan, Marjorie Vallotton, Fabrice van Rutten

STORAGE AND SHIPPING

Didier Bernasconi, Jorge Chavez, Daisy Constantin, Anthony Rousselet, Arthur Tremblais

Inventories Estates Division of assets

Recognised expertise

Passing on a legacy — and revealing its value

Every inventory tells the story of a life, a family and a collection built over time. Our specialists approach each visit with that in mind. Drawing on a detailed and current knowledge of the art market, they produce

illustrated, fully valued reports that are formally recognised for the purposes of sale, probate, division of assets or insurance.

OUR APPROACH

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A visit to your home or storage facility, or an initial assessment from photographs

A detailed, illustrated inventory

Valuations tailored to your requirements

An official digital or bound report delivered within the agreed timeframe

Why choose Piguet?

Collectors, executors, notaries and leading Swiss insurers rely on our reputation, professionalism and experience. Every assignment is managed by a dedicated

contact, with market, tax or replacement values provided as required and strict confidentiality maintained throughout.

Inventories, sales and a complete service

We provide a fully tailored service covering valuation, advice and sale: professional appraisal of your property; sale at auction or by private treaty; probate inventories for tax or division

purposes; updated valuations for fine art or household insurance; and practical support for every object, including items not selected for sale.

Estates: above all, a matter of trust

INVENTORIES FOR TAX AND ESTATE DIVISION

We guide families and their advisers discreetly through every stage, from illustrated inventories accepted by the tax authorities to valuations for division or replacement and mediation where

circumstances are sensitive. We honour agreed deadlines, tailor our fees to the assignment and remain closely involved from beginning to end.

ESTATES & INVENTORIES SPECIALISTS

Insurance valuations

We provide up-to-date valuations for fine art and household insurance, whether for new cover, following a loss, before a move, for items placed in secure storage, or as part of a wider review of family assets. Our professionally illustrated valuation reports are accepted by leading insurers.

Personal advice

We work on site throughout Switzerland and internationally, or, where appropriate, begin with an initial assessment based on photographs. The scope, timing, and cost of our services are tailored to each client's circumstances. Drawing on complementary areas of expertise and first-hand, continuously updated knowledge of the art market, our team provides advice with discernment, efficiency, and complete independence.

Selling with Piguet

A strategy shaped around your needs

Auction sales

Where competition creates value

A public auction gives your property the broadest possible exposure to buyers in Switzerland and around the world. By bringing collectors, dealers and institutions into competition, it allows the market to reveal an object’s value and produces the strongest possible result.

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Through the quality of our research, catalogues, public viewings, off-site exhibitions and digital promotion, every lot is given the attention and presentation it deserves before the sale.

INITIAL DISCUSSION AND APPRAISAL BY OUR SPECIALISTS

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SELECTION OF THE MOST APPROPRIATE SALE STRATEGY

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CONSIGNMENT OF THE PROPERTY AND SIGNATURE OF THE AGREEMENT RESEARCH, CATALOGUING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND PUBLIC VIEWINGS

AUCTION ONLINE OR IN THE SALEROOM

SETTLEMENT AND CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE VENDOR

No two vendors, collections or family circumstances are alike. Some objects benefit from the reach and competitive bidding of a public auction; others call for a more focused, rapid or confidential approach. We work with you to determine the most appropriate route.

For important consignments, advances or other financial arrangements against a forthcoming sale may be considered in the strictest confidence.

Private sales

When speed and discretion matter most

Some exceptional objects are better suited to a private transaction than to public auction. Through our private-sales service, we can identify a suitable buyer quickly and securely, while maintaining complete confidentiality and protecting the vendor’s anonymity at every stage. This service is generally intended for objects valued at more than CHF 100,000.

An important violin attributed to Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, Parma, c. 1760

Sold 

Sold 

Two Colombian emeralds weighing more than 30 carats, minor oil; aristocratic provenance

Sold

A rare Rolex Deep Sea Special DSS commemorative watch, produced in very small numbers to celebrate the success of the 1960 expedition led by Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh

Sold 

Visibility, viewings and communications

Swiss and international reach

Piguet’s strength lies in bringing together two complementary audiences: a loyal, discerning and highly engaged Swiss clientele, and international buyers who follow our sales through our reputation, digital presence and network of distribution partners. Together, these audiences create competition to the vendor’s advantage and broaden the market for every work entrusted to us.

Simple, effective digital tools

Our website offers clear navigation, access to past catalogues, videos and media coverage, and a secure personal area where clients can view their buying history and previous vendor statements. Careful online optimisation gives every item offered for sale meaningful international visibility.

The PIGUET app is designed to make following and taking part in an auction effortless. Users can save favourite lots, bid live from anywhere in the world and contact our specialists directly, whether they are considering a purchase or would like to submit an object for valuation.

Public viewings that make people want to bid

Every major sale is preceded by a carefully considered viewing like an exhibition, held either on our own premises or at a selected partner venue. Whether the auction itself takes place online or in the saleroom, buyers are given at least three days in which to view the lots.

This is their opportunity to examine each work at first hand to understand its quality, condition, scale and presence. A viewing is not simply a backdrop; it is often the moment when interest becomes conviction and the desire to bid takes hold.

Targeted communications

Our press and marketing team creates a bespoke campaign for each important sale, giving the works entrusted to us the international exposure they deserve. Coverage spans print, television, digital media, high-profile outdoor advertising and social platforms.

Partnerships with leading private clubs, together with carefully chosen events around the art market’s principal international gatherings, enable us to introduce works directly to major collectors.

