Sotheby's Auction of Drawings & Silver from the Collection of the Dutch RF: Feb 2019

[Dalriada]

Willem-Alexander, Máxima and Family, General News Part 3 (May 2017- Present)

The King’s aunt Christina is getting some stick for auctioning off a family Reubens drawing which is being done without consulting appropriate interested parties such as Dutch museums.
Not great press for the Oranges:

Link: https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2019/...aholic&utm_medium=email_this&utm_source=email


De arrogantie van de Oranjes https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/columns/column/4572021/de-arrogantie-van-de-oranjes

 

[Marengo]

The comments in the press are rather acid indeed. As Lee-Z stated above, the crux is that while they legally can sell these items, more is expected from the first family of the country. The distinction between members of the royal house and royal family isn't one that the general public is overly aware of.

The negativity about the auction is in many media outlets coupled to prince Bernhard junior and his real estate empire. It now seems he had to pay a penalty payment last year for some issues around rented out apartments.

--
On a tv programme they speculated why the princess is selling the items now. Somebody referred to her bone cancer and her decision not to have it treated. It was suggested that the princess wanted to put her affairs in order, which is very sad indeed.

 

[Mbruno]

The comments in the press are rather acid indeed. As Lee-Z stated above, the crux is that while they legally can sell these items, more is expected from the first family of the country. The distinction between members of the royal house and royal family isn't one that the general public is overly aware of.

Princess Christina, however, is not a member of the Royal House and has been excluded along with her descendants from the line of succession. I don’t think she should be held to the same standards .

 

[Marengo]

That was indeed my point. But it seems that in the public perception the difference isn't one that is very clear. I suppose that people that the titles 'prince' or 'princess' gives the impression. It was wise that Q. Beatrix decided to downgrade her own grandchildren to counts & thus limit the family in the public perception.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

The people also get mixed signals: the one prince is a multi-millionaire with a race circuit, hundreds of properties in Amsterdam, even a Media Park has been acquired. The other princess is a multi-millionaire thanks to profitable start-ups. And now another princess offers artworks for sale.

 

[Marengo]

The glass table piece by René Lalique has been withdraw from the auction by its owner, presumably Pss Christina. The table piece was a wedding gift of the Dutch ambassadors to princess Juliana and prince Bernhard in 1937.


The RVD says that only after publication of the item in the auction catalogue it became clear that it was a wedding gift. The table piece was therefore withdrawn by the owner as it has been a good custom for years that official gifts are not sold. The table piece will be added to the Foundation of Official Gifts of the House of Orange-Nassau.

https://www.vorsten.nl/2019/01/15/koninklijk-huwelijkscadeau-toch-niet-geveild/

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

The glass table piece by René Lalique has been withdraw from the auction by its owner, presumably Pss Christina. The table piece was a wedding gift of the Dutch ambassadors to princess Juliana and prince Bernhard in 1937.


The RVD says that only after publication of the item in the auction catalogue it became clear that it was a wedding gift. The table piece was therefore withdrawn by the owner as it has been a good custom for years that official gifts are not sold. The table piece will be added to the Foundation of Official Gifts of the House of Orange-Nassau.

https://www.vorsten.nl/2019/01/15/koninklijk-huwelijkscadeau-toch-niet-geveild/

That is a nice and good custom, not to auction gifts. No idea what to do with this table-piece from René Lalique, but okay, stack it away in the depôt and maybe so now and then it will be exhibited in a display.


Picture: https://images.nrc.nl/vjH2qy8Zf_QEg...l/images/gn4/stripped/data39855229-7ba565.jpg

 

[Marengo]

As Juliana was countess of Leerdam it could be an option to give it as a semi-permanent loan to the glass museum in Leerdam? I agree that hiding it away in a depot serves nobody, but it is what will most likely happen.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

With the division of Queen Juliana's inheritance (it must have been an immense job) the crystalware by René Lalique was correctly filed as private property of the late Queen Juliana. But as it originally was a gift for Juliana's wedding, it was barred from auction, following the own policy of the House. So Princess Christina (or other members of the royal family) can still enjoy the crystalware from René Lalique but then as a loan from the family foundtion Official Gifts of the House Orange-Nassau.

There are two foundations with a different approach:

1. The Foundation Official Gifts of the House Orange-Nassau 2007
All official gifts to the descendants of H.M. Queen Wilhelmina are placed into this foundation, to preserve and manage it for the House Orange-Nassau.

