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Koller’s history has been closely linked to the decorative arts since its founding in 1958. Furniture, silver, porcelain and sculpture are among our oldest core competencies, and many highly significant objects have been sold at Koller Auctions over the decades. The density and quality of the antique furnishings, decorative arts and collectors’ items on offer twice annually at Koller is practically unique in Europe.

Alongside furniture by ébénistes such as Charles Cressent, Abraham Roentgen, André-Charles Boulle, Bernard van Riesenburgh, and Johann Friedrich Spindler, Koller has also built a very strong reputation as one of the leading European auction houses for antique clocks, with works by famous clockmakers such as Berthoud, Deverberie, Breguet, Le Roy, Lepine and Jaquet-Droz.

Porcelain and faience have been an important part of Koller’s auctions since its founding, reflecting the long tradition of serious ceramic collecting in Switzerland. Many important collections of porcelain and faience have been offered by Koller. Works from Meissen, Sèvres, Strasbourg, Nymphenburg, Du Paquier, Zurich, as well as Italian Maiolica and creations from Imperial Russia are avidly sought after by a discerning buying public, sometimes attaining record prices.

Our silver auctions regularly include high quality collectibles from the 16th to the 20th centuries. The works offered come not only from Swiss makers but from also the world’s most historically important centres of silver production, including London, Augsburg, Paris, Moscow, St Petersburg, Turin and Nuremberg.

The Decorative Arts department regularly organises auctions of entire collections, with thoroughly researched dedicated catalogues that not only ensure a successful sale of the collection, but serve as a testimonial to the collector and a useful document for future collectors and researchers. Some examples are the porcelain collection of Dr Siegfried Ducret, the Nessi Collection of scientific instruments, and the Dr Sylvia Legrain Collection of antique Roman and Egyptian sculpture and artefacts.

Our Decorative Arts auctions take place in March and September. We accept consignments until mid-January for the March auctions and until mid-July for the September auctions.

Our specialists will be pleased to value your objects in view of a possible sale at auction.

Current auctions



Decorative Arts

Auction 21. March 2024, 01.30 PM
Koller Zurich A208



An important private collection of antique cutlery

Auction 21. March 2024, 10.00 AM
Koller Zurich S20



Next Auctions


Auction: 19 September 2024, consignments accepted until mid-July 2024.


Valuations / Consignments


If you wish to consign to one of our auctions, we will value your artworks free of charge. Please send us photos if possible, or call us. We will arrange an appointment to view your property at your home or in one of our offices in Zurich, Geneva, Florence, Munich or Düsseldorf. You will then receive our auction estimates so that you can make your decision.

Get an estimate now
How to sell at auction
Contact us
Contact your local representative


Contact


Stephan Koller

Head of department
Furniture & Decoration skoller@kollerauctions.com
+41 44 445 63 41

Flavio de Corso

Furniture & Decoration decorso@kollerauctions.com
+41 44 445 63 46


Representatives


Koller Geneva

Cyril Himmer
geneva@kollerauctions.com
+41 22 311 03 85

Koller Munich

Fiona Seidler
muenchen@kollerauctions.com
+49 89 22 802 766

Koller Düsseldorf

Ulrike Gruben
duesseldorf@kollerauctions.com
+49 211 30 14 36 38

Koller Italy

Lapo Bacarelli
italia@kollerauctions.com
+39 366 994 1836

Koller China

Jing Li
beijing@kollerauctions.com
+86 135 2039 8057

Top results from past sales


SELECTED RESULTS Furniture


EXTREMELY RARE EUCHARISTIC DOVE

Limoges, 1st third of the 13th century.
Chased, engraved and parcel-gilt copper with polychrome enamel champlevé in the form of feathers and flowered arabesques. Ciborium designed as a dove on a round base. The upper side of the tail, the round base and the movable wings on the sides made of thick copper with gemstone inlays. The body rests on two tubular legs, which transition directly into a flat round base, without feet. Hinged lid with a handle (possibly replaced) on the dove's back, opening onto a hollow host container.
19.5 × 25 cm.
EXTREMELY RARE EUCHARISTIC DOVE
EXTREMELY RARE EUCHARISTIC DOVE

CHF 130 000 (hammer price)
All information is subject to change.

