Global Treasury: The Life and Collection of Selim & Mary Zilkha

Sale Overview

The collection of Selim and Mary Zilkha is a spectacularly rich ensemble of rare works ranging from the Renaissance to 19th century, linked through sublime craftsmanship and illustrious provenances. A modern Kunstkammer in the princely tradition, the Zilkha collection is utterly unique among American collections. Extraordinary silver treasures form the cornerstone of the Zilkha collection and represent the very best makers and goldsmithing centres across countries, time and history.

Highlights from the auction include the exquisite Zilkha Aldobrandini Tazza (Netherlandish, 1587–99), an impressively large South German silver-gilt nautilus cup (mark of Hans I Clauss, Nuremberg, circa 1630) and the only known complete set of 17th-century silver playing cards (signed Michael Frömmer, Augsburg, 1616). An impressive selection of sculpture is led by a Giallo Tigrato leopard and her young attributed to Antonio Moglia, circa 1825. The Zilkha’s furniture collection is lit up by a series of bold masterpieces, including a suite of grand Kentian seat furniture from the Coke collection (attributed to William Hallett, circa 1735). A sumptuous Japanese lacquer commode by Joseph Baumhauer is a remarkable and striking meeting of East and West aesthetics, reflecting the grandeur of the early 18th century while looking forward to the refined elegance of the Louis XVI period.

Explore Classic Week: New York auction series.

Auction times

06 Feb 10:00 AM (EST) Lots 1-173

Our specialist’s selection

Brought to you by

Jill Waddell

Vice President, Senior Specialist | Silver

jwaddell@christies.com

Jill Waddell joined Christie’s, New York in the summer of 2016. She began her career in silver at Sotheby’s, New York in early 2005 where she was an Assistant Vice President and later served as Director at an auction house in Chicago, IL. Jill specializes in American, English and Continental dating from the 16th to 21st centuries and has been involved in the sales of many prestigious single-owner collections including the collections of David Rockefeller and Ann and Gordon Getty. Throughout her career, Jill has achieved numerous record-breaking prices including the top two lots of American silver ever sold at auction, the highest price achieved for silver by Paul Revere Jr., the highest price for a lot of American mixed-metals and the highest prices for a silver lot sold at Christie’s, New York. She received a BS from the University of Michigan and earned a MA in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from the Smithsonian/Cooper Hewitt Museum program, with a concentration in 17th and 18th century English silver.