"À Genève, la maison Piguet est incontournable. Fondé en 1978, l’ancien hôtel des ventes de Genève s’est imposé sur le marché local et international après sa reprise en 2006 par Bernard Piguet." [2026]

"L’ensemble des décorations d’Humbert II, dernier roi d’Italie, arrive pour la première fois sur le marché." [2026]

"Una lámpara de pie de Alberto Giacometti que se vendió por más de un millón de francos suizos en 2024 después de un complejo proceso de documentación." [2025]

"Small Auction House Makes a Comeback […] Last year, the Hôtel des Ventes had 22 million Swiss francs in revenue, compared with about 1 million francs in 2005, the year before Mr. Piguet took over." [2013]

Building value through knowledge The work of our specialists

A fine object achieves its full potential at auction only when it has been correctly identified, thoroughly researched and described with authority. This is the patient, detailed work carried out by our specialists, each of whom brings deep expertise in a particular field. Every piece is examined and compared with specialist databases. Where appropriate, we arrange authentication with the recognised authorities for paintings and sculpture, work with leading laboratories such as SSEF, Gübelin and GIA to certify gemstones, and consult official archives, family papers and genealogical sources to establish provenance.

For particularly rare or unusual works, we also seek the views of independent consultants and major Swiss and international institutions. This scholarly approach gives buyers the confidence to bid decisively and continually strengthens our network of collectors.

Piguet has long embraced new technology. We now use artificial intelligence selectively within administrative and specialist workflows to strengthen fact-checking, reduce the risk of human error and work more efficiently always under expert supervision.

Certification and condition reports

Before an object is offered for sale, our specialists establish what it is, assess its condition and assemble the evidence needed to support its value. Where necessary, we consult artists’ committees, recognised authorities and accredited laboratories to confirm an attribution, certify a gemstone or document a work. This is far more than a procedural step. An object that is properly identified, accurately described and supported by the appropriate documentation inspires

confidence. It allows the vendor’s property to be presented in the strongest possible way and gives buyers the reassurance they need to bid decisively.

Our condition reports describe each piece precisely, recording even minor wear, restoration or damage. Available online or on request, they offer the transparency that remote and in-person buyers expect and help to sustain competition on the day of the sale.

Provenance: integrity and transparency

Clear provenance protects the vendor, reassures the buyer and can materially increase interest in a work. At Piguet, research begins with the first appraisal. Earlier inventories, invoices, auction catalogues, family records, certificates and specialist databases are consulted whenever the circumstances require it. We pay particular attention to sensitive periods of the twentieth century and to cultural property that may have been confiscated, sold under duress, looted or unlawfully exported. Any uncertainty is investigated before an object is accepted for sale. Every lot estimated at CHF 2,000 or more is checked against the Art Loss Register, one of the world’s principal databases of stolen, missing and spoliated works.

We also guide clients through international compliance issues, including export controls, regulated materials, protected species, ivory, tortoiseshell, Pernambuco and other restricted materials. Our role is to anticipate potential difficulties, explain them clearly and ensure that each object is offered within a secure and responsible framework.

These standards protect everyone involved: vendors avoid unnecessary risk, buyers can bid with confidence and objects are presented with the integrity expected by the international market.

Antiquities and Paintings are among the fields in which our specialists apply the highest standards of expertise and due diligence, ensuring every sale is transparent, compliant, and conducted with integrity.

Exceptional collections

Imperial and royal collections

Over the past twenty years, Piguet Hôtel des Ventes has become a trusted partner to imperial, royal and aristocratic families seeking to present important works to the market.

Such objects are never merely keepsakes. They carry history, provenance and, at times, diplomatic or dynastic significance. Our task is to identify them with precision, document their stories and bring them to market in the most appropriate way.

An Imperial Russian gold, enamel and diamond snuff box by Keibel, St Petersburg, c. 1803, with a portrait of Tsar Alexander I

Sold for CHF 522,000

Provenance: Presented by the Tsar to Prince Camuto; thence by descent

A Fabergé clock from Queen Astrid of the Belgians, previously unpublished medals belonging to Kings Victor Emmanuel III and Umberto II of Italy, a Russian imperial snuffbox, a royal service and historic books are among the many successes that reflect the confidence placed in Piguet by distinguished European families and our ability to pass these legacies to a new generation of collectors.

NAUDÉ, Gabriel (1600-1653). Judgement of All That Hath Been Printed Against Cardinal Mazarin

Paris: Sébastien Cramoisy, 1650

Sold for CHF 12,700

Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica dinner service of Her Majesty Queen Astrid of the Belgians, née Princess of Sweden, and her mother, Princess Ingeborg of Denmark

Sold for CHF 60,000

Princely sapphires

Sold for CHF 300,000

Few jewels remain in the same family for two centuries. When our specialists first examined this pair of earrings, each set with a 55-carat sapphire, they immediately understood that provenance could transform the way the jewels were perceived.

Research uncovered an 1831 pastel showing Princess Isabela Sanguszko, née Princess Lubomirska, wearing the same sapphires. Detailed genealogical work then connected the nineteenth-century Polish family to the present owner. Once this princely provenance had been firmly established, the earrings achieved ten times their low estimate.

Her Majesty Queen Astrid’s clock

Sold for CHF 127,000

Made in 1907 by Fabergé and Henrik Wigström, this gold, enamel and pearl desk clock brings together all the qualities of an exceptional collector’s object: superb craftsmanship, rarity, royal provenance and uninterrupted family descent. It belonged to Queen Astrid of the Belgians, having first been given to her

mother, Princess Ingeborg of Denmark, most probably by her aunt, Empress Maria Feodorovna. Preserved within the royal family until the sale, it speaks both of Fabergé’s refinement and of the exchange of gifts between Europe’s ruling dynasties.

The Collection of Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy

HRH Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy entrusted Piguet with part of her collection, including medals, books and objects connected with the history of the House of Savoy.

