Bid for the Louvre: once-in-a-lifetime experiences from the most famous luxury brands

 

 

 

Bid for the Louvre: Louvre Museum artworks painted on your wrist.

The Musée du Louvre and Christie’s, with the support of the iconic Hôtel Drouot Paris, the leading auction place in France, join forces to organise Bid for the Louvre, an unprecedented online auction (December 1st to 15th). All proceeds from the sale will benefit the Louvre social and educational programs and the Studio, a new space dedicated to artistic and cultural education that will open in the fall of 2021.

For the first time, the Musée du Louvre is auctioning 24 exceptional lots: once-in-a-lifetime experiences at the heart of the Palais, bespoke services inspired by the Louvre Museum, exclusive experiences created by some of the world’s leading luxury brands, and unique works of art kindly given by contemporary artists close to the museum, including Johan Creten, Candida Höfer, Eva Jospin, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Pierre Soulages and Xavier Veilhan. Some of the offered lots are quite unique and comprise world premieres such as the privilege of attending the annual examination of the Mona Lisa outside her display case, or the chance to walk through the rooftops of the Palais du Louvre in the company of the artist JR.

Virgil Abloh, multi-disciplinary creator, or Houses such as Cartier, Christian Dior Couture, Le Meurice, Le Ritz Paris, Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy, Parfums Christian Dior and Vacheron Constantin, are amongst the prestigious participants — all sharing a strong bond and special history with the Louvre, and heavily involved in the choice and design of the lots for this auction. Behind each work of art, each creation, each experience offered in this sale, there is the generosity of an artist, a partner company or a patron of the museum.

Artwork of art from Louvre on the dial

A partner of the Louvre Museum since 2019, Vacheron Constantin luxury watch manufacture is auctioning a Les Cabinotiers watch at the “Bid For the Louvre” sale organised online from December 1st to 15th by the Louvre Museum and Christie’s, with the support of Drouot. More than a watch, this model represents a unique opportunity for its buyer to enjoy an unforgettable experience poised at the intersection of art and craftsmanship, between Paris and Geneva.

The adventure for the successful bidder will begin in Paris, during a private visit to the Louvre led by its best expert, in order to select with him/her the masterpiece that will be reproduced in enamel on the dial, from among the paintings and sculptures conserved in the Museum. According to the choice made and the client’s preference, the Vacheron Constantin Master enameller will use the miniature enamel or grisaille enamel technique.

The delicate skill involved in miniature enamel – in its version known as the “Geneva technique” dating from the 18th century – is reserved for the most experienced artisans mastering both pigments and fire. One of the main challenges consists in composing a colour palette compliant with the original shades of the work, while remaining keenly aware that the multiple firings in the kiln at over 800°C are liable to alter its colour and brilliance.

Grisaille enamel is a craft that appeared in the 16th century and consists of superimposing touches of a rare white enamel – called Limoges white –on a layer of dark enamel coating the gold dial base. Each layer of enamel is then fired in a kiln, while scrupulously respecting pre-defined firing times to the nearest second.

Bid for the Louvre: contemporary art, unique luxury pieces and once-in-a-lifetime experiences sold to benefit the Louvre social and educational programs. Browse the auction lots.