Press release : Results of the Easter Sales from April 3 to 6, 2026
Results of the Easter Sales from April 3 to 6, 2026
Sold for : 101600€
Every year, the international Easter auctions make Cannes a key event for discovering exceptional collections. For this 38th edition, held from April 3 to 6, 2026 in the iconic lounges of the Hôtel Martinez, the auction house Besch Cannes Auction presented a selection of 20th-century paintings, period Louis XV furniture, bronze sculptures, contemporary art glassware, collectible perfume bottles, photographs, fine wines, jewellery, haute joaillerie and collectible watches. All these categories bore witness to the diversity and quality of the works on display.
Art passion and Exceptional Collections
Contemporary glasswork took centre stage with works by master glassmaker Jean-Claude Novaro (1943–2014), known as ‘the glass magician’. A selection from the private collection of his daughter Léa Novaro, including a blown glass fish, signed and dated 1999, illustrating the colourful and poetic world of the glassmaker, renowned for his virtuoso work with glass (Sold for 2728€ - 16).
There is also a focus on photography, with a private family collection dedicated to the renowned photographer Ralph Gatti (1936–2005). It offers a unique perspective, immortalising figures such as Jean Cocteau, Jacques Brel, Lady DI, Diana and Prince Albert of England, Raymond Moretti and the artist Pablo Picasso, with this collection of over twenty vintage silver prints, circa 1965–73 (Sold for 825€ – 238).
Paintings : Perspectives on the 20th Century, Contemporary Art, Furniture and Decorative Arts
The sale also featured a remarkable collection of 20th-century paintings, offering a broad overview ranging from abstraction to figurative works and landscapes. An important work by Hans Hartung (1904–1989), T1980-H42, 1980, an acrylic on canvas, monogrammed and dated in the top right-hand corner, which sold for 101600€ (165) and demonstrated the full power of gestural abstraction.
Among the major works, the oil on canvas "Opening Ceremony of the Naples to Portici Railway Line, 1839" by Salvatore Fergola (1799–1874) immerses us in the excitement of a historic moment, set against a backdrop of a moving crowd and a vast, luminous landscape. This lively scene celebrates the dawn of the modern era and bears witness to the 19th century’s fascination with progress (Sold for 72390€ - 96).
The southern light bathes the Baie des Canoubiers in Saint-Tropez by Charles Camoin (1879–1965), where vibrant colours and a warm atmosphere capture the full gentle charm of the Mediterranean (Sold for 24765€ – 132). Combining spirituality and poetry, Marc Chagall’s (1887–1985) "Le Christ jaune" (Monotype #20) evokes a profound emotion carried by colour (Sold for 53340€ – 157).
The body and matter engage in a dialogue with Sacha Sosno’s "Vénus insérée" (1937–2013), a figure both present and concealed (Sold for 15240€ – 45), whilst contemporary energy bursts forth in the acrylic on canvas “Doubles danseuses de ballet pas brosse, behind a backdrop of a nocturnal landscape. Let’s dance while there’s still time, before a plane interrupts the show with its bombs. We are in Ukraine” by Robert Combas, born in 1957, an intense scene blending movement, tension and a view of the modern world (Sold for 29210€ - 209).
Finally, an iconic ceramic piece by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) completed the collection. Produced in 1953 at the Madoura studio in Vallauris, the ‘Gothic Pitcher with Birds’ bore witness to the artist’s inventiveness in the field of ceramics (Sold 17780€ - 175). Not to mention the centrepiece of 18th-century decorative arts : an exceptional pair of Louis XV-period corner cabinets decorated with figures, pagodas, birds, leafy trees and utensils, bearing a JME guild mark and stamped D. Genty: Denis Genty, named a master in 1754 (Sold for 35560€ - 192).
Fine wines and exceptional jewellery
The sale also included two exceptional days dedicated to Fine Wines & Spirits, showcasing prestigious private collections. Among the 1024 lots were, notably, a bottle of 1978 Musigny from Domaine Georges Roumier (sold for 13765€ – Lot 311) and six bottles of 2005 Petrus (sold for 20088€ – Lot 743).
In the High Jewellery section, a significant 8,68 carat round half-cut diamond, colour M, clarity VVS2 (sold for 41910€ – lot 115), completed this collection, alongside numerous major names including Van Cleef & Arpels, set by Georges Lenfant, this yellow gold necklace features graduated concentric links, with the central motifs set with brilliant-cut diamonds totalling approximately 7,80 carats (Sold for 50800€ - Lot 222).
Press contact : Isabelle de Puysegur - Tel : 33(0)6 60 57 58 78 - i.puysegur@wanadoo.fr