Each piece carried both family and dynastic meaning. Our responsibility was to present the collection with the historical accuracy, discretion and dignity it deserved.

From medals belonging to Kings Victor Emmanuel III and Umberto II to a monumental Louis-Philippe-period vase symbolising the ties between the French and Belgian monarchies, the collection demonstrates Piguet’s ability to handle objects whose artistic and historical importance are inseparable.

A spectacular and unique patinated and gilt urn vase, Louis-Philippe period, Paris

Sold for CHF 41,000

A collection of medals from the collections of the Kings of Italy, Umberto II and Victor Emmanuel III

Sold for CHF 225,000

Orders and Decorations of His Majesty King Umberto II of Italy

Sold for CHF 1,000,000

Presented in a dedicated Piguet catalogue, this previously unseen group of orders and decorations belonging to HM King Umberto II of Italy attracted exceptional interest from collectors around the world.

Alongside the great Russian orders were the Holy See’s Supreme Order of Christ, worn by the King at his wedding in the Vatican; Japan’s Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum; Thailand’s Order of the Royal House of Chakri; and the exceptionally rare Royal Victorian Chain. Their breadth and rarity reflected the truly international significance of the collection.

‘The orders and decorations brought together in the Piguet catalogue bear witness to the remarkable life of my grandfather, King Umberto II, and to the place he occupied from a very young age among the world’s monarchies and states. I am convinced that these pieces, so rich in memory and meaning, will continue their story in new collections.’

The Order of Nishan al-Muhammad Ali, Kingdom of Egypt, complete Grand Cordon set with collar

Sold for CHF 114,000

Russian Empire, Order of St Andrew the First-Called, with four First Class sets of major Imperial Russian orders, in a fitted case

Sold for CHF 317,000

Distinguished collections and estates

Private collections

Lucio Fontana (1899–1968), Concetto Spaziale, 1967, two polished brass sculptures, 26x20x20 cm

Sold for CHF 215,000 Gerald and Muriel Minkoff Collection

Behind every important collection is a personality and a distinctive way of seeing sometimes the result of a lifetime of choices, journeys, encounters and enduring enthusiasms. Our role is not simply to sell such collections, but to reveal their coherence, convey their spirit and ensure that they pass into new hands with understanding.

Whether a collection has remained in one family for generations, been assembled by a discerning connoisseur or forms part of a complex estate, Piguet applies the same considered method: inventory, provenance research, specialist assessment, photography, cataloguing, public presentation and sale strategy. In this way, a private story can become a compelling market event without losing sight of the people who created it.

The Henry-Louis Mermod collection

Tête de femme Floor lamp

Sold for CHF 1,016,000 - World Record

In 1933, Alberto Giacometti created this floor lamp for Henry-Louis Mermod, a distinguished publisher and patron of the arts who played a central role in Switzerland's cultural life. At his estate, La Fantaisie, on the shores of Lake Geneva, he welcomed Pablo Picasso, Colette, Paul Éluard, Man Ray and many other leading figures of the artistic world.

The close relationship between the artist and his patron is documented through correspondence preserved in the family's archives. The letter reproduced in the background illustrates the personal attention Giacometti devoted to the commission: he enquires whether Henry-Louis Mermod is satisfied with the patina and even offers to find a suitable lampshade. Having remained in the Mermod family since its acquisition directly from the artist, the sculpture had never left the family's possession before being offered at auction, presenting its new owner with provenance of the highest calibre.

Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966)

Lampadaire Tête de femme, also known as Figure, 1933, bronze, narrow version, monogrammed, 153.5 cm high

The Grodtmann collection

Total: CHF 4,500,000

The Grodtmann Collection grew out of a shared passion for art and travel. Over the years, Mr and Mrs Grodtmann assembled major works by artists associated with the movements that reshaped twentieth-century art, from Cubism to Surrealism.

Picasso, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Odilon Redon, Joseph Sima and Vieira da Silva were among those represented. Through careful research and presentation, Piguet brought into focus both the collectors’ discerning eye and the coherence of an aesthetic journey shaped by curiosity about the wider world.

Henri Matisse (1869–1954), La Noire, August 1944, charcoal on paper, 52.6x40.5 cm.

Sold for CHF 350,000

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), Nature morte sur un guéridon devant une fenêtre ouverte, 1919, watercolour on paper, signed, 49x31 cm

Sold for CHF 1,500,000

The Serge Lifar and Countess Ahlefeldt collection

Total: CHF 9,350,000

Through the estate of Countess Lillian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, Serge Lifar’s universal legatee, Piguet presented one of the most significant collections in its history. A dancer, choreographer and central figure in the renewal of French ballet from the 1930s onwards, Lifar had lived among works, mementoes, letters and personal objects connected with the leading artists of his time.

The sale drew collectors, dance historians, bibliophiles and admirers of twentieth-century culture from around the world. Several records were set, demonstrating Piguet’s ability to transform an important cultural estate into an international event.

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel (1883–1971), a signed photograph and autograph letter to Serge Lifar, documenting their long friendship.

Sold for CHF 425,000 World auction record

Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), Opium, a collection of 40 original ink drawings on paper for the 1930 publication.

Sold for CHF 912,000 World auction record

The Brigitte Mavromichalis collection

Total: CHF 3,600,000

Brigitte Mavromichalis assembled a collection that reflected a highly personal and cultivated eye. She was drawn equally to rare works and to objects of exceptional refinement.

Decorative arts, signed jewellery, Asian art and collectors’ pieces formed an exacting and immediately recognisable ensemble. Piguet preserved the collection’s distinctive elegance while ensuring that every object reached the specialist audience it deserved. The sale was crowned by a record result for a Qianlong-period jade seal.

