Notable Homes: Guignécourt

 

The entrance to Guignécourt.
Image:Guillixon

"Notable Homes" is one of the re-occurring series of posts for The Devoted Classicist that features an architecturally significant residence and its furnishings.  The stylish San Francisco-area estate Guignécourt, also known as Guigné Court, and decorator Anthony Hail was the subject of a popular previous post, here.  And there was a second post here.


Guignécourt
Image: Sotheby's

The eccentric owner Christian de Guigné, 4th, listed the property for sale at $100 million with a contingency for life residency; after no takers, the price was reduced to $39.9 million with the exclusive-use condition removed.

Christian de Guigne, 4th, left, with his parents and brother Charles, 1961.
Photo via Yahoo!

Built 1913 to 1916 to designs by architects Walter Danforth Bliss and William Baker Faville, the gardens were later refined by Thomas Dolliver Church and the interiors were improved by Anthony Hail in the early 1960s.  According to the Guillixon listing, the property offering at 891 Crystal Springs Road, Hillsboro, is still active.  But the story for those interested in the decorative arts is the Christie's auction of contents coming up in New York on March 24, 2016.

There are a number of very handsome rooms, but none are more stylish than the Pavilion at the swimming pool.  Although the furnishings from the Anthony Hail era are worn and the décor is not entirely intact, it is still a space worthy of note.


The Pavilion at Guignécourt, 2015.
Image: Christie's.

The walls of the Pavilion at Guignécourt are covered with
hand painted Chinese wallpaper dating from the 18th or 19th century
figured with a mountainous landscape.
Image: Christie's.



A pair of gray-green velvet sofas.  Lot 134.
Image: Christie's

A pair of Chinese black lacquer and gilt tables
with pierced fretwork and a plinth base.  Lot 137.
Image: Christie's
 

A Ningxia carpet from West China, 18th century.  Lot 141.
Image: Christie's

A set of four Italian chairs, grain painted and parcel gilt,
black leather upholstery, early 19th century. Lot 148.
Image: Christie's.

A pair of console tables with a terracotta dolphin-form support
and green marble top and base.  Late 19th/early 20th century.
Lot 139.
Image: Christie's.

A Chinese model of a garden pavilion,
gilt-metal and cloisonné enamel.
19th century. Lot 147.
Image: Christie's.

A George II longcase clock,
blue and gilt-Japanned, circa 1730.
(The works and case associated).  Lot 149.
Image: Christie's.

Despite the high quality of architecture and the numerous beautiful rooms, there is no guarantee of ever finding an appreciative buyer for the house.  Certainly the land is desirable, but this sale of the furnishings is not a good indication that there has been interest in the house itself.  Judging from the seemingly senseless demolition around the country lately, there is a hunger for opulent mansions that lack patina and any history of former owners.  Perhaps this sale at Christie's will attract the attention of a buyer that sees the potential of this Sleeping Beauty.