2021

Paintings by van Dyck and Tintoretto, marquetry cabinets by André Charles Boulle, silver acquired from France’s royal family: Robert Zellinger de Balkany (1931–2015) collected at the most grandiose level imaginable. Having made his billions bringing American-style malls to France, the Hungarian-born businessman filled the 1730s Hotel de Feuquières, his Paris residence from 1969 until his death, with pieces that reflected his obsession with the regal splendor of Italy, England, and France. (When the collection came up for auction at Sotheby’s Paris in 2016, it was considered one of the most important sales of decorative arts ever to take place in France.) The house saw various decorators over the decades, from Henri Samuel’s work in the 1980s to Jacques Garcia who installed the lemon yellow silk tufted ottoman centering the room here. In the salon, the fireplace is flanked by busts on pedestals, Boulle cabinets, Old Masters, and clocks— Zellinger de Balkany, wanting to be reminded of the preciousness of each minute, owned 265 of them.

Dimensions:
Height: 29 x Width: 31 cm