Sold for CHF 63,000

The collection of HE Ardeshir Zahedi

Total: CHF 1,300,000

In December 2024, Piguet presented the collection of HE Ardeshir Zahedi, a prominent diplomat, former Iranian ambassador and major figure in twentieth-century political history.

At Villa Les Roses in Montreux, he had surrounded himself with furniture, paintings, silver, carpets, personal mementoes and diplomatic gifts. Offered across more than 370 lots, the collection brought to life an exceptional career at the intersection of Iranian history, international affairs and the cultural world of Lake Geneva.

A gold, diamond and wood casket, set with a medallion bearing Ardeshir Zahedi’s personal tughra Sold for CHF 76,000

The Pahlavi family collection

Piguet was entrusted with a princely collection from the Pahlavi family, comprising jewellery, coins and medals. Given by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, to a member of his family before 1979, the pieces had remained within the family ever since.

Their presentation called for a precise, historically informed and measured approach: each object had to be placed in context, its provenance documented and its significance communicated to an international market with a particular interest in dynastic collections.

The Gerald and Muriel Minkoff collection

Piguet brought to light a distinctive collection assembled by two Genevabased artists and seasoned travellers. African, Oceanic and Indigenous American art appeared alongside modern and contemporary works, reflecting an independent, enquiring outlook and a deep openness to the world’s cultures.

Built over decades of travel and friendship, the collection included sculpture, masks, rare ritual objects and works by Christo, Yves Klein, Picasso and Tinguely. Some had been given directly by the artists, occasionally in exchange for works by the Minkoffs themselves.

A Kota reliquary figure, Gabon, hardwood covered with copper and brass sheets, 65 cm high Sold for CHF 165,000

The Château de Penthes collection

Based at the château from 1978, the Foundation of the Swiss Abroad assembled a collection devoted to the contribution made by Swiss people beyond the country’s borders. Built over forty years by Jean-René Bory, it traced the lives of soldiers, scientists, diplomats, entrepreneurs and patrons whose careers helped shape European and world history, including members of the Affry, Reding, de Meuron and Necker families. By creating a dedicated catalogue, Piguet helped the institution to document, present and pass on an important historical legacy. Several works entered museum collections, while others returned to historic Swiss families, sometimes regaining a context close to their origins. The sale embodied a respectful approach: to bring objects to light, preserve their history and find them an appropriate new home.

An Order of the Golden Fleece knight’s badge, Austria or Spain, gold and enamel, first third of the 19th century

Sold for CHF 57,000

Bonaparte as First Consul (1799–1804), a gold medal commemorating Napoleon’s visit to the Paris Mint

Sold for CHF 60,000

The Xavier and Léon Givaudan collection

Total: CHF 3,380,000

Xavier Givaudan and his brother Léon were leading figures in Geneva industry during the first half of the twentieth century.

Xavier made the Château de Bessinge, formerly owned by the Tronchin family, his country residence and housed part of this distinguished collection there.

Over several years, Piguet carried out extensive research into the collection’s objects and provenance, revealing its coherence and quality. This work led to the discovery of an exceptionally rare Japanese celestial globe made around 1640 (see page 140). Following ten months of research with international specialists, it sold for CHF 912,000 a world auction record for a Japanese globe.

A pair of Louis XV Meissen porcelain and gilt-bronze candelabra, the porcelain figures by Kändler, c. 1740, 60 cm high

Sold for CHF 158,000

Jean-Baptiste Boudard (1710–1768), bust of Dr Théodore Tronchin (1709–1781), white marble, 59 cm high

Sold for CHF 368,000

The Bemberg family collection

The Bemberg family belonged to a major industrial dynasty established in Argentina from the mid-nineteenth century and distinguished in business, diplomacy, the arts and philanthropy. Deeply committed to culture and collecting, yet always highly discreet, the family entrusted Piguet with part of the collection preserved in its Lausanne residence.

Sold for CHF 165,000

Old Master drawings, paintings, signed furniture, silver, porcelain, jewellery and rare books formed an outstanding ensemble, presented in a way that respected both its provenance and the character of the family that had assembled it.

The Henri-Ferdinand Lavanchy collection

Total: CHF 4,049,000

Henri-Ferdinand Lavanchy, one of Switzerland’s notable collectors, assembled at the Château de Bonmont an exceptional group of furniture, paintings and works of art. When his family entrusted the collection to Piguet, they wanted it to be presented with the care and respect its history deserved. Meticulous research and staging attracted strong interest from collectors in Switzerland and abroad.

Sold for CHF 364,000

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The Gilbert Albert collection

More than 400 unique creations made up the largest group of jewellery by Gilbert Albert ever offered at auction. A visionary artist inspired by the natural world, Albert reshaped the language of contemporary jewellery and created an artistic universe that is instantly recognisable.

«Nous avons été impressionés par les efforts que la maison Piguet a déployé, un immense merci à toute l'équipe.»

Françoise et Gilbert Albert

On-site estate sales

Selling the entire contents of a residence is rarely a routine undertaking. It often comes at an important moment for a family or estate and calls for careful planning, discretion, efficiency and respect for the property itself.

For more than twenty years, Piguet has organised some of Switzerland’s most important on-site estate sales, achieving exceptional results for the families who have placed their trust in us.

Every property has its own history and every collection its own character. Our role is to bring that individuality to the fore, so that each object can be understood in its proper context and find renewed meaning and value for the next generation of collectors.

98% of lots sold

Total: CHF 3.7 million

4,500 visitors over three public viewing days

Château de Gingins

The Château de Gingins shows what an onsite auction can achieve when a collection has remained intact for decades. The objects were displayed in the rooms in which they had been chosen, lived with and preserved, allowing visitors to encounter far more than a succession of lots: they stepped into the world of the house and its owners.

