3:56 p.m., May 7, 2022, amended to 5:22 p.m., May 7, 2022
Until the evening of his life, Bernard Tapie made a point of welcoming his visitors at the top of the steps of the interior courtyard of the Hôtel de Cavoye, bought from Hubert de Givenchy in 1986. While visiting the owner, you first faced a vast and exceptional center table with six Atlanteans supporting a top plated with green jasper from the Empire period, according to a design by Luigi Valadier, installed under the stone staircase which led to the private apartments . On the wall of it hung the Triumph of Neptunean emblematic work of the Flemish painter Paul de Vos.
A few steps further: the Régence living room lit by a chandelier with eight Régence period sconces attributed to André-Charles Boulle. Acquired by the La Rochefoucauld family from the famous cabinetmaker, it was classified as a historic monument in 1948 and therefore cannot leave France. It is estimated between 120,000 and 150,000 euros. The room opens onto the large living room where the Tapie couple spent most of their time. On the floor, two huge polychrome carpets from the Savonnerie Louis XV period with floral decoration sewn together. One (6.97 m × 5.37 m) and the other (6.71 m × 6.37 m) are estimated between 20,000 and 30,000 euros each.
Facing the fireplace decorated with a Louis XVI double facing hearth screen, three red sofas framed a coffee table. Along the walls, a pair of X-shaped folding chairs from the same period in richly carved and gilded beech. Further on a chest of drawers, the travel box with a flat top in gilded red morocco, with small irons bearing the arms of Madame Adélaïde, daughter of Louis XV…
It was in this room that Bernard Tapie liked to receive his true friends. And later his lawyers and then his doctors. Here also where, against all odds and everyone, his four children and grandchildren met for birthdays and carillon celebrations.
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Terrible arm wrestling
The Hôtel de Cavoye and the furniture that decorates it were the object of terrible arm wrestling. In turn, the Crédit Lyonnais, the CDR, creditors of all kinds and the State wanted to seize this symbol of success acquired by Tapie the year when Greg LeMond won his first Tour de France, succeeding Bernard Hinault, in the colors of La Vie claire, pearl of the Tapie group. The former singer then began his incredible life as a jack-of-all-trades. Record crossing of the Atlantic aboard the Phocéa, of which he had a model made which sat in one of the small lounges on the ground floor, multiple titles with OM; takeover of Adidas, purchase then resale of Wonder, the best deal of his life, debut in politics… Then came the bad news: his conviction in 1996 – he will spend nearly six months in prison –, the filings for bankruptcy, the defeats court proceedings, the creditors ringing at the wine-colored carriage door of 52, rue des Saints-Pères.
«
I will not refurnish, they will come back, I have no doubt…
«
In July 1994, a squad of movers sent by Crédit Lyonnais accompanied by a police commissioner, a bailiff and an auctioneer came to empty the rooms. At the end of a Homeric legal procedure, « the seizure was canceled for defect of form, but the corporate officer preferred to keep the furniture in view of the significant debts of the companies and the holding company of Bernard Tapie”, remembers Maurice Lantourne, his former lawyer. Convinced of his rights and his lucky star, the businessman refused to replace them. “I will not refurnish; they will come back, I have no doubt”he assured. “We saw the electric wires protruding from the ceiling, the traces of furniture and paintings along the walls, reports someone familiar with the place. In the evening, you would have thought you were in a haunted house. » The optimism anchored in Tapie’s body turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy. In 2008, fourteen years later, the furniture finally returned to its owner’s home. It was in this setting of which he was so proud that he died on October 3 just before 9 am in his room on the first floor.
These pieces of furniture are now on sale. They will be dispersed next Wednesday, July 6 at the Atelier Richelieu in Paris. Liquidator’s order: the joke has gone on long enough. The phoenix has won many battles, but death picks up the copies: the war is lost.
« A requirement and a curiosity for art »
The acquisitions of the « billionaire Tapie » have caused many fantasies. « These are fakes »used to mock his detractors, “a collection of odds and ends”assured the others, « a heap of gilding that would have repelled even the emirs of the Gulf », decided the last. This auction will therefore be the justice of the peace. « “The Bernard Tapie Collection, a French passion” offers many exceptional pieces. Three of which could be of particular interest to our museumsreveals Me Estelle Nguyen-Hong, auctioneer of the Parisian house Artus Enchères Allemand Nguyen-Hong, appointed by the courts of Paris and Bobigny to carry out the sale and clear the debt of the Tapie spouses. The pieces presented as the place that served as their setting demonstrate a requirement and a curiosity for art in general, and more particularly for the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. centuries, but also underline a certain taste for“French way of life”. »
Read also – Adidas-Credit Lyonnais: for Bernard Tapie, it was the business of his life
Witness a painting by Hubert Robert (1733-1808), Landscape with the waterfalls of Tivoli. This imposing canvas (241 × 219 cm) estimated between 300,000 and 400,000 euros was hung in the dining room, the room following the large Regency living room behind the fireplace. Facing this huge painting, a « rare chest of drawers known as Buffon chest of drawers » attributed to Martin Carlin is estimated between 250,000 and 300,000 euros. The value of the piece of furniture is also sentimental as it was one of the businessman’s first purchases from the famous antique dealer Bernard Steinitz.
On the first floor, the private apartments and offices of Monsieur and Madame Tapie, often decorated with Asian lacquer furniture. The couple’s intimates could admire The morning by the French painter Joseph Vernet hanging in the private salon.
A total of 180 lots – 13 paintings, 128 pieces of furniture, 25 lights and 14 carpets – for a conservative estimate of between 4 and 5 million euros. A sum probably lower than the acquisition value of the whole but which reflects the considerable loss of prestige of the furniture of the 18th century. « In view of the very beautiful works on offer, I obviously think that the great collectors of the art world, whether French or international, will be interested in this sale », concludes Estelle Nguyen-Hong. Among the first prizes, we note a 19th century rattle estimated at 100 euros. Something to tempt unconditional admirers of the former minister at a lower price.