In what is being called the most significant charitable auction ever staged, Peggy and David Rockefeller’s private collection amounted to $832,573,469 USD, which also became the greatest total for a private collection. The result of this philanthropical initiative was an unexpected yet pleasant surprise, as it had well outstripped the estimated figure that was anticipated for the entire collection and broke numerous auction records under fine and decorative arts. This private collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller encompassed 1,500 pieces, and was completely sold after a six-month campaign, 10 days of online sales and just three days of auction at Christie’s Rockefeller Center in New York.
With a charitable aim, all of the estate proceeds from the collection will be redirected towards philanthropies that Peggy and David Rockefeller had given support to over the course of their lives. These kind of charitable organizations encompassed the fields of greater levels of education, sustainable economic development, scientific studies & advancements, encouragement for the arts, land conservation drives, et cetera…
David Rockefeller, Jr. commented: “This week of auctions has exceeded our expectations in so many ways. Christie’s and our family had a shared financial goal of raising more than $500 million in estate proceeds for the 12 philanthropies our parents cared about so deeply, and it has been both humbling and deeply gratifying to see a sale total that reaches so far beyond that. These funds will provide very meaningful support to important institutions and foundations devoted to scientific research and higher education, support for the arts, foreign policy, and the conservation of coastal and agricultural lands.”
We are grateful to the Christie’s team for the deep care and attention they took in presenting our parents’ collection to the world over this past year. This was an experience that beautifully and thoroughly conveyed Peggy and David Rockefeller’s great passion for art, design, craftsmanship and beauty. Just as my siblings and our own children are full of pride and gratitude at the end of this historic week, we know our parents would feel the same.”
Noteworthy pieces of the collection include Picasso’s Fillette à la corbeille fleurie, which was sold for $115,000,000 (the second highest total paid for one of his pieces), Monet’s Nymphéas en fleur, which was realized for a record of $84,687,500, and Matisse’s Odalisque couchée aux magnolias that was acquired at $80,750,000, which broke through yet another auction record.
Pieces that set new records throughout the collection include Diego Rivera’s The Rivals that sold for $9,762,500, which broke a world auction record for both the artist himself as well as for a work of Latin American Art. The Art of the Americas sale set a new record by itself for the category’s overall total, and Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington (Vaughan type) established a record for the artist at $11,562,500. Another record was established amidst the decorative arts for 19th Century porcelain when porcelain belonging to the Sèvres ‘Marly Rouge’ service commissioned by Napoleon I, was realized for $1,812,500.
The focal points of the Travel and Americana sale was an extraordinary blue and white ‘Dragon’ Bowl that sold for $2,772,500, a magnificent Imperial Gilt-Bronze figure of Amitayus that was acquired for $2,532,500, which even set a recored for a Kangxi gilt-bronze, and an exquisite John Haynes Williams Whistling Swan duck decoy that broke an auction record for the maker which realized a total of $348,500.
Personal items of the late Peggy and David Rockefeller include a money clip with the outline of the Rockefeller Center (estimated at $800-to-$1,000) that was put up for auction in the Online sale, where it was finally bought for $75,000 in a bidding war between 13 bidders. Other significant, personal keepsakes that were a part of the decorative arts was a Regency Mahogany four-pedestal dining table which sold at $468,500), and an English wicker picnic hamper from Asprey & Company that sold at $212,500 from an estimated $10,000.
As a leading figure in the art world, Christie’s held 350 auctions in 2017 with over 80 categories, such as fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. So, with such a prominent name in the art business, this private Rockefeller collection had no doubt made huge waves by becoming the largest gross ever seen at auction for a single, private collection.
Guillaume Cerutti, Christie’s CEO, remarks,“Christie’s has been honored to represent the Rockefeller Estate and we are proud to have exceeded expectations. As well as raising a truly outstanding amount for good causes, we have sent a clear message about our commitment to our clients. This was an innovative and creative campaign, one that saw new engagement with influential tastemakers, the sharing of powerful stories across our content and digital platforms. We have led the market in our operational delivery, from the launch in Asia, as we worked as a truly global, integrated team. The sales bode well for the art market in the next months and we look forward to our 20th Century sales here in New York next week.”
The charitable event incorporated a 10-days viewing period, in which Christie’s accommodated 30,000 visitors to the grand exhibition, thereby providing them with a walk-through experience for the breathtaking pieces in the late Peggy and David Rockefeller’s private collection. Christie’s, in partnership with VistaJet, worked together to present the global tour of collection highlights to major cities like London, Paris, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, which resulted in over a total of 80,000 visitors participating in the exhibitions. In addition, if you include online sales, the sale registrants hail from 53 countries.
Also, look forward to more of the Peggy and David Rockefeller’s private collection because nineteen lots of jewelry from it will be offered in the June 12 Magnificent Jewels sale.
Images Courtesy of: Christies.com
