Lempertz auction house in Cologne is set to captivate art enthusiasts and collectors once again this November with its celebrated auctions of Old Art.
The opening event, Jewellery and Watches, begins on 14 November at 2 pm and features a stunning collection of antique, vintage, and modern jewellery. Highlights include intricate animal brooches, classic Art Nouveau and Art Deco pieces, and unique works by artists such as Georges Braque, Louise Bourgeois, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jean Cocteau. Particularly noteworthy in this selection are several striking collier necklaces.
The collection includes a rare Art Deco necklace by Jean Desprès featuring onyx, a diamond and sapphire necklace from the early 20th century, and a French Belle Époque necklace adorned with 60 graduated old-cut diamonds. Yet the centrepiece is an exceptional 1980s cocktail necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring a dazzling array of 292 diamonds in brilliant and marquise cuts, set in a three-row rivière style.
On 15 November, the focus shifts entirely to the decorative arts, beginning at 10 am with the catalogue Silver, Porcelain, Ceramics, which includes an impressive selection of 18th-century porcelain from the collection of Heinrich.
Highlights include an exceptional toilet service by the Wiener Werkstätte, designed and crafted around 1920 by Otto Prutscher. Other remarkable pieces feature a 1535 double goblet carved from burl wood, an exceptionally rare museum-quality Delft birdcage, a pair of faience birds perched on tree stumps from Höchst, and a silver notebook with a perpetual calendar dating back to around 1700.
The afternoon auction, commencing at 5 pm, turns to Kunstkammer objects and fine furniture, with select pieces from the renowned collection of L.
A particularly noteworthy piece is a small early Classicist work table, crafted around 1775–1780 by David Roentgen in Neuwied, which was auctioned by Lempertz nearly four years ago and has since been held in private Belgian ownership. Exemplifying Roentgen’s characteristic style—originally developed by his father Abraham—the table features intricate marquetry, with a central motif depicting children playing dice under the watchful eye of a dog. Additional inlays decorate all four sides of the apron, which conceals a broad drawer equipped with a writing surface and two pivoting compartments. A notable detail is the dog’s collar, marked with the rare monogram of David Roentgen himself, possibly signifying his pride in creating such an exquisite piece.
Another highlight is a set of 18th-century scagliola panels with Italian motifs, originally installed as a unified ensemble in a house in Monschau until around 2000.
On 16 November, the auction will feature works by Old Masters and pieces from the 19th century, divided into two sessions at 10 am and 2:30 pm.
Foremost among the highlights is an extraordinary 800-year-old tabernacle, previously unknown and recently sourced from a South German private collection. Created in Limoges around 1200, this piece of partially gilded copper and enamel is richly detailed. The back panel features Christ in a mandorla, while the side walls are adorned with scenes of the Adoration of the Magi and the Flight into Egypt. The front’s two door panels display images of Peter and a bishop, and the roof is decorated with symbols of the four evangelists.
The majority of the auction offerings, however, consist of paintings, including works by renowned artists such as Lucas Cranach the Younger, Salomon van Ruysdael, Jan van Huysum, Friedrich Nerly, Oswald Achenbach, Carl Spitzweg, and Willem van de Velde the Younger.
A standout highlight is a pair of paintings by Venetian artist Michele Marieschi, who, despite a brief career, rose to prominence as one of Venice’s foremost vedutisti in the 18th century. This pair of architectural capriccios, featuring houses and ancient ruins, exemplifies Marieschi’s mastery. The compositions, with their theatrical and stage-like arrangement, reveal his background in theatre painting, showcasing his unique ability to blend architectural fantasy with dramatic perspective.
Finally, it is worth highlighting The Annunciation, a work by the Haarlem painter Pieter Fransz. de Grebber, created in 1633 but only recognised since 1909. Coming from a Catholic family of artists, de Grebber often received commissions in the Protestant Netherlands from fellow believers who had to practice their faith in secrecy. This context may explain the painting's delayed recognition.
The auctions will take place from 14th to 16th November at the Lempertz auction house, located at Neumarkt 3 in Cologne. Following an exhibition in Munich on the 5th and 6th of November, there will be an opportunity for a preview from the 10th to the 13th of November.