Seeing the collection in its original setting deepened collectors’ engagement and played an important part in the success of the sale.

Château d’Hauteville

100 % of lots sold

Total CHF 4.4 million 11,000 visitors over three public viewing days

The Château d’Hauteville remains a landmark among Switzerland’s on-site estate sales. Preserved by the same family for more than 250 years, its contents formed an exceptional ensemble inseparable from the history of the house.

A sale of this importance demanded far more than practical organisation. It required an understanding of the property,

detailed archival research, careful documentation of the objects, close dialogue with the family and a presentation worthy of the collection.

The research culminated in a publication that has become an important documentary reference for the château and its heritage, extending far beyond the auction itself.

‘The heirs were profoundly impressed by the cultural and administrative expertise of Piguet Hôtel des Ventes. The relationship Bernard Piguet and his team established with the family was exemplary. We are delighted that our family’s possessions have found enthusiastic new owners, particularly in Switzerland and the United States.’

PHILIP GRAND D’HAUTEVILLE, HEIR AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FAMILY

The Molly de Balkany collection

Aigue-Marine Villa provided an extraordinary setting in which furniture, works of art and precious objects entered into a natural dialogue with the architecture and the landscape of Lake Geneva.

By holding the sale within the house, Piguet allowed visitors to experience the collection in the surroundings for which it had been assembled, revealing the subtle connections between the works, the interiors and the personality of their owner. This sense of place contributed greatly to the sale’s exceptional character.

The Manja Gidéon collection

Twenty-first-century art

On-site sales are not confined to historic houses. The Manja Gidéon Collection showed how contemporary architecture can become a natural extension of a collection.

a direct dialogue with the architecture and design. This immersive presentation gave visitors an understanding of the collection that no conventional saleroom could have reproduced. 90

Displayed in the modernist villa for which it had been assembled, the art entered into

The collection of Mr and Mrs Slavic Hôtel Beau-Séjour

The sale of the contents of Mr and Mrs Slavic’s town house Piguet’s most recent major on-site estate auction demonstrates our ability to manage particularly sensitive family circumstances with discretion, method and respect.

In this Geneva residence, every object was closely connected to its surroundings. By

remaining faithful to the spirit of the house, the presentation preserved the collection’s coherence and gave buyers an authentic sense of place. It showed how a property of character benefits from a bespoke approach in which presentation is integral to both understanding and value.

Our areas of expertise

Paintings and sculpture

Old masters

Flemish School, first half of the seventeenth century, Geneva on the Day after the Escalade, 12 December 1602, also known as View of the City of Geneva from the Heights of La Bâtie, oil on panel, 50x88 cm

Sold for CHF 139,000 Tronchin-Givaudan collection

Giovanni Battista Cimaroli (c. 1687–1753), View of the Doge’s Palace with Gondolas on the Lagoon and View of the Customs House with Numerous Figures in the Foreground, c. 1745–1750, a pair of oils on canvas, 81.9x112.4 cm

Sold for CHF 457,000

Pieter Brueghel the Younger (c. 1564–1637), sixteenth century, The Slaughter of the Pig: An Allegory of Autumn, oil on panel, 40.5x57 cm

Sold for CHF 890,000

Henri-Ferdinand Lavanchy Collection

World auction record for the Allegory of Autumn series

Circle of Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) and Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568–1625), The Feast of Achelous, sixteenth–seventeenth century, oil on panel, 77x104 cm

Sold for CHF 873,000

Molly de Balkany Collection

Old master drawings

Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732–1806), He Was What I Am; What He Is, I Shall Soon Be, red chalk on paper, 43.5x30.5 cm

Sold for CHF 264,000 Givaudan Collection

Jean-Marc Nattier (1685–1766), Madame Adélaïde and Madame Henriette, two drawings on paper, 27x42 cm

Sold for CHF 118,000 Couturat Collection

Jean-Étienne Liotard (1702–1789), Young Girl in a Hat, c. 1750, pencil on paper, 20x12.4 cm

Sold for CHF 122,000

Hubert Robert (1733–1808), Ruins near Naples, two red-chalk drawings on paper, c. 1760, 33x45 cm and 39x52 cm

Sold for CHF 175,000 Givaudan Collection

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1727–1804), A Standing Horse Held by a Groom, pencil on paper, 21x29 cm

Sold for CHF 89,000 Bemberg Collection

Swiss art

François Bocion (1828–1890), Fishing off Dorigny, 1859, oil on canvas, 74.5x108 cm

Sold for CHF 215,000

Ernest Biéler (1863–1948), Portrait of Violette Scholder, 1911, tempera on panel, 47x32 cm

Sold for CHF 1,155,000

Never previously offered on the art market; in the same family since it was painted. World auction record

Sold for CHF

Charles Giron (1850–1914), Cradle of the Confederation: Lake Lucerne, 1899, oil on canvas, 41x80 cm

Preparatory study for the National Council Chamber in the Federal Palace. Presented by the artist to Adrien Lachenal, President of the Swiss Confederation

Sold for CHF 523,000 World auction record

Modern and contemporary art

Christo (1935–2020), The Pont-Neuf Wrapped (Project for Paris), 1979, diptych, mixed media on paper laid down on card, 28x71 cm and 51x71 cm

Sold for CHF 190,000

Henri Le Sidaner (1862–1939), Quimperlé, 1923, oil on canvas, 92x112 cm

Sold for CHF 365,000

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919), Landscape

Sketch, 1906, oil on canvas, 42.7x56 cm

Sold for CHF 187,000

Gustave Loiseau (1865–1935), Village on the Riverbank (Porte-Joie), 1901, oil on canvas, 60x82 cm

