Bonhams to offer royal treasures, masterpieces of french furniture and rare historical works

Bonhams will present an exceptional selection of furniture, works of art, rare books and historical archives in its forthcoming Classics Sale on 5 November in Paris. Spanning more than four centuries of European artistic and intellectual history, the auction brings together museum-quality masterpieces distinguished by rarity, provenance and historical importance.

Leading the sale is a rare and important Louis XIV commode by Nicolas Sageot in ebonized wood with tortoiseshell, brass and pewter marquetry, estimated at €40,000-60,000. Stamped N. SAGEOT, the commode is a remarkable survival from the early eighteenth century and an exceptional example of the celebrated Boulle marquetry tradition. With its elegant, curved façade, rich gilt-bronze mounts and intricate decoration featuring arabesques, scrolls, playful monkeys and putti, the piece demonstrates the extraordinary craftsmanship that made Nicolas Sageot one of the most renowned ébénistes of the Louis XIV period.

Raphaël Machiels, Head of Sale at Bonhams Paris, commented: “This sale perfectly illustrates the spirit of our Classics auctions, bringing together rare objects that embody artistic excellence, innovation and historical significance. From the grandeur of Louis XIV furniture to royal porcelain, Renaissance scientific works and Romanov archives, every lot tells a fascinating story. Offering a selection of objects amassed by both celebrated connoisseurs and everyday aesthetes united in their pursuit of beauty, this auction offers the best of the best in decorative arts at every price point.”

Other highlights of the sale include

Another highlight is a very rare Sèvres reticulated porcelain coupe, dated 1845 and estimated at €20,000-30,000. Given to King Louis-Philippe, the piece represents one of the most technically ambitious creations produced by the Sèvres manufactory during the nineteenth century. The delicately pierced decoration, richly gilded Gothic motifs and floral crown painted inside the bowl exemplify the innovative spirit championed by Alexandre Brongniart. Only a handful of comparable examples are known today, most of which are held in museum collections. The sale also features a rare carved and engraved rock crystal nef, formerly in the collection of Alix de Rothschild, estimated at €30,000-50,000. Mounted in enamelled yellow gold and adorned with intricate scrollwork, arabesques and allegorical figures, this refined object combines exceptional craftsmanship with distinguished provenance.

Among the rare books on offer is the first edition of Georgius Agricola’s De re metallica (1556), estimated at €20,000-30,000. Widely regarded as the first systematic treatise on mining and metallurgy, this landmark publication is one of the foundational technological works of the modern era. Richly illustrated with approximately 300 woodcuts depicting furnaces, hydraulic systems and mining machinery, it offers an unparalleled insight into Renaissance science and industry.

Completing the highlights is an important group of Romanov family archives, comprising correspondence, photographs and documents relating to Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, and the Russian émigré community in France following the Revolution. Estimated each at €8,000-10,000, the archive includes material connected to the celebrated Anastasia Tchaikovskaya (later Anna Anderson) affair and documents concerning the death of Empress Maria Feodorovna, providing a unique glimpse into one of the twentieth century’s most enduring historical controversies. A group of correspondence concerning the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna (1868–1935) contains French and Russian language correspondence, dating principally from the 1920s to the 1930s, comprising letters addressed to and written by Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, together with handwritten notes, signed letters and other related material. 

The sale offers collectors an exceptional opportunity to acquire works that bridge art, history, science and royal heritage, each illuminating a significant chapter of Europe's cultural legacy.

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