Monnoyer’s Opulence; Criaerdl’s Elegance

A two-day sale in Morlaix featured fine furniture, Old Master and modern paintings and some first-class jewelry. It started on August 2 with Nature morte de fleurs animées de putti sur fond de parc architecture (Still Life with Putti and an Architectural Park in the Background), an opulent oil on canvas attributed to Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer in part because of the ancient-style bas-relief on the right. The painting fetched €11,250. From Baron Gérard’s studio came a bust portrait on canvas of Charles X (94 x 78 cm/37 x 30.7 in) that sold for €7,187. 20th-century art included Danseuse (Dancer, 204 x 100 cm/80.3 x 39.4 in) with the signature “J. Sorolla B.”, which found a buyer at €21,250.

The next day, August 3, began with jewelry, including a Cartier grey gold ring numbered 88254 set with a 2.18 ct brilliant-cut solitaire diamond and two tapered baguette diamonds (€25,000). The furniture section featured a Transition period roll-top desk with stained tulipwood veneering and marquetry and the sought-after stamp of Antoine Mathieu Criaerd, admitted as master on April 22, 1747. Its extremely elegant workmanship earned it €12,500. Lastly, a significant, late 17^th-early 18^th-century wool and silk tapestry woven in Felletin, in the Aubusson region, depicting a garden with wading birds (248 x 393 cm/97.6 x 154.7 in), obtained €4,500.