In Lille, the spotlight was on some fine 17th and 18th century furniture, preceded by a pair of curious blue dogs.
Nevers, pair of earthenware dogs 1660-1680, height. 32 cm.
Result: €25,625
These dogs consisted of a rare pair in faience with a blue background and decoration painted in blanc fixe (height 32 cm,12.59 in). The canines were embellished using the "à la bougie" technique, which involved applying or projecting white enamel drops onto a plain blue enamel background to imitate splashes of candle-wax. According to Nevers faience specialist Jean Rosen (in "L'Age d'or du XVIIè siècle", published by Faton, 2009), "…statues executed using this technique are very rare" in Nevers pieces. To date, the only one recorded is a "Water Carrier" now in the city by the Loire's Musée Frédéric-Blandine. Bidders battled all the way up to €25,625 for this duo with their astonishing coats dating from 1660-1680. Meanwhile, the furniture section featured a sumptous Louis XIV "Mazarin" desk (86 x 113 x 68 cm, 33.8 x 44.4 x 26.7 in ), inlaid with pewter and tortoiseshell in copper fillet frames, with a leaf hiding three drawers and five drawers on the façade, standing on eight legs with stretchers. This piece went for €24,375.
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