CHAPITER 1: MODERN ART, POST-WAR & CONTEMPORAIN Sale Monday 22nd February 2016 at 7pm
Throughout his career as a lawyer specialising in intellectual propery law, Pierre Hebey defended and advised plenty of artists. Over time, many became his friends and he was happy to purchase works directly from them. The Modern Art, Post-War and Contemporary Art collection belonging to Pierre and Geneviève Hebey not only reflects the couple’s artistic taste but also the friendly affinities with certain artists. The collection took a turning point in the years 1990-2000 when the couple decided to seperate from part of the art deco collection and concentrate on 20th century art. Pierre Hebey’s interest in Surrealism was accentuated by his friendship with Max Ernst and is illustrated in the sale by the work of Roberto Matta Morphologie psychologique de l’angoisse from 1938. This is an extremely important piece in the artist ‘s career as it was one of his first surrealist works of art. In the modern art section, it is worth highlighting the oil on canvas, L’écuyère from 1976 by another friend of Pierre Hebey, Marc Chagall. The auction will also include another piece by Marc Chagall, using the direct method of stone sculpting. In the Post-War and Contemporary sections, Artcurial will offer around 60 works of art by artists who were familiar to the couple, Pierre Alchinsky, Pierre Soulages, Jean Tinguely, Wifredo Lam, Jean-Pierre Pincemin, Jean-Paul Riopelle, Bram van Velde.

CHAPITER 2: RARE AND ILLUSTRATED MODERN BOOKS Sale Tuesday 23rd February 2016 at 11am
As a well known writer and intellectual, Pierre Hebey surounded himself with books throughout his life and built up an impressive collection of works published between the end of the 18th century and the end of the 20th century which demonstrate the extent of his bibliophilia. With over 130 books, this part of the auction not only re-groups litterary classics but also important Surrealist masterpieces. Highlights include : - - - - Original print editions by Louis Aragon, André Breton, Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Paul Éluard, Gustave Flaubert, Arthur Rimbaud... Signed autographs by Guillaume Apollinaire, Robert Desnos, Alfred Jarry, Tristan Tzara (to Juan Gris)... Illustrated books by Pierre Alechinsky, Jean Arp, Hans Bellmer, Pierre Bonnard, Raoul Dufy, Max Ernst and Joan Miró... Decorative bindings by Rose Adler, Paul Bonet, Pierre-Lucien Martin, Marius Michel...

CHAPTER 3 : 19th CENTURY FRENCH SCULPTURE Sale Tuesday 23rd February 2016 at 2pm
« For the interior decoration it was always me, but for the actual purchases it was always down to Pierre » confinds Genviève Hebey. Objects and sculptures are placed alongside canvases by artist friends and pieces of exceptional art deco furniture and reflect the personal taste belonging to the collector, just like the 19th century bronze part of the collection. On February 23rd, Artcurial will sell a group of 19th century French sculptures of almost 200 pieces.

CHAPITER 4: ART DÉCO Sale Tuesday 23rd February 2016 at 7pm
One can’t talk about Hebey without mentionning art deco. For over 40 years, the couple were passionate about collecting important pieces of furntiure and objects from this great 20th century decorative art movement. With Yves Saint-Laurent, Hélène Rochas and Karl Lagerfeld, they constituted one of the greatest art deco collections in the world. In 1999 at the turn of the century, the couple decided to part from a selection of this collection and organised a memorable auction of 54 items of furniture by Jacques Émile Ruhlmann. The couple kept hold of the most sentimental objects and decided to focus on collecting modern and contemporary art. On February 23rd, the art deco works which the couple has chosen to keep hold of, will be up for auction. Highlights amongst the 150 pieces on offer include leading artists who represented the art deco movement such as: Eugène Printz, Maurice Jallot, Jean Dunand, Jacques Émile Ruhlmann, Paul Iribe, Paul Dupré-Lafon, Jean-Michel Frank, Louis Süe and André Mare. For the artistic works, key pieces by Jean Mayodon, André Thuret, Adrien Dalpayrat, René Lalique and André Metthey will be sold.

PIERRE HEBEY’S PASSIONS Catalogue preface by Serge Lemoine
In the 1950s in Paris and throughout his life up until he passed away in 2015 at the age of 89, Pierre Hebey had a reputation as a serious collector as well as a successful lawyer specialised in intellectual property law. Endowed with a strong personality, Pierre Hebey was also a writer for the last 20 years of his life, he was not only a collector but was passionate about artistic creation. He was on a constant quest to discover new things, to learn more and acquire new interests as he affirmed his personal taste which endured passing trends. Pierre Hebey was a tireless antique hunter and boasted an expert eye. He gained a well-rounded expertise from his experience and had a sound understanding of rare and beautifully made objects. He was an expert in antiques, notably 20th century but also a faithful friend to many artists from his generation, Max Ernst was one of the oldest and Bram van Velde was one of the youngest.
Pierre Hebey’s was partial to Art Deco furniture from the 1920’s to the 1930’s. He discovered several artists and created an exceptional collection of works by Sue and Mare, Dupré-Lafon, Eugène Printz and most importantly Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann of whom he was the unquestioned expert.