GOLD ENAMEL BOX WITH SINGING BIRD AUTOMATON, CLOCK AND SMALL CYLINDER MUSIC BOX MECHANISM

Geneva, ca. 1810-25, Rochat Brothers (Rochat Frères, active in Geneva 1810-1825), Maker's mark IGRC for Rémond Lamy Mercier & Co.
Gold, engine-turned and overlaid with translucent cobalt blue enamel. Rectangular shape, the corners rounded and decorated with floral motifs in engraved gold and white enamel. Framed by decorative leaf friezes in white enamel and gold. Hinged lid, framed in a pearl frieze. Underneath, a white/blue enamel cover engraved with flowers with the winding holes for the singing bird automaton and a small cylinder music box mechanism. The center of the lid has an oval opening framed by a pearl frieze and covered by an oval lid depicting a couple in love. This lid opens via a sliding lever and reveals the whistling and moving bird. The hinged front contains a small clock with a white enamel dial and bezel lined with pearls, the movement with 4/4 hour repeater and second hand. Another hinged cover on the side for storing the winding key.
8.4 × 6.2 × 2.8 cm.
GOLD ENAMEL BOX WITH SINGING BIRD AUTOMATON, CLOCK AND SMALL CYLINDER MUSIC BOX MECHANISM
GOLD ENAMEL BOX WITH SINGING BIRD AUTOMATON, CLOCK AND SMALL CYLINDER MUSIC BOX MECHANISM

CHF 165 000 (hammer price)
All information is subject to change.

FAUTEUIL DE BUREAU "AUX LIONS AILÉS"

Consulate/Empire, Paris ca. 1800, probably by Georges Jacob (maître 1765) or Jean-Baptiste Séné (maître 1769) after designs by Charles Percier and Pierre-François Léonard Fontaine.
Mahogany, finely carved with winged lion heads, paws and palmettes. Hoof-shaped seat on a straight frame with paw legs in the front and sabre legs in the back. Pierced backrest with a broad, recessed and protruding shoulder board. The curved armrests merge into the lion's head rests. Black horsehair upholstery with geometric decoration.
66 × 57 × 94 cm.
FAUTEUIL DE BUREAU "AUX LIONS AILÉS"
FAUTEUIL DE BUREAU "AUX LIONS AILÉS"

CHF 18 000 (hammer price)
All information is subject to change.

NOTATION KNIFE OR MUSIC KNIFE

Italian, 1st half of the 16th century.
Edged, tapering ivory handle, the top and bottom of the handle engraved with fruit garlands and flowering tendrils. Stepped handle cap with inlaid metal plates and green dyed ivory, the handle end rounded and applied with an acanthus leaf rosette. Square blade bolster engraved with leaf decoration and with remnants of gilding. Spatula blade with decorative point, engraved with song lyrics and musical accompaniment (blessing and thanksgiving for the meal). "Gratiarum actio 1.9 Tenor / Pro tuis deus bene fi ciis gratias agimus tibi" or "Benedictio mensae 1.9 Tenor / Quae sumpturi sumus bene dicat trinus et unus".
L 29.5 cm.
NOTATION KNIFE OR MUSIC KNIFE
NOTATION KNIFE OR MUSIC KNIFE

CHF 20 000 (hammer price)
All information is subject to change.

MUSEUM KNIFE WITH IVORY MICROCARVING AND FOLDING HANDLE

The Netherlands, Amsterdam, dated 1604 on the Griffkappe, with a monogram by the maître on the inside.
Rectangular, elaborately carved ivory handle with a Christian pictorial program. The broad sides are carved in high relief with depictions of the Fall of Man and a crucifixion scene. The sacrifice of Isaac, the expulsion from paradise, Abraham praying (?) and the creation of Eve, as well as the sacrifice of Cain and Abel and Cain's fratricide and expulsion are depicted in flat relief fields above and below the depictions. Allegories of life and death are depicted on the narrow sides. The panels can be folded down to reveal almost fully sculpted figures of the infant Jesus and a skeleton. Rectangular, two-part silver handle cap crowned by a turtle. Inscribed with a surrounding banner: HOVT. G. HEVA / OTS. COMMANDMENT IEHOVA / VOER ADAM / GEN ABRAHAM. The turtle on a locking system opening onto a smelling jar. Dated and inscribed inside: 1604 NIET SONDER MOE TEN and master's monogram. Rectangular collar. Blade root inlaid with gilt tendril fillets. Blade with center tip with smith's mark in the shape of a fish.
L 21 cm.
MUSEUM KNIFE WITH IVORY MICROCARVING AND FOLDING HANDLE
MUSEUM KNIFE WITH IVORY MICROCARVING AND FOLDING HANDLE

CHF 27 000 (hammer price)
All information is subject to change.