Sold for CHF 406,000

Sold for CHF 381,000

Sold for CHF 102,000

Sold for CHF 445,000

Sold

Sold for CHF

Sold for CHF

Sold for CHF

Sculptures

Rembrandt Bugatti (1884–1916), White Elephant (He Will Make It), bronze, from an edition of 20, 14x23 cm Sold for CHF 175,000 Alain Delon Collection

Édouard-Marcel Sandoz (1881–1971), Seated Cat, 1926, bronze, 42x23x21 cm

Sold for CHF 89,000

Auguste Rodin (1840–1917), The Death of Adonis, bronze, 36x62.7x38.5 cm

Sold for CHF 304,000

Henry Moore (1898–1986), Reclining Figure No. 1, small-format bronze maquette, 12x25x13 cm

Sold for CHF 250,000

Sold for CHF 63,000

Sold for CHF 139,000

Julio González (1876-1942), Femme dite Les trois plis, 1984, bronze, 121x27.7x16 cm

Sold for CHF 254,000 Cassigneul Collection

Haute joaillerie

Van Cleef & Arpels, rare pair of Poppy flower ear clips, pavé-set with rubies in the Mystery Set technique and diamonds

Sold for CHF 218,000

Van Cleef & Arpels, 1940s Two Birds brooch set with emeralds, diamonds and rubies

Sold for CHF 44,000

Van Cleef & Arpels, Owl brooch set with onyx and diamonds

Sold for CHF 61,000

Van Cleef & Arpels, ballerina brooch, c. 1940–1950, set with a rose-cut diamond and sapphires

Sold for CHF 51,000

Cartier, bird brooch, c. 1950, set with emeralds, rubies and diamonds

Sold for CHF 48,000

Cartier, brooch pavé-set with diamonds, including three principal diamonds weighing 6.76, 2.80 and 2.40 carats, accompanied by GIA reports

Sold for CHF 190,000

Cartier, ring set with a 7.71-carat diamond, accompanied by a GIA report

Sold for CHF 162,000

Cartier, Art Deco bracelet set with sapphires and diamonds

Sold for CHF 165,000

Cartier, Belle Époque brooch set with Colombian emeralds weighing approximately 3.9 and 4 carats, and diamonds, accompanied by an SSEF report

Sold for CHF 231,000

Sold for CHF 101,000

Sold for CHF 69,000

Ring set with a 9.568-carat octagonal Colombian emerald, with moderate treatment, accompanied by an SSEF report

Sold for CHF 203,000

Boucheron, Belle Époque stomacher brooch pavé-set with diamonds

Sold for CHF 63,000

Provenance: Bemberg family

Ring set with a 24.51-carat unheated Ceylon sapphire, accompanied by a Gübelin report

Sold for CHF 156,000

Art Deco ring set with an unheated Ceylon cabochon star sapphire weighing approximately 75 carats, accompanied by an SSEF report

Sold for CHF 152,000

Suzanne Belperron, Arbuste brooch in black enamel, set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds

Sold for CHF 43,000

Deco

set with a 14-carat diamond and two Colombian emeralds weighing 75 and 78 carats, accompanied by an SSEF report

Sold for CHF 632,000 Molly de Balkany Collection

Necklace composed of 41 natural saltwater pearls, accompanied by a GGTL report

Sold for CHF 406,000

Pair of pendant earrings set with two natural pearls

Sold for CHF 41,000

Ring set with a natural brown pearl

Sold for CHF 38,000

Nineteenth-century brooch set with natural pearls, accompanied by a GGTL report

Sold for CHF 16,000

Marina B, Strelizia, necklace and pair of ear clips, c. 1980–1990, set with diamonds weighing 9.54, 9.27 and 18.04 carats, accompanied by GIA reports

Sold for CHF 749,000

Sterlé, brooch set with labradorite and diamonds, c. 1963, height 10.5 cm

Sold for CHF 33,000

Harry Winston, ring set with a 5.74-carat diamond, D colour, VVS1 clarity, accompanied by a GIA report

Sold for CHF 215,000

Boivin, pendant in gold and blackened silver, set with peridots

Sold for CHF 42,000

Fine watches and clocks

Sold for CHF 81,000

Rolex, Daytona, ref. 16559 SACO, rare chronograph wristwatch set with yellow-orange sapphires, diamonds and mother-of-pearl, c. 1999

Sold for CHF 317,000

Rolex, Daytona “Rainbow”, ref. 116598RBOW/2118, chronograph wristwatch set with a rainbow of coloured sapphires, c. 2010

Sold for CHF 190,500

Rolex, Oyster Perpetual “Ovettone Stelline”, ref. 6098, wristwatch, c. 1952

Sold for CHF 137,000

Rolex, Daytona “Paul Newman”, ref. 6262/6239, rare chronograph wristwatch, c. 1971

Sold for CHF 177,000

Sold for CHF 200,000

Patek Philippe, ref. 1436, chronograph wristwatch, c. 1940

Sold for CHF 165,000

Patek Philippe, ref. 5970P-001, perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch

Sold for CHF 194,000

Patek Philippe, Advanced Research, ref. 5550P-001, limited edition of 300 pieces, ultra-thin perpetual calendar wristwatch, c. 2014

Sold for CHF 112,000

Luxury handbags

Hermès, Birkin 30 bag in Swift leather and Quadrillage canvas, 2022

Sold for CHF 21,500

Hermès, Kelly 28 bag in Niloticus crocodile, 2006

Sold for CHF 38,000

Furniture and design

A Charles X period neo-Gothic ceremonial table, the top richly decorated with cutpaper designs

