A collection of artworks, furniture, jewelry, ceramics, and silver owned by the Rothschild family will be auctioned in New York, USA.
According to the Daily Mail on October 7, a major treasure collection from the “super-rich” Rothschild family, one of the wealthiest families in the world, will be auctioned for the first time in North America, potentially fetching an astonishing amount of $30 million (approximately 731 billion VND).
The collection, which includes artworks, furniture, jewelry, ceramics, and silver, will be auctioned by Christie’s in New York through several auctions starting from October 11.
The major treasure collection of the Rothschild family will be auctioned in the USA for the first time, potentially fetching a “huge” amount of $30 million.
The auction titled “Rothschild Masterpieces” features over 600 items that once belonged to Baron James de Rothschild, his wife Betty, and their sons, Baron Alphonse and Baron Gustav.
Among the collection is a 17th-century oil painting, regarded as one of the most sought-after artworks, estimated to sell for between $3 million and $5 million (73 – 121 billion VND).
Artworks, furniture, jewelry, ceramics, and silver owned by the Rothschild family will be auctioned by Christie’s in New York starting October 11.
Other treasures from the Rothschild family include a series of gold-plated leather pieces that “have not been seen in public for 150 years”, crafted by a follower of the painter Rembrandt, expected to sell for $1.5 million (36 billion VND), a pair of gold-plated wooden items, and a white-painted armchair from King Louis XV of France, valued at up to $1 million (24 billion VND).
Other items for sale include a first-century Roman sardonyx portrait of Emperor Claudius, expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000 (4.8 – 7.3 billion VND). The last time this item was auctioned at Christie’s was in 1899, when it sold for about $4,500, equivalent to approximately $496,000 today (around 12 billion VND), before being acquired by the Rothschild family.
The family altar set (featuring ancestral tablets) and a porcelain stand belonging to the Rothschild family will also be auctioned, with an expected price of up to $50,000 (1.2 billion VND).
Furniture, ceramics, silver, decorative rugs, and jewelry have been described by Jonathan Rendell, Vice President of Christie’s, as “a special combination of luxury and purity” and will also be auctioned.
A precious item from King Louis XV Savonnerie is predicted to sell for $150,000 (3.6 billion VND).
A 17th-century oil painting.
A work painted by Francesco Xanto Avelli in 1541.
Green porcelain dinnerware and a desert ceramic set are expected to sell for up to $150,000 (3.6 billion VND).
Jonathan stated: “These are items that 100-150 years ago, the market would have gone crazy for. We no longer sell large quantities of such materials.” Those with less financial means can bid on items sold online starting at $100.
These items have remained in the hands of the Rothschild family descendants for decades.
Jonathan told The New York Post: “This auction week will make history. For the first time, one of the wealthiest families in Europe is offering important and cherished heirlooms at an auction in America. Throughout the 19th century, the Rothschild family’s collection was considered legendary.”
He further added: “The masterpieces owned by the Rothschild family have caused a stir in the antique trading market.”
Most of the items are currently on display around the world but will be auctioned at Christie’s headquarters, Rockefeller Plaza, on the evening of October 11.
Subsequent auctions will continue on the mornings of October 12 and 13, with an online sale running from October 3 to 17.
Members of the Rothschild family in France are particularly keen for the sale to take place in New York, as some family members lived in America during World War II.
Jonathan pointed out that “rationalization” and “generational differences” could be reasons for the collection being put up for sale. “Not everyone lives like the 19th-century Rothschild family, including their descendants,” he said.
The Rothschild family was established in the 18th century and is a Jewish family originating from Frankfurt, Germany. This family has been dubbed the center of global financial trading since the 1760s, when Mayer Amschel Rothschild (the head of the family) arranged for his five sons to work in the five largest financial centers in Europe. From there, they gradually built a leading financial-banking empire in Europe. Today, the Rothschild family is involved in a variety of businesses spanning different fields, including finance, real estate, mining, and energy… After many years of development and asset accumulation, the Rothschild family is now a wealthy and powerful international banking dynasty. They have survived two world wars and numerous major economic crises but have not been significantly affected. The Rothschild family has garnered more interest due to their members being very discreet. No family member has appeared on the lists of the richest people in the world published by prestigious financial magazines. However, many sources suggest that the family’s total assets amount to thousands of billions of dollars. |
