48 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — June 10, 2016

FORT LEE, N.J. — A high-grade Deutsch-AsiatischeBank 1907 Peking issue 5taels banknote rarity soaredto a record $30,000, afteropening on the floor for$14,500, at a three-day auc-tion held April 11–13 byArchives International Auc-tions. Additional Chinese andRussian banknote rarities alsoposted new world recordprices.“The success of this auction,

with specific regard to themany Chinese, Asian andRussian banknotes that setnew price records, clearlyproved that the banknote andcoin market in these areas isas active and vibrant as ever,with multiple buyers acrossthe globe and aggressive com-petition for rare and uniqueitems,” said Dr RobertSchwartz, president ofArchives International Auc-tions.More than 1,700 lots of Unit-

ed States, Chinese, Russianand worldwide banknotes,coins, scripophily (stocks andbonds) and security printingephemera were offered. Fea-tured were additional ban-knotes from the Alexander I.Pogrebetsky family archives ofrare Chinese and Asian ban-knotes, and the initial offeringfrom the Silicon Valley collec-tion of worldwide banknotes.Session one, on April 11, fea-

tured US and worldwide ban-knotes and scripophily; ses-

sion two, April 12, had Russ-ian and worldwide banknotesand Chinese scripophily; ses-sion three, April 13, featuredChinese banknotes and scripnotes. Nearly all the Chineseand Russian notes were fromlongstanding collectionsassembled over many decadesand never previously offered.In the world banknote ses-

sion, featuring the Silicon Val-ley collection and numerousconsignors banknotes, FrenchColonial notes were big hitsand included a FrenchGuiana, 1961, 500 francs thatsold for $1,140; and 1 rupee,1957, and 5 rupees, 1959, gov-ernment of India “Persian GulfNote” issues that brought for$885 and $3,540, respectively.Also sold was a Jordan Cur-

rency Board, 1952 Issue, 500fils with special serial no. B/A700007 that gaveled for$1,770; a rare Oman CurrencyBoard specimen set of eightdenominations, rarely seen inthis format, realized $6,000;and an unassuming lot ofChile banknote rarities thathad been cut in half achievedan amazing $5,400.Session two began with ban-

knotes from Pacific Rim andAsian countries. Highlightsincluded 25 rupiah and 50rupiah essay specimens bySecurity Bank Note Companythat rose to $1,140 and $1,020,respectively; and a Royal ThaiMint Double Coin presenta-tion set, circa 1944 to 1963

sold at $708.In addition, 101 lots of Chi-

nese railroad and relatedbonds were sold out of the 102lots offered, with most lotsbringing $250–$500. Russiannotes included twoVladikavkaz Railroad Co.,1918, 5,000 and 10,000 rublesnotes that sold for $885 and$944, respectively; a 1920, 500rubles, Russian Central Union

of Consumers Societies Speci-men brought $4,427; and acirca 1918-20 Torgsin SovietTrading Fleet 3 rubles scripnote that ended up selling fora very impressive $11,400.Session three highlights of

Chinese banknotes and scripnotes included eight differentImperial Ch’ing dynasty ban-knotes, including a 100,000cash, 1858, that went for$11,400; and a pair of 3 taelsand 5 taels Board of Revenuebanknotes that finished at$4,800 and $5,605, respective-ly. Also, a group of Alexander IPogrebetsky banknotes, usedas the photographic exampleson the matching pages fromhis 1929 numismatic book,brought between $620 and$4,720.A Central Bank of China

1949 5,000 gold chin yuanessay specimen by SecurityBank Note Company, breezedto $3,658; while a 1923National Commercial Bank,

Ltd, issue pair gaveled for$1,475. People’s Republicissues were highlighted by a1949, 5 yuan, a high-gradeexample that went for animpressive $6,000 afterintense bidding between thefloor and Internet.Chinese foreign banks fea-

tured a Netherlands TradingSociety, $10, 1909 issue notethat sold for $4,800; and aPeiyang Tientsin Bank, 3taels, 1910 issue realizing$8,075. Chinese scrip notesfeatured a large collection ofHarbin notes, highlighted by acirca 1920–30s banknote pairfrom Harbin Bakery, whichrose to $3,186; a Society ofArtisans Club, 1919 Harbinissue, sold at $6,300; and aHulunbeier Business Bank,1919 scrip note ended at$3,120.The prices reported include

the buyer’s premium. Forinformation, 201-944-4800 orwww.archivesinternational.com

Auction Action In Fort Lee, N.J.