Sold for CHF 330,000

Provenance: a French aristocratic collection

A Louis XIV period commode, attributed to Nicolas Sageot, in première-partie marquetry of brass and red tortoiseshell, decorated with Bérain-style motifs, 90x130x71 cm

Sold for CHF 218,000

Henri-Ferdinand Lavanchy Collection, Château de Bonmont

An exceptional and rare pair of Louis XV period candlesticks, attributed to Pierre Gouthière (1732–1813), in finely chased and ormolu-gilt bronze, height 35 cm

Sold for CHF 82,000 Givaudan Collection

An astronomical clock, also known as a planetary clock, by Antide Janvier (1751–1835), dated 1810

Sold for CHF 200,000

Tableware, silver, Art Nouveau and Art Deco

Service made for King Louis-Philippe I for the Château d’Eu, comprising Sèvres porcelain, Christofle silverware and Baccarat crystal, all bearing the monogram of King Louis-Philippe Sold for CHF 233,000

Works of art and objects of vertu

A gold and enamel snuffbox by Charles-Alexandre Bouillerot, France, late eighteenth century, 4.4x6.6x2.3 cm

Sold for CHF 12,700

A gold miniature box, the miniatures attributed to Henri-Joseph van Blarenberghe (1741–1826), with a shagreen case, late eighteenth century, 8x6x3.5 cm

Sold for CHF 26,000

A gold and enamel box by Joseph-Étienne Blerzy, Paris, c. 1770, 3.5x8.5x6 cm

Sold for CHF 16,000

A chased, guilloché and enamelled gold snuffbox by Jean-Georges Rémond, Geneva, c. 1800, 7x9.8x1.5 cm

Sold for CHF 14,000

A gold and enamel snuffbox by Jean-Louis Richter, Geneva, 1800–1805, 9.4x4.4x1.7 cm

Sold for CHF 14,000

A gold and enamel snuffbox by Pierre Theremin, Saint Petersburg, c. 1800, 8.5x6.8x1.3 cm

Sold for CHF 16,000 Molly de Balkany Collection

for CHF

Commemorating the marriage of Princess Louise in 1871, an important carved meerschaum pipe attributed to Joseph Krammer, Vienna, 28x46 cm

Sold for CHF 37,000

Part of a collection of 5,000 tobacco-related objects entrusted to Piguet for sale

Russian art

A Russian krater-form vase in grey Kalgan jasper, carved with acanthus leaves, Kolyvan manufactory, c. 1850, height 33 cm

Sold for CHF 114,000

An exceptional pair of Russian Imperial porcelain vases from the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, Saint Petersburg, reign of Nicholas I (1825–1855)

Sold for CHF 1,600,000

Fabergé gold, diamond and enamel snuffbox, workmaster Mikhail Perkhin, decorated with the monogram of Tsar Nicholas II and the Romanov griffins

Sold for CHF 212,000

Fabergé desk clock, workmaster Henrik Wigström, Saint Petersburg, 1908

Sold for CHF 107,000

Collection of Count Boutourline

An Imperial presentation snuffbox in gold and enamel, set with diamonds, by Johann Wilhelm Keibel, Saint Petersburg, 1845

Sold for CHF 55,000

Provenance: the princely Cantacuzène family

An Imperial gold and enamel snuffbox set with diamonds, by Johann Wilhelm Keibel, Saint Petersburg, early nineteenth century, presented by Tsar Alexander I of Russia to the Dutch artillery general Willem du Pont in July 1814

Sold for CHF 101,000 Collection of the Foundation of the Swiss Abroad

The Tsarevich, the future Nicholas II, in Formal Dress, by Levitsky

Group of photographs of the Imperial Family of Tsar Alexander III of Russia

Sold for CHF 1,500,000 Ferdinand Thormeyer Collection; Thormeyer, from Carouge, served as tutor to the Tsar’s children from 1886 to 1902.

card

Sold for CHF 80,000

Collection of H.I.H. Prince Nicholas Romanov, comprising four autograph letters from Nicholas II to his uncle, Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army Sold for CHF 120,000

Ferdinand Thormeyer Collection, Geneva, comprising letters from the children of Tsar Alexander III Sold for CHF 430,000

Collection of an American soldier, New York, comprising letters from Nicholas I and Alexander II Sold for CHF 650,000

Numismatics, orders, medals and decorations

A gold medal honouring Major Alexander Macomb (1782–1841), presented by the President of the United States at the request of Congress, weight 248 g, diameter 6.4 cm

Sold for CHF 231,000 Grand d’Hauteville family

United Kingdom, Elizabeth II (1952–2022), Alderney £1,000 commemorative coin, Battle of Britain, in 916 gold, 2010, Royal Mint, limited edition of 20, diameter 10 cm, weight 1,090.86 g

Sold for CHF 102,000

Islamic and Asian art

Sold for CHF 584,000

A Japanese celestial globe with clockwork mechanism, c. 1640, height 65 cm

Sold for CHF 912,000

Givaudan Collection

World auction record

A rhinoceros-horn libation cup, China, eighteenth century, 13x16 cm

Sold for CHF 365,000

A pale jade marriage cup, or bixi, China, Qing dynasty, length approximately 20 cm

Sold for CHF 85,000

A large ivory netsuke depicting a Dutchman, Japan, Edo period, height 13.5 cm

Sold for CHF 100,000

Two Iznik ceramic dishes, late sixteenth–early seventeenth century, diameters 28.5 and 30.5 cm

Sold for CHF 51,000

Seated Maitreya (彌勒菩薩, Mile Pusa) gilt-bronze sculpture, China, Ming dynasty, height 49.5 cm

Sold for CHF 127,000

Books, manuscripts and prints

KLIMT, Gustav (1862–1918).

