Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent’s Moroccan art collection was sold for 1.4 million Euros, including duties and taxes, in Marrakech on Saturday evening, revealed Auctioneer Artcurial on Sunday. This is 3 and a half times more than the original estimates.
Weapons, needlework, weaves, pottery, jewels, carpets, architectural features: a total of 274 artefacts were auctioned off in the lounges of the Es Saadi Palace in Marrakech late on Saturday, including 50 pieces of furniture and paintings from the couple’s personal collection. Each object was estimated at between 300 and 30,000 Euros.
An exceptional and monumental 17th century mosque gate sold for 93,000 Euros (estimated at between 20,000 and 30,000 Euros). A gold and emerald wedding belt from Fez reached 57,000 Euros, and a 15th and 16th century hand-written Koran sold for 47,000 Euros, 10 times more than anticipated.
Pierre Bergé donated a 14th century Koran to Morocco’s National Museum Foundation, announced the Co-President of Artcurial, François Tajan, when the auction started. Proceeds from the auction will help finance the Yves Saint Laurent Museum due to open near the couple’s home Villa Majorelle in Marrakech in 2017.
(Source: Belga)
