Golden Age

Two cataloged auctions each year
To describe works spanning the period from late Antiquity to the Renaissance, 19th-century antique dealers used the term “High Middle Ages.” The art market has continued to use this expression to refer to objects primarily created during the Middle Ages and in the centuries that followed. While the medieval style once interested only scholars and history buffs, today an increasing number of art lovers appreciate the timeless quality of these works and pair them with contemporary pieces or tribal art, thereby creating a dialogue between materials and forms across the ages. The works presented in the “Haute Époque” auctions are primarily religious in nature and were commissioned by the Church, as everyday household furnishings did not appear until the end of the medieval period, in the 15th century.

A Word from the Expert
“The object I dream of one day discovering would be a fragment of the relics from the Sainte-Chapelle, which were certainly melted down during the French Revolution, but some parts of which may have escaped destruction. Recent history shows us, in fact, that anything is possible! Advances in art history research and our growing understanding of the Middle Ages have brought to light a multitude of treasures, such as a significant sculpture depicting Jeanne de Bourbon, wife of King Charles V, which remained anonymous and forgotten in private collections for a long time but was recently rediscovered and put up for auction.”