This 1920, 500 rubles, Russian Central Union of ConsumersSocieties Specimen rose to $4,427.

Chinese foreign banks fea-tured this Peiyang TientsinBank, ND, 3 Taels, 1910issue, and it sold for $8,075.

This high-grade Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, 1907 Pekingissue 5 taels banknote rarity soared to a record $30,000.

A highlight of Chinese ban-knotes and scrip notesincluded this ImperialCh’ing dynasty note, 100,000cash, 1858, that sold for$11,400.

Chinese foreign banks featured this Netherlands TradingSociety, $10, 1909 issue note, which brought $4,800.

“Man in Blue VII” by Francis Bacon(1909–1992), 1954, oil on canvas, 601/8 by 46inches ($5.6/9 million).

PARIS — Christie’s will offer the col-lection of Zeineb and Jean-PierreMarcie-Rivière on June 8–9. Thisunique sale, gathering major Modernand contemporary artworks, antiqui-ties and decorative arts, is among thefirm’s most prestigious private collec-tions of art and design brought to auc-tion. This sale, comprising 370 lots, isestimated in the region of $20 million.Zeineb and Jean-Pierre Marcie-Riv-

ière were inspired by the tradition ofthe most prestigious Twentieth Cen-tury French connoisseurs, who lookedto the 1920s decoration of the Vis-count and Viscountess de Noailles’sprivate mansion decorated by Jean-Michel Frank. Zeineb and Jean-Pierre’s exquisite taste, combinedwith the talent and expertise of RenzoMongiardino and Alberto Pinto,resulted in a collection of magnificentworks of art.The couple acquired signed art-

works by many leading TwentiethCentury artists, including FrancisBacon, Nicolas de Staël, Jean Dubuf-fet, Anselm Kiefer, Richard Serra,Brice Marden, Julio González, MaxErnst, Pablo Picasso, Diego Giacomet-ti, François-Xavier and ClaudeLalanne, among others.

The expected top lot of the sale is thefinal painting of the “Men in Blue”series by Francis Bacon paintedbetween March and June 1954. “Menin Blue” continues the theme alreadyexplored by the artist in the iconicseries of “Popes (Study for a PortraitI–VIII),” completed the previous year.Paul Nyzam, contemporary art spe-

cialist, said: “Immersed in a deep seaof midnight blue, the slender figure ofa man is seen cast into the shadows,isolated, trapped in the dark. The twi-light tones of the painting are onlyrelieved by the striking pink andalabaster white of the man’s grimac-ing face above his starched white col-lar. The expression of Bacon’s geniuslies precisely in this face, whose fea-tures have been meticulously distort-ed with an impulsive sweep of thebrush. In this final incarnation of‘Man in Blue VII’ Bacon achieveswhat mattered most for him in hiswork – creating a pictorial sensationthat ‘acts directly on the nervous sys-tem.’”This major artwork was hung in the

entrance of Jean-Pierre Marcie-Riv-ière’s apartment ($5.6/9 million).Five emblematic artworks from

Dubuffet from the 1950s will be

offered, including “Barbe des songesfumeux” ($340/560,000) or “Trois per-sonnages de peu de presence”($390/600,000).An oil and charcoal work on paper

by Willem de Kooning completes thissection ($560/780,000). Created in1962, it was featured in the exhibition“La sculpture des peintres,” organizedat the Maeght Foundation by Jean-Louis Prat in 1997.Exemplary works by François-

Xavier and Claude Lalanne welcomedvisitors from the moment theyarrived at the entrance of ZeinebMarcie-Rivière’s apartment, where ablue stone rhinoceros, which isthought to be unique, stood($130/200,000).A section of Antiquities featuring

objects from the Middle-East, Egypt,Greece and Rome include monumen-tal pieces, marble fragments, divini-ties and pharaohs’ heads, all carefullychosen by Zeineb and André Lévy-Despas. Esteemed Egyptian piecesinclude a superb Pharaoh’s head rep-resenting Hatshepsut or ThutmoseIII in granite, dating from the 18thdynasty (circa 1550-1292 BCE) .Christie’s is at 9, avenue Matignon.

For information, www.christies.com

French Private Collection Up At Christie’s Includes Francis Bacon Masterpiece

Archives International’s 3-Day Auction Sees Record Prices Set