The Yves Saint Laurent-Pierre Berge Collection: The Sale of the Century

In February 2009, 733 pieces from Pierre Berge's and Yves Saint Laurent's art collection one of the world's largest private collections was auctioned off in a record-breaking sale of the century. Modern paintings, baroque bronzes, antique silverware, statues, cameos, and minerals comprise this diverse collection that furnished the pair's two luxurious residences in Paris, and included major works by Picasso, Brancusi, Matisse, Mondrian, in addition to furniture by the Art Deco masters Eileen Gray and Jean Dunand. Many works sold for prices far exceeding the highest estimates. The five-volume catalogue published by Christie's for the event sold out before the end of the auction, leaving collectors and art connoisseurs the world over empty-handed. This new book features one hundred of the most important pieces from the collection with detailed commentary by Christie's experts. An introduction by Christie's vice president Francois de Ricqles revisits the intense three-day auction at the Grand Palais. An appendix includes images of the works sold, accompanied by their estimated values and final auction prices. Publication coincides with the auction of the collection from their Chateau Gabriel property in November 2009.

Yves Saint Laurent’s signature style intertwines references from the art world with those of popular culture and social revolution. Since its establishment in the 1960s by the designer and Laurent's partner Pierre Bergé, the Yves Saint Laurent haute couture house has redefined femininity, creating arguably the most famous (and sexiest) suit for women, “Le Smoking” tuxedo, and innovative collections with names such as Pop Art, Ballet Russes, and Picasso.

The Pierre Bergé - Yves Saint Laurent Foundation, is the culmination of forty years of creation.

In 1962, Yves Saint Laurent opened his couture house at 30bis rue Spontini. The rest is history: Yves Saint Laurent's unending success, his influence on fashion the world over; the revolutionary idea of creating a ready-to-wear line that for the first time in history was designed by a major couturier. It was during those twelve years in rue Spontini that Yves forged, developed and imposed his inimitable style. If Chanel gave women their freedom, it was Saint Laurent who empowered them. By using codes hitherto deemed masculine, he was able to give women a feeling of security and audacity, yet with a flair that always retained their femininity. His creations are intrinsic to the history of the 20th century.

They have accompanied the emancipation of women in every sphere, be it private, social, or political. The pants suit, the smoking, the caban, the safari suit, the trench coat... each is engraved in our collective memory and all are an integral part of every woman's wardrobe.

In 1974, we moved to 5 Avenue Marceau where, for the next 30 years, Yves Saint Laurent would accomplish what have incontestably been the most important works of fashion of our era.

Since that very first day, great care has been taken to conserve the most important models of the collection together with all the drawings and sketches. At the present time, the Collection possesses some 5 000 garments and over 15 000 accessories, drawings, paper patterns and miscellaneous objects. The archive also contains scanned copies of a large number of press articles and reports, videos of collections, and a variety of interviews from the world over.

Pierre Bergé wrote: 'I have always maintained that one must transform memories into a project, and that is exactly what we have done with this Foundation. And so continues an adventure begun a long time ago, before we knew what destiny held in store for us.'