The Victorious Return of a Young Roman Prince

The white marble head of a young prince carved in an official studio of second-century Rome shone on the cover of the year’s first issue. Long in contemporary artist A. Z.’s collection, it recalls the fascinating history of the Antonine dynasty, which gave the Roman Empire powerful rulers and the great intellectual Marcus Aurelius. This face with perfect features boasts all the characteristics of second-century Roman art, including thick curly hair sculpted with a drill. It sparked an international bidding war won by a French collector who paid €600,000, well above its €200,000 estimate.

Next came a painting attributed to Brussels artist Lukas Achtschelling, the late 16th-century Le Passage du viatique (The Viaticum Passage), 106.5 x 89 cm/41.92 x 35.04 in), which fetched €22,800. The well-attended sale also featured pieces by sought-after designers. The first was a whole bedroom suite designed by Jean Prouvé for the Martel-de-Janville Sanatorium in Haute-Savoie, c. 1934–1935. The Atelier Jean Prouvé made the suite, which includes two chairs, a reading table, pedestal table, hanging desk, visitor’s armchair and bed with a built-in nightstand, all in tubular steel, folded and soldered sheet metal and oak (sold combined €25,200). Then there was the medicine cabinet Charlotte Perriand designed in 1952 for the Unité d’habitation Air France in Brazzaville (70 x 160 x 17 cm/ 27.55 x 62.99 x 6.69 in). Made of padouk, aluminum sheet metal, wood and lacquered steel sheet metal, it sold for €8,640.