Rouillac

Exceptional treasure hunters and natural-born showmen, auctioneers Philippe and Aymeric Rouillac—based in the Tours region—are celebrating their 30th prestigious auction.

On June 10 at the Château d'Artigny near Tours, the Rouillacs will mark the 30th edition of their signature "garden party" prestige sale. The event will feature a previously unseen 17th-century painting by the Le Nain brothers—classified as a Historic Monument and valued at €3–5 million [see BAM 406]. Another discovery going under the hammer is a rare 18th-century Chinese flask bearing the mark of the Qianlong Emperor (estimated at €600,000); it had been sitting on a lacquer commode in a château’s grand salon, serving as an ashtray.

Multi-million-euro auctions

Philippe Rouillac and his son Aymeric are no ordinary auctioneers. In fact, neither was originally destined for this profession. Philippe Rouillac, educated at Sciences Po in law and art history, was on track for a career in the civil service. In 1975, at just 24, he served as an assistant to André Malraux—an experience that helped shape the unconventional approach he has brought to his profession for thirty-five years. He got his start in the field thanks to Jean Lelièvre, an auctioneer from Chartres whose daughter he married. Aymeric Rouillac followed the same academic path as his father and initially intended to become a journalist. However, in the late 2000s, a health issue affecting his father prompted him to step in and support the family auction house. "My father-in-law, a true pioneer, instilled in me a taste for the extraordinary and convinced me that beautiful objects deserved to be displayed in magnificent settings. For me, the Châteaux of the Loire serve as that perfect showcase," recounts Philippe Rouillac. In 1989, acting on the advice of his friend the Marquise de Brantes, the Vendôme-based auctioneer organized his very first "French-style garden party" at the Château de Cheverny. Within a few years, this annual event became the most important gathering in the regional art market, yielding exceptional results driven by the remarkable pieces discovered there. They have even outperformed the Paris market, securing the highest auction price of the year in France on three separate occasions. They are frequently invited to appear on television and radio programs and to contribute to newspapers—such as *La Nouvelle République du Loir-et-Cher*, where they have written the weekly column "What Are Our Treasures Worth?" since 2008.

To meet us:

Tours: 22, bd Béranger (37000) - 02 47 61 22 22

Vendôme: Route de Blois (41100) - 02 54 80 24 24

Paris: 41, bd du Montparnasse (75006) - 01 45 44 34 34

rouillac@rouillac.com