Das Werk von Gustav Klimt. With introductory texts by Hermann Bahr and Peter Altenberg.

Vienna and Leipzig: Hugo Heller Kunstverlag, 1918. One of 300 copies.

Sold for CHF 63,000

FOUJITA (Tsuguharu), Les Enfants.

Paris, Apollo, n.d., c. 1930

Sold for CHF 35,000

Joan Miró (1893–1983), L’oiseau mongol, 1969, etching, aquatint and carborundum on Arches paper, 103x68 cm

Sold for CHF 76,000

Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), Orphée, Villefranche, 1925, 78-page autograph manuscript, 35x26 cm and 31x21 cm

Sold for CHF 460,000

Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), Marcel Khill endormi, sketchbook produced in Honolulu in 1936 aboard the President Coolidge, during the two men’s journey around the world

Sold for CHF 425,000

SCHWOB, Marcel (1867–1905). La Porte des rêves. Paris: Les Bibliophiles indépendants, 1899. Binding signed H. Noulhac. One of 220 copies on Japanese paper.

Sold for CHF 10,000

LINSCHOTEN, Jan Huygen van (1563–1611).

Navigatio ac itinerarium Iohannis Hugonis Linscotani in orientalem sive Lusitanorum Indiam: descriptiones eiusdem terrae ac tractuum littoralium. First Latin edition, translated from the Dutch by the author.

Sold for CHF 82,000

Louis Rey Collection

James (1882–1941). Ulysses. Paris: Shakespeare and Company, 1922. First edition. Jansenist binding signed Lobstein.

Sold for CHF 26,000

Provenance: Library of Château Le Rosey, Switzerland

DUMAS, Alexandre (1802-1870), Le Comte de Monte-Cristo. Paris: Baudry and Pétion; printed by Béthune et Plon and Henry, 1845–1846. Rare first edition

Sold for CHF 182,500

Private collection, Neuchâtel

RAMUZ, C. F. (1878–1947). Une main. Original autograph manuscript of the novel, published in 1933. Sixty-nine pages in black ink on 69 leaves, bound in a small folio volume, 30x24 cm. With a signed and dated autograph presentation inscription, ‘Noël 1940’, on the front free endpaper Sold for CHF 60,000

Tronchin-Givaudan Library

The Tronchin-Givaudan Library is a Geneva family collection assembled over several generations, reflecting the ideals of the Enlightenment and the history of Geneva’s patriciate. It spans more than five centuries of printed works including law, the humanities, science and travel and is enriched by distinguished bookplates and exceptionally rare items.

Sold for CHF 148,000

Musical instruments, bows and scores

Sold for CHF

A very fine violin bow by Dominique Peccatte (1810–1874), c. 1845, with a round reddish-brown pernambuco stick, unsigned, length 72.4 cm, weight 52.9 g

Sold for CHF 57,000

Igor Stravinsky, four autograph manuscript pages

Sold for CHF 67,000 Serge Lifar Collection

Scientific instruments

Arms, armour and militaria

A complete German cavalry armour with sword, Nuremberg, mid-sixteenth century

Sold for CHF 69,000

A model 1821 infantry officer’s sabre of the Swiss Royal Guard, French Restoration period Sold for CHF 20,300 Foundation of the Swiss Abroad collection

Palaeontology and mineralogy

Maximus, skeleton of a Thescelosaurus neglectus, South Dakota, Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian, approximately 66 million years old, length 299 cm, height 99 cm

Sold for CHF 225,000

A skeleton of a sabre-toothed tiger, more than 90% complete, United States, Eocene, approximately 37 million years old, 120 cm long

Sold for CHF 76,000

Oued el-Hamim lunar meteorite, containing evidence of water on the Moon, weight 579 g

Sold for CHF 19,000

Wines and spirits

Cultural and philanthropic engagement

The role of an auction house extends well beyond the saleroom. As an active participant in Switzerland’s artistic and cultural life, Piguet also lends its experience and expertise to a wide range of cultural and philanthropic initiatives.

Our auctioneers regularly give their time to conduct charity auctions, speak at conferences, introduce audiences to the art market and support events raising funds for charities, foundations and cultural institutions.

In recent years, Piguet has developed particularly close ties with musical and literary organisations in French-speaking Switzerland and the Gstaad region. We believe that heritage is not confined to the art of the past, and we are equally committed to supporting living artists and events that make a lasting contribution to the cultural life of our region.

That support takes many forms, from financial assistance and professional expertise to charity auctions and partnerships that help festivals reach a wider audience.

Our commitment to culture and charitable causes

Lausanne and the region

Set in the heart of Lausanne, in a listed historic building opposite the Church of Saint-François, our branch has become an important centre for Piguet. It allows us to offer clients a genuinely local service while giving them access to the full breadth of our expertise and to the auction house’s national and international reach.

Led by Morgane Hérault and Marjorie Vallotton, the Lausanne team advises collectors, families, notaries, solicitors and institutions on valuations, inventories, estates and proposed sales.

Our presence in Lausanne reflects Piguet’s development as a leading Swiss auction

house: firmly rooted in French-speaking Switzerland, while also serving collectors in German-speaking Switzerland and Ticino.

Geneva

Rue Prévost-Martin 51 1205 Geneva, Switzerland +41 22 320 11 77 info@piguet.com

Valuations: expertise@piguet.com

Lausanne

Place Saint-François 4 1003 Lausanne, Switzerland +41 21 613 71 11 lausanne@piguet.com

Opening hours

Monday: closed

Tuesday to Friday: 9 .30 am - 12.30 pm 2 pm - 5.30 pm

Inventories: inventaire@piguet.com

Estates: succession@piguet.com

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