MUMMY PORTRAIT OF A LADY

Hawara, Egypt, Trajan Period, beginning of the 2nd century A.D.
Wooden panel, polychrome painted using the encaustic technique and mounted on a later wooden panel. Portrait of a distinguished young lady facing right. Clearly outlined facial features. The hair is coiled in the front and coiffed into a chignon at the top, which is held in place by a hairpin. Her clothing features reddish and brown tones. She is wearing pearl-, gold- and emerald jewelry. In a later frame.
Inner dimensions 38 × 23.5 cm.
MUMMY PORTRAIT OF A LADY
MUMMY PORTRAIT OF A LADY

CHF 450 000

STANDING CROSS WITH FINE MICRO-CARVING

Probably Greek, probably 17th/18th century.
Wood, carved with numerous scenes from the Life of Christ. Tower-shaped base. The cross crowned by a pelican.
H 46 cm.
STANDING CROSS WITH FINE MICRO-CARVING
STANDING CROSS WITH FINE MICRO-CARVING

CHF 75 000

PAIR OF HALF-HEIGHT CABINETS

Régence style, France, in part using older elements.
Rosewood in veneer. Trapezoidal, curved body on a cut-out frame and hoofed feet. Front with distinctive curved double doors. Opulent, gilt bronze decoration in the form of leaf friezes, shells and ornamental rods. The front decorated with female masks, the sides with rosettes and laurel wreaths decorated with mesh. The corners decorated with broad, scroll-like profiled bars with rosettes, acanthus leaf scrolls, hoofed feet and satyr faces. Red/grey marble top with shaped edge. 1 commode back with old French shipping label. 2 keys.
143.5 × 59.5 × 95.5 cm or 145 × 58.5 × 95 cm.
PAIR OF HALF-HEIGHT CABINETS
PAIR OF HALF-HEIGHT CABINETS

CHF 30 000

FINE AND RARE GAMES BOX FOR CHESS AND TRICTRAC WITH INLAYS IN RELIEF

Free imperial city of Eger (today's Czech Republic), mid-17th century. Probably by the workshop of Samuel Eck (1604-1664).
Pine wood, walnut, burlwood and other in part tinted domestic hardwoods, carved, punched and in part inlaid in relief. Square, hinged case, the side walls carved with flame moldings. The lid with a reserve surrounded by flame moldings, and inlaid with a multi-figure depiction in front of a mountainous landscape with a fortified city, Abigail asking King David for forgiveness (1. Book of Samuel 25:1-43). The edge of the lid is decorated with flowers in relief. The back with a corresponding frame, the center with a chessboard, inlaid with flowers and fruit motifs. Inside, the lids inlaid with a trictrac playing field in the form of obelisks with standards and dolphins on spheres. Gilt metal clasp and hinges, finely engraved with laurel wreaths and meandering friezes.
52.5 × 52.5 cm.
FINE AND RARE GAMES BOX FOR CHESS AND TRICTRAC WITH INLAYS IN RELIEF
FINE AND RARE GAMES BOX FOR CHESS AND TRICTRAC WITH INLAYS IN RELIEF

CHF 37 500

SET OF CHESSMEN BY MAX ERNST (1891-1976)

Design in 1966, made by goldsmith François Hugo 1973. signed, stamped and numbered 4/6.
Gold 23 carat or silver 990 hammered and chased. Total 920 gr. gold; 740 gr. silver. Proof mark Marseille. In two separate walnut boxes with inlaid and engraved inscription and maker's marks.
H king 12 cm, pawn 6.5 cm.
SET OF CHESSMEN BY MAX ERNST (1891-1976)
SET OF CHESSMEN BY MAX ERNST (1891-1976)

CHF 118 750