THE COMMERCE OF ART & THE ART OF COMMERCE

I’m very fortunate indeed to be passionate about my work. It brings me great joy. I’m also fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful art and objects which, whatever their value, have a provenance, a history, a story which at times proves fascinating. This brings a richness to my life without which I couldn’t possibly survive.

In my profession, there seems to be a dearth of what we used to call generalists: those with the “eye” to easily identify quality. Since I’m called upon to value one object and often discover another overlooked and considerably more important in its vicinity. I cannot stress how much auctions shine a light, both literally and figuratively, on art and antiques, bringing them to the public’s attention after years, decades or centuries. The online world has obviously intensified this light.

Having just finished your annual winter sales earlier this month,  how do you see the last two years?
The pandemicinduced increase in online auctions is here to stay. Clearly, younger buyers appear more comfortable using digital devices. If we survey the last two years 2020-2022, from the outset of COVID-19 to the present, 90 per cent of our business has shifted online. Printing and sending lavishly-illustrated catalogues, once the staple of any auction, remains for us de rigueur, even if other auction houses have embraced the cost-savings in online only catalogues. Many of our clients certainly appreciate perusing them.
Walk down the Promenade in Gstaad, or whilst on the ski-lift, or for that matter from anywhere in the world with your mobile device and bid and buy in an online auction. Smart-phone applications make this process so very easy. Luxury – jewels, watches, handbags, and wine – is on the rise. But, everyday items feature prominently, furniture, for example. Why not buy solid-wood furniture which lasts longer, can be resold, and is more economical not to mention more sustainable?

The pandemic forced us all to spend more time at home and thus reevaluate what surrounds us: there’s an ongoing search to improve our interiors to better suit our new ways of working and living. Thus, interiors and all aspects thereof are paramount to our well being.

Competition for consignors must be fierce?
For sellers, Piguet is unique amongst auction, houses in that we won’t simply choose the best and leave the rest, but rather sell or dispose of the entirety: all the contents of a residence. This is especially useful to lawyers and other professional advisers based in Switzerland or abroad who must liquidate the possessions of a deceased client for heirs who might be individuals as well as charitable institutions in all corners of the globe. At present, my team of 35, comprising 15 experts, is here in Gstaad to empty the contents of a chalet for heirs residing overseas. This unique service is also available to individuals as well. Our aim is to further facilitate an online expertise of objects for sale. We envisage a client-centric as well as a proactive approach to simplify what might seem daunting.

Do you have many clients in the region?
Indeed both consignors as well as buyers. I’m proud to be selling the contents of the residence of famous Gstaad habitués in March. I’m also emptying another chalet in Gstaad, doing an inventory, and managing the expertise of impressionist and modern paintings with committees of experts in both New York and Paris.

One of your five sisters was head of landmarks/heritage for the Canton of Geneva. Do you see Gstaad as respectful of its architectural history?
In this magazine, I had the honour to interview a royal princess, an architect, and a watchmaker, all three of whom I asked the same question. While the skyscrapers which already dot Zurich and Basel, and soon Geneva, leave much to be desired, we here enjoy a respectful architectural history, to use your words. As a father of four, I am eager that my children respect nature. Mine is a grateful approach to life: grateful for this beautiful environment that shapes us, unlike other ski resorts in Switzerland.

Your métier relies heavily on a liberal arts education, which I often say, makes one a good dinner-party guest.
My wife Claire, an accomplished cellist with advanced degrees from the Sorbonne in literature, works tirelessly to build our family firm as a specialist in books and manuscripts, musical instruments and scores as well as primitive art; in addition to which she manages our human resources. How we manage to work together all day sharing an office, never agreeing on anything whilst raising our four children, I shall never fathom!

At the Gstaad Palace, you were asked to conduct the auction benefiting the Institut Le Rosey at their annual reunion of Anciens Roséens or alumni. As a charity auctioneer, you raise great sums for worthy causes.
Philanthropy too is a passion of mine and I make our platform available to charitable organisations. It gives me great satisfaction to raise money for a good cause whilst employing the tools of my profession. We are also sponsoring the current Gstaad New Year Music Festival which continues until 9 January 2023. I’m particularly looking forward to hearing the three countertenors accompanied by the Royal Opera Orchestra of Versaille on Tuesday 3 January 2023 at the Church in Lauenen.

BY ALAN NAZAR IPEKIAN

BERNARD  PIGUET
Born in 1967, Bernard Piguet, like his surgeon father, did not answer the call of his family’s Swiss private bank but rather his passion for the commerce of art and the art of commerce. After graduating from the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne (HEC), Piguet pursued further training in the history of art in London before joining Sotheby’s Geneva, after which he now runs the auction house that bears his name. A devoted husband and father of four, Piguet is a Gstaad aficionado and sponsors the Gstaad New Year Music Festival.