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A Vision: The Collection of Michelle Smith

Sotheby’s New York, New York

Auction: Thu 22 Apr 2021

Exhibition: Fri 16 Apr 2021 - Wed 21 Apr 2021

1334 York Avenue, NY 10021 A Vision: The Collection of Michelle Smith

Mon-Fri 10am-5pm

22 April 2021 | New York | full auction details

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Sotheby’s is honored to present A Vision: Property from the Collection of Michelle Smith on 22 April 2021 in New York. The extraordinary collection of the late philanthropist features numerous masterpieces of the 20th and 21st Century spanning Design, Fine Art, and Jewelry. Guided by her passion and discerning eye, Michelle Smith amassed a collection that is as elegant, sophisticated, and eclectic as the collector herself with the same commitment to excellence that resonated across every area of her life.   Led by outstanding masterpieces by some of the most renowned artists of the past century, the collection brings together works across a number of stylistic periods and regions, from European and American Art Nouveau and Art Deco to Mid-century and Contemporary. Legendary artists and designers represented include François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne, Alberto and Diego Giacometti, Jean-Michel Frank, Louis Majorelle, Pierre Chareau, Eugène Printz, Jean Besnard, Lucie Rie and Tiffany Studios, among others. The result is a spectacular and diverse dialogue in materials, genres and artistic practices assembled by a true connoisseur, whose unique personal style is reflected in each individual work. In that spirit, the collection also showcases a robust ensemble of fine art anchored by contemporary works by Antony Gormley, Edmund de Waal, Alexander Calder and Olga de Amaral.
Michelle Smith’s vision is epitomized in her jewelry collection, telling the story of a woman who, when she decided she liked a certain style or maker, explored and collected in depth. Assembled over the course of decades, the collection features impressive jewels from some of the world’s most lauded and established firms, including Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Bulgari, Suzanne Belperron, and René Boivin, as well as contemporary masters such as Hemmerle and Graff. She collected with purpose and cohesion, zeroing in on iconic designs such as Bulgari “Monete”, Van Cleef & Arpels “Snowflakes” and “Hexagone”, and Boivin “Fishscale.” Her jewelry spoke to her style and grace and serves as a natural extension of the highly curated and refined aesthetic she applied to her collections of Fine Art and Design. Michelle Smith was a trailblazing businesswoman, arts patron and philanthropist. The daughter of the late renowned businessman and philanthropist Robert H. Smith and artist Clarice Smith, she became one of the Washington D.C. area’s most respected figures, known for her generous spirit, exacting eye and fierce dedication to championing myriad artistic, cultural and health organizations, as well as educational institutions. Michelle brought to life her passion for art, architecture and design in her stunning penthouse apartment at the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, where true to her background in real estate and visionary spirit, she undertook a multi-year development in transforming two separate and raw living spaces into the impeccably appointed home that showcased the breadth of her timeless collection.  Alongside the live auction, an online sale of jewelry, design, and an impressive ensemble of Hermès handbags will be open for bidding from 16-27 April. We invite you to explore the exciting range of offerings in the Online Sale.
Following the guidelines for the Phase Four reopening of Manhattan, we are able to accommodate clients in our building by appointment only. The exhibition for this sale will open on Friday, April 16 and will close on Wednesday, April 21 at 5PM. To schedule an appointment please click here or contact appointmentsNY@sothebys.comor +1 212 606 7171. You can read more about our safety requirements here.
For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:+1 212 606 7414bids.newyork@sothebys.com
For all enquiries please contact:
20TH CENTURY DESIGN
Jodi PollackSenior Vice President, Co-Worldwide Head, New York+1 212 606 7170jodi.pollack@sothebys.com
Marine HartogsVice President Senior Specialist, New York+1 212 606 7170marine.hartogs@sothebys.com
Katherine WallaceAssistant Vice President, Head of Sale, New York+1 212 606 7170katherine.wallace@sothebys.com
Louis SoulardAssociate Specialist, New York+1 212 606 7170 louis.soulard@sothebys.com
Adelle BortzSale Administrator, New York+1 212 606 7170adelle.bortz@sothebys.com
Carina VillingerConsultant, New York+1 212 606 7170carina.villinger.consultant@sothebys.com
Florent JeanniardSenior Director Head of 20th Century Design Europe, Paris+33 1 53 05 52 69florent.jeanniard@sothebys.com
Laetitia Contat DesfontainesDirector, Head of Sale, London+44 (0)20 7293 5568l.contatdesfontaines@sothebys.com
CONTEMPORARY ART
Julian EhrlichAssociate Specialist, New York+1 212 606 7254julian.ehrlich@sothebys.com
LATIN AMERICAN ART
Anna Di StasiSenior Vice President, Director, Latin American Art, New York+1 212 606 7513anna.distasi@sothebys.com
IMPRESSIONIST & MODERN ART
Scott NiichelSenior Vice President, Co-Head of Department, New York+1 212 606 7360scott.niichel@sothebys.com
Danny ZhangAssociate Specialist, New York+1 212 606 7360danny.zhang@sothebys.com
JEWELRYFrank EverettSenior Vice President, Sales Director New York+1 212 606 7392frank.everett@sothebys.com
Quig BruningSenior Vice President, Head of Department, New York+1 212 606 7392quig.bruning@sothebys.com
Catharine BecketSenior Vice President, Head of Magnificent Jewels, New York+1 212 606 7392catharine.becket@sothebys.com
Joanna PollackAssociate Cataloguer, New York+1 212 606 7392joanna.pollack@sothebys.com
SILVERJohn WardSenior Vice President, Head of Department, New York+1 212 606 7160john.ward@sothebys.com
AFRICAN & OCEANIC ARTAlexander GroganVice President, Head of Department, New York+1 212 894 1312alexander.grogan@sothebys.com
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