2. The Foundation Royal Gifts 2007
All official gifts to the Bearer of the Crown, acting as head of state, in the framework of State Visits and Official Visits. When this foundation is dissolved, the properties will be handed over to the State of the Netherlands.

So:
King Philippe gives a cadeau to King Willem-Alexander for his birthday: this will be placed in 1.

King Philippe gives a cadeau to King Willem-Alexander as part of a State Visit: this will be placed in 2.

 

[Marengo]

Despite complaints from Dutch museums the auction of the Rubens drawing of Princess Christina will go ahead today at Sotherby's New York at 16 hrs. The drawing supposedly will collect 2-3 million euros though experts predict it will be sold for much more.

https://nos.nl/artikel/2269696-controverse-of-niet-koninklijke-rubens-gaat-onder-de-hamer.html

 

[An Ard Ri]

It will be interesting to see how much it actually sells for and I guess the higher the price we will see more criticism of the sale!

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

The drawings and artefacts have been sold for almost 11 million US Dollar

Out of the question that a Dutch museum would have paid that. It seems the Rubens drawing was acquired in 1838 by the then Prince of Orange (later King Willem II) from a London-based art dealer whom was selling the heritage of Sir Thomas Lawrence.

It was purchased when Willem had no income from the State and it was also acquired for just a fraction of today's price. So indeed private property from the royal family since 1838. It is Princess Christina, the fourth and youngest daughter of Queen Juliana whom sold it. The princess has never had an income or pension, her inheritance from her parents forms her private wealth.

https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-m...2-miljoen-euro-naar-onbekende-koper~b9d180cb/

 

[Marengo]

In addition to the above I have read that the drawing was sold with the other art items after the death of King Willem II. But it was returned to the family as a present afterwards.

 

[lucien]

In addition to the above I have read that the drawing was sold with the other art items after the death of King Willem II. But it was returned turn the family as a present afterwards.

And then there is this news nonsense channel here in NL this evening that claimed that "A dutch Princess sold a drawing for 8 million euro payed for by our tax money"...Infuriating lies!!!Lies lies lies!Freedom of speech is one thing,abuse another and should be dealed with appropriatly.

Glad the auction was such a success!!

 

[Dalriada]

According to PM Rutte its all a private affair but whatever way you look at it, it doesn’t sit well for an art loving country.

 

[Susan D]

If an item is given as a wedding present by diplomats, it ought to stay with the Monarchy; if an item is owned privately, it's none of our business.

 

[Somebody]

According to NOS the auction of the drawing resulted in a little more than 7 or 8 million dollar (somehow they mix up the numbers). The other stuff added about another 1-2 million. So, much more than expected.

The buyer is probably Leon Black. The expectation is that, in that case, it will end up in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York at some point. Three Dutch musea also participated (jointly it seems) in the auction but apparently didn't offer enough to get the piece.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

If an item is given as a wedding present by diplomats, it ought to stay with the Monarchy; if an item is owned privately, it's none of our business.

A wedding gift to Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard in 1936 is a wedding gift. It is the royal family itself which has established the policy that gifts are not sold.

So they were right with tagging the René Lalique glassware present as private property of the late Queen Juliana. But as it was once a gift, a second tag had to be added: "Not to be sold". That is the own policy of the royal family itself. There is no any requirement or legal regulation which says that gifts can not be sold. Look at e-Bay the day after Christmas: gifts everywhere put up for sale.

As generations advance (what have the Guillermos, the Ten Cates, the Van Vollenhovens and the Brenninkmeijers to do with once a gift to their great-grandmother or great-great-grandfather?) the restraint to sell items will be lesser and lesser. To prevent gifts to be sold, the royal family has set up a Foundation to preserve gifts. When this foundation would ever to be dissolved, these gifts go to the heirs of the late Queen Juliana.

The Royal House (not the same as the royal family) has set up another foundation, for gifts to the King in the framework of State Visits or Official Visits. When that foundation is dissolved, these gifts go to the State.

 

[maria-olivia]

In December I visited the Leonardo da Vinci Tekeningen at the Teylers Museum in Haarlem. Item 34 : Anoniem "centrale deel van de slag bij Anghiari" HRH Princess Christina.
The Dutch Museums knew which drawings the Princess was the owner.

I expected more for a Rubens Drawing because it was made by himself.

 

[ladongas]

The House of Six

Although this isn’t precisely related to this topic, it does give a view on how much of Dutch art is protected and preserved for the nation and for generations to come.

And it is fascinating! Please give it a read.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/...=Homepage&section=The New York Times Magazine